| It is divided into four 'movements' the orchestra | | | | instead of going to a different home pitch. The |
| stops between the parts. The first movement is | | | | closing theme comes along and the first |
| fast, the second slow, the third medium, and the | | | | movement is done. |
| fourth fast. The feeling is like a novel an | | | | In the second movement, you get to hear the |
| attention-attracting beginning, a slow, romantic | | | | composer's best melody-writing and you can |
| section, a medium part that brings the story to | | | | enjoy the feelings of a beautiful song. |
| its peak, and a fast ending where you can't wait | | | | The third movement is in an old dance form called |
| to find out what happens. | | | | the minuet. The minuet is in waltz timing (ONE |
| The first movement of a symphony shares the | | | | two three ONE two three). There is a feeling of |
| same form as the first movement of a sonata, a | | | | happiness about a minuet it has one tune for 8 |
| piece for a solo piano or a solo instrument | | | | measures, which is repeated, then another tune |
| accompanied by piano. Allegro means fast, so | | | | for 8 measure, repeated. It moves to the trio, |
| sonata-allegro means a certain form, played | | | | where you have two more 8 measure tunes that |
| quickly. | | | | are repeated. Then, you move back into the |
| The sonata-allegro form begins with a tune. In | | | | minuet tunes.. |
| Beethoven's Fifth Symphony, it is the dah dah dah | | | | The last movement can have any number of |
| daaaaaaaah sequence. Then it goes to a | | | | different forms it could be sonata-allegro again or |
| contrasting tune that has a different sound | | | | it could be rondo form. Rondo is ABACADAEA, |
| because the home pitch is different from the first | | | | where A is a main tune and all the other alphabet |
| tune. Finally, there is a closing tune that brings the | | | | letters are contrasting tunes. It's a fun form to |
| whole thing to an ending. It's like the end of a | | | | listen to because it's interesting to hear how the |
| sentence in the middle of a paragraph. The two | | | | composer will create a new contrasting tune after |
| tunes and the closing theme comprise the | | | | each repetition of the A tune. |
| exposition, which lays out the materials that will | | | | When you first listen to symphonies, it may be |
| be used in the rest of the movement. | | | | hard to identify all these features. I would |
| In the development section, the composer takes | | | | recommend listening to Haydn and Mozart |
| snippets from the tunes in the exposition. One | | | | because the elements of form are clear in their |
| snippet might be played several times using | | | | works. After you have listened for form many |
| different pitches. | | | | times, hearing the form won't require so much |
| Finally there is the recapitulation, which is like the | | | | concentration. Then you will be able to hear a |
| exposition, with one difference. When the second | | | | symphony, maintain your interest, and enjoy it. |
| theme comes along, it remains in the original key | | | | |