Ferdinand Beyer - 3 Morceaux de salon, Op. 119, No. 2 - Élégie de H. W. Ernst

Measures 1-5, marked Adagio melancolico ed appassionato in 12/8 at the start, begin with a descending line that passes from the upper to the lower register. Sustained low tones and upper chords alternate with rests before a flowing lower broken-chord figure introduces the melody.

Measures 6-30 introduce a slurred single-note melody, marked ben cantabile, above flowing lower broken chords and bass notes. Grace notes, short rising replies, and descending figures expand into paired notes, octaves, and longer upper runs. Repeated upper notes alternate with chromatic flourishes before a broader octave phrase closes the section.

Measures 31-55 broaden the melody into upper octaves and chords above lower broken chords and recurring bass notes. Chromatic changes and fuller chord replies alternate with quieter single-note figures, trills, and wide rising and falling runs. The melody moves into the lower register above repeated lower chords before returning to stronger upper octave phrases.

Measures 56-67 introduce repeated rising and falling upper arpeggios above sustained lower tones and changing chord notes. Repeated upper octaves alternate with chromatic descending lines and wider runs. Emphatic chord phrases and a quieter rising figure lead to the key change.

Measures 68-74, beginning with Tempo and a change to E major, introduce broad upper chords and octave phrases above continuous lower sixteenth-note chord figures. Sustained upper tones alternate with short descending replies and accented rising phrases, then the texture becomes quieter.

Measures 75-78 introduce a quieter phrase marked espressivo above lower moving tones. Upper chords and paired-note figures rise and fall through chromatic changes, with fuller accents followed by a slowing descending reply.

Measures 79-85 begin with Tempo and repeated low octaves beneath sustained upper chords and short descending phrases. Moving lower arpeggios return beneath quieter upper replies. Rising figures and soft chords, marked perdendosi near the end, close with a high chord followed by rests.