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Piano Board => Student's Corner => Topic started by: allchopin on November 14, 2005, 08:14:20 PM

Title: Intermezzo Op. 118/2 - Roman-numeral analysis
Post by: allchopin on November 14, 2005, 08:14:20 PM
As the title suggests, I am looking to do a Roman-numeral analysis on Brahms' well-known intermezzo and I could use some advice.  First of all, would anyone be willing to go through the piece (sans the refrain around m. 76) together and discuss an appropriate analysis?  Second, are there any helpful websites dealing with a strictly Roman-numeral anlysis this specific piece (including figured bass, modulations, suspensions, etc.)?  Thanks for any help. 

First technical question: is the first measure (excluding anacrusis) a constant IV64 or IV - I with pedal point bass A?
Title: Re: Intermezzo Op. 118/2 - Roman-numeral analysis
Post by: brahmsian on November 15, 2005, 04:08:04 AM
You're talking about chords when referring to Roman numerals I assume?

I think the first measure would be IV- I sus4 (technically). The sus4 is wierd because it has the third in there. I don't think it would be a constant IV6/4. You can hear a distinct change in tonality.
Title: Re: Intermezzo Op. 118/2 - Roman-numeral analysis
Post by: allchopin on November 22, 2005, 05:05:19 AM
I'm not sure what suspension you're referring to (the D in the bass does not resolve), but I don't quite hear a complete shift in tonality.  He could just as well have written an E like the anacrusis, but did not choose to do this. 
Title: Re: Intermezzo Op. 118/2 - Roman-numeral analysis
Post by: pianistimo on November 22, 2005, 01:52:16 PM
there's several articles that i found that might be of some help:

 google: fulltext/Musicologica%206/Musicol6-13.pdf
 click on the article below it (about chromatic mediants)
   (on page 32)

https://depauwform.blogspot.com/2005_03_06_depauwform_archive.html
   (starting:  "this piece is gorgeous...)

other ideas

https://brahms.emu.edu.tr/music/dept/asli-thesis.pdf  (see chpt. 3)

https://orpheus.tamu.edu/couch/Professional/BrahmsOp118No6.pdf
(this last one, i think, has an example at the end of how to analyze brahms largely - instead of chord by chord)