Piano Concerto in G Minor Op. 10 I. Allegro un poco agitato

Cadenza: Listen to the piano cadenza. Consider how the composer is utilizing the full range of the piano. Ask students to consider how the composer moves the music from the upper to lower range of the piano. Identify moments when the piano is making a gradual ascent or descent, and then moments when the piano makes large jumps to move from one register to another. 

(Score: pg. 58-61, ms. 278-320)

Sequence: Listen as the piano plays a four note descending chromatic melodic idea! The orchestra then joins the piano, playing the same sequence material. 

Suggested Activity: Have students come up to the piano and play four descending chromatic notes. Each student can start their melody on a note right above or below the previous student, to create the musical sequence!

Syncopation: The opening features a syncopated melody which can be difficult to perceive since there is not a clear representation of the pulse in any other musical part! When the piano enters, the pulse is established and the listener can begin to perceive the melody as a syncopation. 

(Sheet music for reference)

Suggested Activity: 

• Play the Notable Passage 
• Ask students to clap to the beat of the piece (they will most likely clap along with the notes in the piano)
• Replay the opening of the piece with the teacher clapping the pulse (to show the syncopation)
• Discuss: Why do you think the composer wrote the opening rhythms this way? Do you think he was intentionally trying to be vague about hearing the rhythm as a syncopation? 

Chromatic / Modulation: A lengthy and chromatic modulation from B Major to G minor closes out the development. 

Chromatic lower neighbors, as well as ascending and descending chromatic lines of quarter notes are prominent here. They can be heard soon after in the string section, during the recapitulation!

(Score: pg. 31, ms. 150 - pg. 36, ms. 185)