Mozart: “Symphony No. 40
in G minor
Area of Study 1
Sonata form
– a very basic overview
Exposition
Development
Nice music which includes Composer gets creative
two contrasting
– subjects are played but
melodies (subjects)
in lots of different ways
Recapitulation
Pretty much a repeat
performance of the first
section – a welcome
return to the music at the
start.
Sonata Form – a basic overview
Exposition
1st
subject
2nd
subject
Recapitulation
Development
1st
2nd
subject subject
Sonata form – an overview
Exposition (repeated)
1st
Subject
Bridge
passage
2nd
Subject
Tonic key
Where the
key change
(modulation)
happens
In a
different
key
Recapitulation
Development
Composer develops the two
subjects in many different
ways.
1st
Subject
A repeat
from
before
Bridge
passage
2nd
Subject
This
This time
section
, this
happens subject is
but no key also in
change
the tonic
this time
key
Sonata in more Detail
Exposition
Two contrasting themes
1st Subject: G minor
2nd Subject: Bb major
Bridge Passage
Development
No new ideas
Recapitulation
Ideas from exposition
repeated
Develop ideas mainly
from the 1st subject but
also 2nd subject
Bridge passage
extended
Exploration of different
keys not heard in
exposition
The coda is a further
development of the 3 note
from the 1st subject
Avoidance of tonic/
dominant keys
2nd subject remains in
tonic as piece needs to
end in tonic key
Codetta
Section is repeated
The mood of the whole piece/ each section
 1st and 2nd subject have contrasting themes:
1st Subject:
The mood of the whole piece/ each section
2nd Subject
The mood of the whole piece/ each section
 The development of the 1st subject
The mood of the whole piece/ each section
 Fast tempo
 Serious and dramatic
 Exciting
 Dramatic G minor key
 1st subject being dominated by strings section
 2nd subject, pathètique mood - dialogue between
woodwind and strings
The purpose of the exposition
 The main purpose of the exposition is to
expose the main themes
 The first theme: First subject
 Bridge Passage
 The second theme: Second subject
Analysis
Section
Sub
section
Detail
Exposition
1st Subject
(bars 1-28)
•G minor
•No introduction
•1st idea bars 1-9
•2nd idea bars 9-14
•1st 3 notes repeated motif
•Sequence
•Dominated by strings
Bridge
Passage
(bars 28-43)
•Modulates to the relative
major (Bb)
•More chromatic
•Woodwind provide harmonic
filling in texture
•Horns enter
•Descending sequence from
strings
2nd Subject
(bars 44-72)
•Bb major
•Theme shared by strings
and woodwind
•Swap parts from bars 44-51
& 52-58
•Mood – graceful pathetique –
chromatic descent: grief &
sadness
•1 bar sequences
•Chromatic passages
Codetta (72100)
•Modulates from Bb major to
G minor
•Based on 3 note motif
•Homophonic texture (bars
88-100)
•Imitation (Clarinets and
Bassoons)
•Canon between upper and
lower strings (bars 73-88)
Bars 101164
•Based on 3 note motif in 1st
subject
•Chromatic harmony
•Woodwind provide chordal
harmonic support – thickens
texture
•Constant exploration of
keys!
Development
Section
Recapitulation
Sub
section
Detail
1st Subject (164-184)
•G minor (exactly the same
as exposition)
Bridge Passage (184227)
•Still in tonic key
•Extended to 51 bars
•Structural balance to form &
extended ideas
•Bass counter-melody against
theme (bars 191-197)
•Modulates to different keys but
comes back to the tonic
2nd Subject (227-260)
•Played in tonic key
•Like the exposition
•1 bar sequences
Coda (261-299)
•3 note motif passed
between Woodwind
•Imitation
•Homophonic texture
Possible Questions
 In what century was this piece of music composed?
 What style is this piece of music written in?
 Comment on how Mozart uses the following musical elements
in No.40 in G minor:
 Instruments
 Melody
 Dynamics
 Tonality and Harmony
 Form and Structure
 Remember to use correct musical vocabulary where
appropriate
Mozart: “Symphony No. 40
in G minor
Area of Study 1