Classical Period
1750-1825
Sonata Cycle
• Four movement plan common in
symphonies, sonatas, and other
works of the Classical period FSDF
Sammartini Symphony
• First Movement
• An immature version of Sonata Allegro
Form
• Exposition is repeated, and has two
themes, but they are very short
• Development and Recapitulation are
repeated (not typical later on)
Sammartini Symphony
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First Movement
Classical characteristics?
Frequent pauses
Changes of themes
Crescendo/decrescendo
Binary form brings back the original
theme in original key
Sonata Cycle
• Fast - most sophisticated movement more sections - twists and turns.
• Slow - usually a Theme and Variations,
or ABA form. Easier to listen to and
follow.
• Dance-like - triple meter Minuet and Trio
form. Even easier to listen to.
• Fast - often Rondo - easiest of all to
listen to.
Sonata Cycle
• Four movement plan common in
symphonies, sonatas, and other works
of the Classical period - FSDF
• Philosophy - Hit the listener with the
hardest material first while their brain is
still fresh!!!
Sonata-Allegro Form
• Also acceptable to call it just
Sonata form - See the book on pp
125-131 for a description and
diagram
Sonata Allegro
Form
• - The form (formula) that you
will find for the first movement
of EVERY work from the
Classical Period. Consists of
three main parts: Exposition,
Development, Recapitulation,
and smaller Coda ('tail').
Exposition
• First section, where the keys and
themes are “exposed” for the
listener. Theme 1 in home key,
transition modulates, Theme 2 in
new key, closing section. The
exposition is played twice.
Development
• The second section. Themes 1 and
2 are fragmented and made into
motives. Constant modulation with
NO occurrence of the home key.
Lots of tension, and even
polyphonic texture. At the end of
nearly every development, you can
sense that it?s "running out of
steam".
Recapitulation
• The third section. You hear the
home key coincide with Theme 1
again. Your ear remembers this
sound from the very beginning.
Structurally, the recapitulation is
like the exposition, except that
there is NOMODULATION IN THE
RECAPITULATION. Theme 2 is in
the home key.
Coda
• "tail"; the very end of a movement.
Nothing new, just a nice big
cadence to signify that THIS IS
THE END.
Symphony
• A Multi-movement work for
orchestra. Usually, the work is in 4
movements and follows the
standard “Sonata cycle” Fast-SlowDancelike-Fast plan.
Sonata - Allegro Form
Exposition
Development
Recapitulation
Coda
Themes broken
into fragments
Theme 1
Transition
modulates
(listen to the
descending
bass line)
Constant
modulation
Polyphonic texture
(Running
out
of
steam)
Theme 1
NO HOME KEY
home key
Pause
and change of mood
Theme 2
newkey
home key
closing section
This Is The End
The Exposition
is then repeated
Big
cadence
Transition
Theme 2
closing section
home key
no change of key
(no modulation)
W.A. Mozart
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1756-1791
Composed first pieces at age 5
First symphony at age 8.
First opera at age 12.