Poulenc sonata for horn, trumpet and trombone

Yellow is B/C Purple is 20thC

Style/ Genre

Neoclassical

Structure ( 5)

. Modified Ternary form

. Regular phrasing in A section

. Poulenc exaggerates the contrast between A and B sections with a modulation to a relatively distant key (Eb from G), change of tempo and drastic change of mood from spiky to lyrical

. He bridges the gap between the end of the B going back to A by adding a linking passage that is similar to B in tonality but to A in general feeling

. The end of the first A section has a humorous codetta that augments the rhythm of the opening idea before modulating into the minor as it passes between instruments

Harmony (5)

. Prominently Functional Harmony especially at opening (I IV V I opening chords)

. Mostly diatonic with some chromaticism

. Lots of harmonisation in 6ths between horn and trumpet ie bar 9

. Occasional dissonance hints at 20th century influence

. Use of perfect cadences at the end of most phrases

Melody (6)

. Regular phrasing in A section

. Mostly conjunct

. Triadic

. Lots of repetition

. Use of ornamentation

. The beginning motif goes through transformations, including rhythmic augmentation at the end of the A section

Texture (6)

.imitation

.mostly homophonic

.occasional monophonic bars

.Use of unison+ doubled at the octave

.Oom-pah accompaniment in bridge section

. Extensive use of doubling in 6ths and thirds eg in the second part of A section

Instrumentation (6)

.horn, trumpet and brass is an unusual combination

. the timbre of the brass, however makes for a quasi baroque sound

.use of horn is quite 20th century, especially the descending semi-quaver scales at the end of phrases

.large leaps in trumpet at the end of B section is an unusual use of the instrument

.in the A section reprise, horn and trombone swap roles with the horn taking on the bass part

.trombone would not have been used in the baroque era

Rhythm, metre, tempo, duration

.frequent tempo changes

.frequent time signature changes

.use os semiquavers in horns is unusual for the instrument

.use of fermatas

.some syncopation

.rhythmic augmentation at the end of the A section