Music and appreciation

Exposition (First Movement of a Sonata/Symphony)

• Two main themes (melodies) are introduced. These two themes must have a different character (if the first is, say, joyful, the second should be more melancholy...) Most importantly, these two themes must be in different keys

• The exposition is always repeated.

1. ex. if theme 1 is in the scale of C major, the second theme should be in G majo

Modulation

The process of changing keys

• modulating in music is not easy; if the composer is a bit clumsy, the changing of keys will sound forceful and awkward.

development (First Movement of a Sonata/Symphony.)

when the melodies heard in the exposition are manipulated. One can do this by using sequences, variation, ornamentation, etc. It allows room for creativity, as long as the composer relies on the materials heard in the exposition (i.e. he should not introduce new melodies, for example).

Recapitulation (First Movement of a Sonata/Symphony.)

when theme and melody of the exposition return BUT BOTH IN THE SAME KEY (i.e. there is no modulation in between both themes, as it happened in the exposition)

Coda (First Movement of a Sonata/Symphony.)

the end of a piece: the anticipation of the end, the big finale

Sonata

An extended piece for a SOLO INSTRUMENT (usually the piano) divided into four movements. Each movement follows a very precise structure that composers must follow carefully

Symphony

an extended piece for a FULL ORCHESTRA divided into four movements. Each movement follows a very precise structure that composers must follow carefully. As you can see, the only difference between sonata and symphony is the medium (the instruments)

Rondo

• The 4th movement of a sonata or symphony follows the pattern

• There is one main melody that is always followed by a different melody. After that, the main melody returns, and the pattern continues.

1. main melody); B (different melody); A (main melody returns); C (another different melody)

The four movements in a sonata or symphony

1. Allegro (fast tempo)

2. Adagio (slow tempo)

3. Minuet (neither fast nor slow; it is a movement based on a dance called a minuet. The minuet was a courtly dance back then, in triple meter, similar to the waltz.

4. Allegro (fast tempo)

we only discuss the 1st and 4th one

Mozart, First movement of Symphony no. 40

• Able to develop the movement from a basic rhythm of three notes: ta-ta-TA, or short-short-LONG (you hear that in the violins at the very beginning. Then, it will keep recurring all over the movement, whether in the exposition, development, recapitulation, or coda. Sometimes it’s the violins who play it; sometimes a low-pitched instrument like the double bass or the bassoon, etc. It’s always present.

1. This is how he applies LOGIC (a distinctive classical trait) to his music

Beethoven, First movement of Symphony no. 5

His rhythmic cell (in music, we call it a “motive”) is made of four notes: ta-ta-ta-TA, or short-short-short-LONG. This will recur throughout the movement, almost at all times.