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Music Appreciation 3e Kamien | |||||
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Music Appreciation 3e Kamien | |||||
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Instrumentation: flute, oboes (2), clarinets (2), bassoons (2), French horns (2), strings (typical classical orchestra)
Form: sonata form
1) The main theme is presented in the violins over a series of pulsating octaves in the lower strings. The theme is in g minor and is divided into two balanced phrases as illustrated below:
:20 The full orchestra enters to conclude the first
appearance of the main theme.
2) Bridge. This short bridge passage serves as a transition from the first theme to the second theme. Note the material is based on the main theme.
3) Lyrical melody (second theme), major key, strings and woodwinds. Note that the general character of this theme contrasts with the first (main) theme, e.g. the key has now shifted to B flat major. However, the melody retains the symmetry (A and B) of the first theme.
:10 The melody returns, although somewhat varied
(woodwinds and strings).
:29 Staccato passage, downward scale to
4) Closing section. This
section serves to formally bring the exposition to a close.
In this final passage it is important to note that the exposition
closes in the key of the second theme (B flat major).
5) The exposition is repeated note for note. (This was standard practice during the classical period in order to emphasize the importance of g minor as the home key and B flat major as the point of departure for the subsequent development section.)
6) The development section begins with the
woodwinds and leads to the strings.
:17 Full orchestra enters with a phrase from the first theme and
a countermelody.
1:04 Three note motive at the beginning of the first theme is
developed in the high violins and woodwinds.
1:13 High flutes and clarinets, three-note motive carried down to
7) Main theme reappears in the
tonic key (g minor)
:18 Full orchestra enters.
:24 Variation of first theme leading to next section.
:33 Full orchestra.
8) Lyrical melody (second theme), minor
key, strings and woodwinds. (The appearance of the second
theme in the tonic is is one of the most important
aspects of sonata form.)
:11 Woodwinds and strings, lyrical melody somewhat varied.
:24 Crescendo in full orchestra.
:43 Closing section. String sighs, three-note
motive in woodwinds, violins.
:53 Varied repetition of string sighs and three-note motive.
1:01 Downward scales, full orchestra.
9) Sudden, main-theme motive in
strings.
:11 Full orchestra, cadence in minor key.
Second theme enters, this time in the tonic key rather than B flat major. (This is one of the most important aspects of sonata form. The second theme, originally presented in a different key than the first, always appears in the tonic key in the recapitulation.)
