“Classical” Forms

1750-1825

Forms

Binary (Baroque dances i.e., Bourree)

AABB

Baroque Concerto (Vivaldi Spring)

ABACADA – main theme returns after each episode

Forms (cont.)

• ABA - Elvis Costello – For Other Eyes

ABA form

• En Los Trigales by Rodrigo• From in-class guitar recital 4/13/11

• ABA

Form (cont.)

• AABA – Duke Ellington “Take the A Train”

• Smaller form of tune itself, bigger form of the whole work is AA1A2A3A4…A

• Theme and Variations

Sonata Cycle

•Four movement plan common in symphonies, sonatas, and other works of the Classical period - FSDF

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-Slow-Dancelike-Fast plan.

Exposition Development Recapitulation Coda

Bigcadence

home key home keyhome key

new key

Theme 1

Theme 2

Pauseand change of mood

Themes brokeninto fragments

Constantmodulation

Polyphonic texture

NO HOME KEY

(Running out of steam)

Transition modulates (listen to the descending bass line) Theme 1 Theme 2Transition

no change of key(no modulation)closing section

closing section

Sonata - Allegro Form

This Is The End

The Expositionis then repeated

String Quartet

•(2 meanings) –•1. 4 string instruments, 2 violins (each playing a separate part), viola, and violoncello (cello).

String Quartet

•2. The name of the work that a string quartet plays is called a string quartet.

String Quartet Form

• Haydn set out the main form for the String Quartet.

• 1st movement: Sonata Form, Allegro and in the Home key,

• 2nd movement: Slow, in a related (but not the Home) key,

• 3rd movement: Minuet and Trio, in the Home key,

• 4th movement: Sonata-Rondo form, in the Home Key.

Rondo Form

• A is the main theme• All contrasting themes are given a letter• A comes back “around”• Diagram looks like:• ABACABADA etc.

• Form of Haydn’s Trumpet Concerto