Refer to the snip below of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5" from class to answer the question.

Question

Identify the motive and the theme in the example below.

Question 4 options:

A and B are the same length and contain the same musical material.

A is the motive because it is a short pattern. B is the theme because it is the longer melody of the piece.

A is the motive because it is the main melody of the song. B is the theme because it is much shorter than A.

Answer 1

In the context of Beethoven's "Symphony No. 5," the correct identification is:

A is the motive because it is a short pattern. B is the theme because it is the longer melody of the piece.

The motive typically refers to a brief, distinctive musical idea (often just a few notes), while the theme is a longer, more developed melody that can incorporate or expand upon that motive. In this case, A serves as a recognizable short pattern, characteristic of the symphony, and B presents the fuller thematic material.