Ex. 19 |
As the exposition is brought to a close, the three hammer blows at bar 147 lead us to B for a waning statement of the heroic motive at 148. The dominant key is resolved and the exposition repeated. I have attempted to demonstrate that there is more unity in the exposition of this masterpiece than has been previously believed and that this phrase, |
constitutes the second subject. Economy and unity are fundamental to Beethoven's genius. By tying together the previously disjointed assessment, the Eroica's architecture becomes more streamlined. I believe early analysts were thrown off by their conviction that the second subject would follow a transition. As I have attempted to demonstrate, the second subject arrives on the heels of the first, leading them to search for a suitable passage beyond that point. |