Mozart symphony no.40

Date

1788

Overview

One of the only two Mozart symphonies that begin and end in minor key. Also notable for the two note upbeat motif beginning

3rd mvt/minuet

Stays in g minor and is very stormy - triple time dance feel disrupted by frequent syncopations and hemiolas. Trio brings slight relief with elegant g major

Melody/theme

Melody at the beginning of 1st mvt is comprised of short melodic ideas however the overall effect is a lyrical melody with the emphasis on the broad sweep of each phrase. Similar to haydn 94, where the melody is relentless series of repetitions and developments of motivic ideas with less emphasis on longer line

Texture

3rd mvt uses imitation to build up to the cadences of each section of the minuet

Rhythmn

Hemiolas and syncopation used in the 3rd mvt to interrupt the triple time dance feel