The symphony is rightly viewed as the crowning achievement of Viennese Classical music.

  • Opening Movement
    • tempo: fast/moderate
    • form: sonata form (sometimes preceded by a slow Introduction)
  • Slow Movement
    • tempo: slow/very slow
    • form: no standard form (sometimes sonata form, variation form, rondo)
  • Minuet (with Trio)
    • tempo: moderate
    • form: minuet form
  • Closing Movement
    • tempo: fast/very fast
    • form: sonata form or rondo form

Sonata Form

This form is full of contrast of every kind.

sonata form is of A B A' form, usually with repetitions |:A:||:B A':| or |:A:| B A'.

  1. Exposition: [tonic key] first theme, [second key] bridge, second theme, cadence theme.
  2. Development: [modulation] Various themes developed, Re-transition.
  3. Recapitulation: [tonic key] first theme, bridge, second theme, cadence theme.

Exposition (A)

  1. To begin, a main is presented in the tonic key. This first theme may be a tune, a group of small phrases or simply a motive or two with a memorable rhythmic character. This may be repeated.
  2. After the first theme is firmly establish, there will be a transition in key or modulation. This part is of tension.
  3. Now comes the second group. The second theme contrast with the first them in melody, rhythm, dynamics and so on, as well as in key.
  4. The last theme in the second group is the cadence theme to make a solid ending prior to a full stop and the big repeat.

This A (exposition) section was almost always repeated.

Development (B)

The following section heightens the tonal-thematic tension set up by the contrasting themes and keys of the exposition. Most development sections use counterpoint to create a sense of breakup and turmoil. The modulation is never stable. the last modulation of the development section returns to the first key. The passage that accomplishes this is called the retransition.

Recapitulation (A’)

With a real sense of relief, we will hear the first theme again followed by all other themes and elements of the exposition with minor changes–every thing is remained in the tonic key so as to make A’ more stable.

Coda

This optional section wraps up every thing.

Minuet Form (Classical Dance Form, or Ternary Form)

Baroque minuet form | Minuet | Trio | Minuet | |————-|————-|——–| | A | B | A | | |:a:||:b:| | |:c:||:d:| | a b |

Classical minuet form | Minuet | Trio | Minuet | |————-|————-|——–| | A | B | A | | |:a:||:b a':| | |:c:||:d c:| | a b a'|

Rondo Form

A B A C A coda

A B A C A B A

A B A C A D A

A B A coda

–and others

The main tune (A) comes back again and again. If the A tune falls into the favoriate |:a:||:b a:|, then the repetitions may present only a b a' or a b or simply a.