Blog

Beethoven's Waldstein Sonata's first movement uses both harmonic and melodic sequences to modulate keys between sections. In measures 78-87, there is a modulation from the end of the E Major codetta of the exposition back to the C Major beginning of the exposition. In these few measures, there is a melodic sequence consisting of a quarter note two eighth notes in a downward motion motive. But there is also a harmonic sequence, where the harmony starts on E and goes up by a step to get to C.
Also, the second time through this part, continuing through measure 90, there is a modulation to D minor for the development. The melodic sequence is the same motive, and this time the harmonic sequence starts on a Bflat chord and goes down by steps to get to D.