AoS 1: Classical Music 1600-1899
The Classical Era (c. 1750 – 1830)
Set work 2:
• W.A. Mozart: 1st movement from Symphony
No. 40 in G minor
The usual classical orchestra
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Larger than a Baroque orchestra
Larger string section (More players)
More woodwind instruments (often pairs)
Often has 2 trumpets and 2 timpani drums
The orchestra would probably been about
30-40 players altogether depending on the
size of the string section.
Mozart’s Orchestra for
‘Symphony No. 40 in G minor’
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Violins 1
Violins 2
Violas
‘Cellos
Basses
1 flute
2 oboes
2 clarinets
2 bassoons
2 horns
(8 players)
(6 players)
(4 players)
(4 players)
(2 players)
• BUT there are no trumpets or timpani in
this piece.
Features of the classical style
• Graceful melody lines
• Regular phrases, often of 8 bars (4 + 4)
- This is called Periodic phrasing
• The Melody dominates the texture
• Functional harmony; cadences important
• Musical structures have a sense of symmetry and
balance
• Contrasts in keys, melodies and dynamics
• Standard orchestra
Symphony
• A large – scale piece for orchestra
Usually in 4 movements
• 1st movement – Fast tempo – Sonata form structure
• 2nd mvt.
Slower tempo
• 3rd mvt.
Minuet and Trio structure
• 4th mvt.
Fast tempo
General Points for 1st mvt of Symphony
No. 40 by Mozart
• Tempo -The 1st movement is marked molto allegro (very fast). It
is so fast that the music has a feeling of ‘two in a bar’
• Time signature - The 1st movement is in 4/4 time
• Key signature -The home key is G minor
• Dynamics – The piece begins quietly – this is unusual
for the time. The volume of the music changes dramatically
throughout.
• Structure – the movement is in sonata form
• Instruments – usual classical orchestra but no trumpets or
timpani
Structure - Sonata Form
Symphony No.40 in G minor: 1st Mov – W. A. Mozart
1st Subject
1. Exposition
Bars 1-100
(REPEATED)
Key:
2. Development
Bars 101-164
Bridge Passage
B 1 – 20
B20-44
G minor
moving toward
(tonic)
22ndndSubject
Subject
Codetta
Codetta
BB 44
44 –– 72
72
B 73-100
B 73-100
B B major
major
(relative
(relativemajor)
major)
The music of the development section is based entirely on the opening
figure of the 1st subject. The music moves through various keys before
finishing on the dominant 7th chord ( D7) leading back to....
Not just a direct repeat of the exposition. The bridge passage is
extended and the coda is far more developed.
3. Recapitulation
1st Subject
Bars 164-299
B 164-184
Key:
Bridge Passage
B184-227
nd Subject
Codetta
2nd2Subject
Codetta
B 227-260 B 260-299
B 260-299
B 227-260
minor
G minor ....staying in ....... GGminor
(tonic)
(tonic)