Beethoven was the Classical era’s psychological architect. He knew how his audience listened, and for how long. Hear how he manipulates attention spans in the finale of his “Pathétique” Piano Sonata (Op. 13). The opening theme runs 17 measures. By the time it returns, Beethoven knows listeners know it, and so begin the shortenings and compressions, the squeezing of longer material into smaller spaces.

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