Annotation for Headlam, David
A Rhythmic Study of the Exposition of the Second Movement of Beethoven's Quartet Op. 59, No. 1
Annotation (by Bill Tilghman):
- The primary claim of this article is that the large-scale
structure of the exposition of this movement is derived from a
rhythmic pattern stated in the first four measures. After
outlining briefly the Schenkerian research in rhythm (mainly by
Schachter and Rothstein) that forms the theoretical framework for
his analysis, Headlam quotes Schachter's characterization of the
rhythm of the opening four measures, in which eighth notes twice
"block the development of a forward momentum" attempted by the
sixteenth notes, with the sixteenths successfully developing this
momentum towards their "goal" (the downbeat of m. 4) only on
their third try (see Schachter
1976). Headlam follows this with his own detailed
analysis of the exposition as a whole, in which he highlights the
aspects of the exposition that are structurally analogous to the
first four measures. Specifically, Headlam identifies in the
first key area of the exposition three "consequent phrases," the
first two of which are "blocked" in their "forward momentum" by
metric expansions and lengthy prolongations of the mediant, in
the same way that the eighth notes block the momentum in mm. 1-4.
Only the third consequent phrase successfully reaches its goal,
the modulation and transition to the second key area. Headlam
closes by briefly discussing the "illusory significance" that is
given to the metric expansions; this contributes to the
difficulty of defining the form of the movement.
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