Development of the Symphony - Eduqas A Level Music

Strings (From "Dominant" to "Textural & Virtuosic")

1. Stamitz (Mvt 1): Strings play the "Mannheim Rocket" and "Roller".

- Status & Role: Dominant Force. Carries 90% of melodic material. Violins 1 & 2 often play in unison or octaves.

- Key Technique / Feature: Scarcely Independent. Violas often double Cellos/Bass (Basso Continuo).

2. Haydn 104 (Mvt 1): Violins trade themes with Flute/Oboe.

- Status & Role: Dialogue. Still primary, but now passes melodies to woodwind.

- Key Technique / Feature: Antiphony. Strings play a phrase, Woodwind answers.

3. Beethoven 3 (Mvt 1): Driving syncopated rhythms in violins; Cello plays the main theme (Heroic).

- Status & Role: Power & Agility. Used for aggressive rhythmic drive, not just melody.

- Key Technique / Feature: Tremolo & Sforzando. Rapid bowing for tension; heavy accents.

4. Berlioz (Mvt 4): Strings play pizzicato to represent falling head; Divisi basses create dense, muddy texture.

- Status & Role: Sonority Effects. Used for "colour" and "narrative" rather than just notes.

- Key Technique / Feature: Extended Techniques: Pizzicato (plucking), Col Legno (wood of bow), Con Sordini (mutes), Divided Sections (Divisi).

5. Tchaikovsky 6 (Mvt 4): Famous "Crossed-voicing" in the main theme creates an ambiguous, rich sorrow.

- Status & Role: Emotional Texture. Used to create psychological effects/suffering.

- Key Technique / Feature: Crossed Voicing. Vln 1 and Vln 2 cross over each other to create a "sobbing" tone colour.

6. Strauss Don Juan: Notoriously difficult opening runs (in terms of difficulty and range) and complex rapid chromatic runs; pushed to physical limit.

- Status & Role: Virtuosity. Extreme technical difficulty and range.

- Key Technique / Feature: Harmonic Overlap: While the woodwinds might hold a solid chord, the strings play rapid, non-syncopated scales or arpeggios that "wash" over the chord tones, creating a shimmering "swoosh" effect.

Woodwind (From "Doubling" to "Soloists")

1. Stamitz (Mvt 1): Oboes/Horns present but mostly just doubling strings or holding harmony notes.

- Status & Role: Optional / Doubling. Used to reinforce string volume.

- Key Technique / Feature: Harmonic Filler. Sustained notes (pedals) or doubling the violin melody.

2. Haydn 104 (Mvt 4): Prominent Oboe and Flute solos in the "Folk" theme sections.

- Status & Role: Independent Colour. The "Wind Section" is established as a separate choir.

- Key Technique / Feature: Solo Lines. Distinct melodies given to Flute/Oboe.

3. Beethoven 3 (Mvt 1): Woodwinds take the "New Theme" in the development section (in E minor).

- Status & Role: Equal Partners. Woodwinds carry the development of themes alongside strings.

- Key Technique / Feature: Interlocking. Winds and Strings lock together for heavy chords.

4. Berlioz (Mvt 4): Solo Clarinet plays the Idée Fixe (the "Beloved") at the end; 4 Bassoons create a grotesque marching sound.

- Status & Role: Narrative Voice. Specific instruments represent "Characters."

- Key Technique / Feature: Extreme Registers. Using the squeaky high or growling low range for effect.

5. Strauss Don Juan: Full woodwind section including Piccolo and Contrabassoon; virtuosic solos woven into the texture.

- Status & Role: Orchestral Expansion. New instruments added to extend range (Piccolo, Cor Anglais, Bass Clarinet, Contrabassoon).

- Key Technique / Feature: The "New" Colours. Darker, richer tones used for atmosphere.

Brass From "Harmonic Glue" to "The Heavy Artillery"

1. Stamitz (Mvt 1): Horns/Trumpets only play pedal notes or fanfares at cadence points.

- Status & Role: Harmonic Support. Restricted by technology (Natural instruments = no valves).

- Key Technique / Feature: Crooks & Harmonic Series. Could only play notes of the key (Tonic/Dominant).

2. Haydn 104: Trumpets and Horns used primarily for volume in the "Tutti" chords.

- Status & Role: Reinforcement. Used to mark "Tutti" (loud) sections.

- Key Technique / Feature: Fanfares. Rhythmic punching at cadences (Perfect Cadence reinforcement).

3. Beethoven 3 (Mvt 1): 3 Horns used (unusual). Horn plays the main "Heroic" theme in the Recap (famous "early entry").

- Status & Role: Thematic Expansion. Beginning to take melodic roles despite lack of valves.

- Key Technique / Feature: Number of Horns. Increased from 2 to 3 to allow more harmonic possibilities.

4. Berlioz (Mvt 4): Uses Ophicleide/Tuba and Trombones for the "Doom" sound; massive brass chords.

- Status & Role: Technological Revolution. Introduction of Valves allows chromatic movement.

- Key Technique / Feature: New Instruments. Ophicleide (early Tuba)/2 Tubas, Cornets, Trombones introduced to Symphony.

5. Strauss Don Juan: Massive Horn section (4+ horns) playing complex, soaring, chromatic melodies (the "Hero" theme).

- Status & Role: Dominance. Can play soft chorales or massive walls of sound.

- Key Technique / Feature: Chromatic Agility. Brass can now play complex melodies just like strings.

Percussion From "Timpani Only" to "Battery of Colour"

1. Stamitz: Often no percussion, or simple Timpani reinforcing the bass.

- Status & Role: Absent or Basic. Often just Timpani (or none).

- Key Technique / Feature: Tonic/Dominant. Timpani tuned to I and V only.

2. Haydn 104: Timpani used to underline the loud "Tutti" sections and cadences.

- Status & Role: Rhythmic Emphasis. Reinforcing the beat.

- Key Technique / Feature: Cadential Support. Rolls or hits at cadences.

3. Beethoven 3: Timpani used more aggressively for dramatic accents in the development.

- Status & Role: Dramatic Integration. Used for tension, not just beat.

- Key Technique / Feature: Ostinato. Repeated rhythmic patterns to drive momentum.

4. Berlioz (Mvt 4): 4 Timpanists needed to create a "rumble" chord; Cymbals/Bass Drum used for the "March" rhythm.

- Status & Role: Programmatic Sound. Used to create sound effects (Thunder, Marching, Doom).

- Key Technique / Feature: Chordal Timpani. Using multiple players to play chords. New Instruments: Cymbals, Bass Drum, Snare.

5. Tchaikovsky 6 (Mvt 4): Tam-tam (Gong) used for a non-rhythmic, terrifying crash (symbolizing death).

- Status & Role: Colour & Atmosphere. Massive variety of instruments.

- Key Technique / Feature: The "Battery". Triangle, Glockenspiel, Tam-tam, Cymbals all standard.

New Instrument Summary

- Piccolo / Trombones: Beethoven (Symphony 5/6/9)

- Ophicleide (Tuba): Berlioz (Symphonie Fantastique).

- Cor Anglais: Dvorak 9 (New World)/Berlioz (Mvt 3).

- Harp: Berlioz (Mvt 2)/Strauss (Don Juan).

- Percussion Battery (Cymbal/Triangle): Haydn 100 "Military" (rare early example)/Berlioz/Tchaikovsky.