Pathétique

Pathétique is a musical epithet used to describe works intended to evoke strong emotion, especially sadness or deep sentiment. Derived from the French adjective pathétique, the term conveys pathos rather than a strict technical description. In practice, it is often used by publishers, editors, and concert programs rather than as an official title chosen by the composers themselves. The word can appear in various languages as Pathétique or Pathetique.

The best-known example is Beethoven’s Piano Sonata No. 8 in C minor, Op. 13, commonly called the Pathétique. Composed in the late 1790s and published in 1799, the work is famous for its dramatic contrasts, especially a grave first movement and an expressive second movement. Beethoven did not title the sonata Pathétique in the manuscript; the epithet arose from later publication and reception, linking the music’s intensity with a sense of profound pathos.

Another prominent instance is Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, commonly referred to as the Pathétique or Pathetique. Composed in 1893, it is associated with emotional depth and tragedy, and the epithet appears in many languages and programs, reflecting the work’s somber and intensely personal character. As with Beethoven’s sonata, the label is not a formal designation by the composer but a posthumous or editorial designation that has endured in reception.

In broader use, Pathétique can describe other Romantic-era works marked by heightened emotional expression. The term’s emotional connotation varies with language and context, ranging from moving to melodramatic.