Dear Families,
Attached you will find a map that I have made to help your child understand and experience a “sonata form.” In the
upcoming concert on April 14th, the New Bedford Symphony Orchestra will perform Beethoven’s Eighth Symphony. The
first movement in Beethoven’s symphony represents a classic “sonata form.” I figured this would be a great opportunity to
familiarize the kids with this form and help them navigate their way through the first movement of the Beethoven.
I chose the concept of a map since “sonata form” is like a journey. In the first part of the sonata form, the Exposition, we
are home. We hear the main musical idea presented and that is our home base. From there we may just step out into the
backyard, where we hear the second musical idea. In the backyard, the view is different than in the house, so this melody
also sounds different from the first. Indeed, it contrasts the first idea of “home” in many ways.
The second part of “sonata form” is the Development. This is where we take a journey, leave home and set out to see
new sights and hear new sounds. The musical ideas from the Exposition get explored here. Beethoven alters them and
plays with them a bit.
The third part of the “sonata form” is the Recapitulation. This is where we return home. We return to the familiar musical
ideas that we heard in the Exposition. In the Recapitulation we also hear the Coda. The coda (means tail.. like a tail
ending) creates the grand ending to the entire movement.
In the next few pages, I have used illustrations to help your child explore the sonata form in Beethoven’s first movement of
his 8th symphony. The last page contains a legend that will define some of the concepts and terminology contained in the
map. I have also included the timeline below each picture so that you can know exactly (to the second) where you are
while you play the youtube link provided on the first page of the map. In addition, the kids may like to bring their map to
the concert on April 14th so that they can follow along as the orchestra performs it live!
You may want to encourage your child to create a map of their own in connection to another piece of music. It does not
have to be a sonata form, or even classical music, but a piece of music that they enjoy. They may use pictures or symbols
to illustrate the different parts of the piece. When they repeat the same picture or symbol, we know that the same music is
being repeated. When they create a new picture or symbol, we know that new music is being played. Have fun, and
encourage your child to be creative!
Terry Wolkowicz, NBSO Education Coordinator
Symphony No. 8 in F Major
by
Ludwig van Beethoven
First Movement: Allegro vivace e con brio
Sonata Form Listening Map
follow along with the youtube link below
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EI1jXTBZkk
EXPOSITION
Second Subject
Bridging Material
First Subject
D
F
first
time
second
time
C
0:00-0:13
0:13-0:41
0:41-0:52
0:52-0:59
1:55-2:07
2:07-2:35
2:35-2:45
2:45-2:53
Bridging Material
C
Codetta
C
0:59-1:18
1:18-1:55
2:53-3:11
3:11-3:48
THIS PAGE IS
PLAYED TWO
TIMES
DEVELOPMENT
Can you draw a path that winds through the development?
C
3:48-5:23
RECAPITULATION
First Subject
Bridging Material
Second Subject
F
F
5:23-5:45
5:45-6:12
6:12-6:50
Coda
Codetta
F
6:50-7:52
F
7:52-8:52
Notice how the
movement ends
with the music from
the very first
measure. The first
sounds of the
movement and the
very last sounds are
the same!
LEGEND
Exposition is the first section of the sonata form where the main musical ideas are
presented.
Development is the second section of the sonata form where the composer
varies and alters music from the exposition.
Recapitulation is the third section of the sonata form where the music from the
exposition returns.
F means the key of F, or a specific collection of notes starting with F.
D means the key of D, or a specific collection of notes starting with D.
C means the key of C, or a specific collection of notes starting with C.
First Subject means the first and main musical idea in the piece.
Second Subject means the second and contrasting musical idea in the piece.
Bridging Material creates a transition and helps make connections between musical
ideas in a piece.
Codetta creates an ending to a section in the piece iod at the end of a sentence).
Coda is the last part of the sonata form which brings the movement to final ending.