Don't ever get Beethoven...

Don't ever get Beethoven to write a funeral march for you.

Beethoven's sonata in Ab-Dur, Op. 26, is a series of variations, the third of which is a "marcia funebre sulla morte d'un eroe" ("funeral march for the death of a hero"). It commences with the same flavor as Chopin's well-known funeral march: The melody is played by quadruple chords in the bass clef which simultaneously beat out the plodding rhythym. The melody moves very little, conveying a great solemnity. There is considerable dynamic variation which allows for pathetic expression. In short, it's a perfect funeral march.

Then comes the middle section of the march, and the sad, stately melody is swept aside by what can best be described as a clown frolick. There are these playful alternating thirty-second notes in major key, and they are answered with a comical high-pitched two-note retort. "Nananana-nananana-nananana-nananana-na -- wah wah!!" This is exactly the sort of thing Bugs Bunny would dance to while performing hi-jinks.

After this inexplicable interlude, the sonata returns to the funereal theme and concludes the movement. Wotta guy, that Beethoven.