MUSICAL COMPOSITION

58 MUSICAL COMPOSITIONhowever, as the theme is, it has three contrasts ofphrase, thus:IIII.~f~ 1/4 C gc~1$ ry-@IJ f9!'I ~ 1 I J PdYiT+ I DThere we must note (a) the staccato notes in I.; (b)the slurs in II.; (c) the skips, and the group of semiquaversin III.; (d) the general "lie" of the theme,such as the descending scale in the first half, which initself forms no small part of the variation scheme.How does Beethoven develop this "Three Blind Mice"material?(The student must now compare the followinganalysis with the pianoforte copy.)Var. 1. The theme itself varied and ornamented,the harmony enriched, a most interesting bass added toII., and the end of II. made melodically beautiful.III. rhythmically altered as well as melodically, thesemi quaver movement being transferred to the middleof the second part. The close altered to an ending onthe fifth, which carries on the feeling of expectation.Var. 2. A persistent figure throughout in sharp