The Symphony

The symphony is a large piece for Orchestra

The Symphony

Symphonies are divided into 4 Symphonies are divided into 4 MovementsMovements

Each Movement:Each Movement:

•Is like a separate piece of musicIs like a separate piece of music

•Has a beginning middle and endHas a beginning middle and end

•Starts and ends in the same Starts and ends in the same keykey

•Is marked at a certain Is marked at a certain tempotempo

The Symphony

The usual order of the movements is:The usual order of the movements is:

1.1. Fast Fast (Allegro)(Allegro)

2.2. Slow (Slow (Andante)Andante)

3.3. Fast Fast (Minuet or Scherzo)(Minuet or Scherzo)

4.4. FastFast – the exciting finale – the exciting finale

The Symphony

• a a sonatasonata for Orchestra. for Orchestra. • developed +made important by developed +made important by HaydnHaydn – –

wrote 104wrote 104• MozartMozart wrote 41. wrote 41. • By end of By end of ClassicalClassical period symphonies c 40 period symphonies c 40

minutes long minutes long • subsequently considered to be major subsequently considered to be major

undertakings, substantial works of musical undertakings, substantial works of musical art. art.

• ““symphonicsymphonic” = something on a creatively ” = something on a creatively large scale.large scale.

The Symphony• The orchestra of the Classical period had become The orchestra of the Classical period had become

standardisedstandardised• WoodwindWoodwind::• 2 flutes2 flutes• 2 oboes2 oboes• 2 clarinets ( a new instrument introduced by Mozart)2 clarinets ( a new instrument introduced by Mozart)• 2 Bassoons2 Bassoons• BrassBrass::• 2 or 4 French horns2 or 4 French horns• trumpets - used sparingly at the loudest moments of the first trumpets - used sparingly at the loudest moments of the first

and last movementsand last movements• StringsStrings::• violins I and II, Violas, Cellos and double basses. violins I and II, Violas, Cellos and double basses.

Several on each part, just like the string orchestra.Several on each part, just like the string orchestra.• PercussionPercussion• Usually just timpaniUsually just timpani

The Symphony

New concepts discussed on the DVDNew concepts discussed on the DVD•ContraryContrary motionmotion

–HarmonyHarmony parts moving in opposite directions parts moving in opposite directions

•Sonata formSonata form–Usually used for first movementsUsually used for first movements–Exposition: 2Exposition: 2 themes in two keys are introduced themes in two keys are introduced–DevelopmentDevelopment Themes are broken up and played by Themes are broken up and played by different sections in different keysdifferent sections in different keys–RecapitulationRecapitulation: themes return in original form but : themes return in original form but both in home keyboth in home key

The Symphony• MOZART SYMPHONY NO 40 in G minor• Towards the end of his life, Mozart's music

becomes more expressive and dramatic, anticipating the Romantic period

• Written in the Summer of 1788, 2 years before his death his wife was ill and his daughter Theresia had recently died

• There are 4 movements as before:– Allegro– Andante– Minuet and trio– Finale

The SymphonySymphony

First Movement First Movement – uses a simple – uses a simple motifmotif as a as a building block building block for the whole for the whole movement movement which features which features a a semitonesemitone ((chromaticchromatic))

• Classical Concerto

• 3 movements:– Allegro, ending with a cadenza- a solo section for

the solo instrument, showing off the players skills.– Slow Movement– Fast finale usually in Rondo Form:

• Rondo Form:

• The main theme keeps returning or “coming round” again

Rondo form is used in symphony and sonata movements too.

Famous Concerti- Classical• Mozart Piano Concerto in C

• Mozart Clarinet concerto

• Haydn trumpet concerto

• Mozart Horn Concerto

Beethoven’s 9th SymphonyOde To Joy

Beethoven’s 9th SymphonyBeethoven’s Symphonies were very influential:•He invented the scherzo•He made Symphonies serious compositions•His 5th symphony is also very famous:

His 6th symphony was the first to tell a storyThe Pastorale had 5 movements each one musically describing a scene from the countryside

Beethoven’s 9th SymphonyBeethoven’s Ninth was unusual in Beethoven’s Ninth was unusual in several ways:several ways:•He placed the scherzo secondHe placed the scherzo second•The movements are all linked The movements are all linked more obviouslymore obviously•The last movement is Choral, The last movement is Choral, containing the famous tune containing the famous tune Ode Ode To JoyTo Joy

Beethoven’s 9th SymphonyThe order of Movements:The order of Movements:

•FastFast

•ScherzoScherzo

•SlowSlow

•Choral finale Choral finale Ode To JoyOde To Joy

Dvorak’s 9th Symphony

Dvorak’s 9th Symphony

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Dvorak’s 9th Symphony

Written in 1892 during a visit to the USA

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

A mixture of nostalgic Czech style melodies and some Native American Indian flavoured music

Dvorak’s 9th Symphony

Order of movements:

Antonin Dvorak (1841-1904)

Scherzo

Allegro

Largo

Finale

Like Beethoven, in this Symphony Dvorak uses the some of the same tunes (themes) in different movements

Dvorak’s 9th SymphonyLargo

Played by a brass band, the main theme from the Largo was used for the Hovis advertisements in the early 1970s

The instrument playing the famous theme is the cor anglaisA relative of the oboe but sounding a bit lower

• The notes are removed from certain bars

• You need to write them back in, after hearing the music

• Usually the missing notes are a repetition of something already played

• So, you need to recognise which bit of the printed music is being played again

Famous Concerti- Romantic• Beethoven: Emperor Piano Concerto

• Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto

• Mendelssohn Violin Concerto

• Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No 2

• Rachmaninov Paganini variations

Romantic piano music• Piano was a very important instrument in the

Romantic period

• Used for solo pieces, Sonatas and “miniatures”

• Used for accompaniment of all other solo instruments and voice

• Concepts associated with piano– Speed change:

• Accelerando –making music speed up• Ritardando/Rallentando/Ritenuto – slowing down

gradually• Rubato – changing tempo (speed) for expressive effect

Concepts check• SymphonySymphony

– Large, 4 movement work for Large, 4 movement work for orchestraorchestra

• ChromaticChromatic– Semitone scaleSemitone scale

• ContraryContrary motionmotion– 2 melodies going in opposite 2 melodies going in opposite

directionsdirections• Minuet and trioMinuet and trio

– 33rdrd movement of classical movement of classical symphony-ternary form 3 symphony-ternary form 3 beats to the bar, contrasting beats to the bar, contrasting “B” section“B” section

• RondoRondo– ABACAD etc (scooby ABACAD etc (scooby

sandwich)sandwich)• ProgrammeProgramme musicmusic

– Music which tells a storyMusic which tells a story

• Modulation to Modulation to Relative minorRelative minor– Change of key to Change of key to

same key as chord 6same key as chord 6

• ScherzoScherzo– Compound time, Compound time,

faster replacement of faster replacement of Minuet in the Minuet in the symphony in the symphony in the Romantic period.Romantic period.