Reflections of Chapters 12-13

            In Chapters 12 and 13 of Listen, the book discusses the enlightenment of music and how music progressed from the Baroque Era to the Classical Era. In the classical era music was looked at in two different ways rather than having one guiding concept. In the classical era, music was based on two different concepts, “natural” and “pleasing variety. “… one or the other- and sometimes both- of these qualities can be traced in all the elements of musical technique: in rhythm, dynamics, tone color, melody, texture and form” (Kerman 160).  In the classical era, music began to take numerous different forms. Some examples of forms are Sonata, minuet, rondo, theme and variations.  One form we discussed in class the most was called Sonata form. The compositions took the form of A, B, and A’. The A’ was different from the A section because it ended with a recapitulation, a step-by-step review.

         In Mozart’s 38th Symphony I was able to analyze the numerous different movements.  The symphony starts with an opening movement containing a piano in adagio and then to allegro. It was also followed by what sounded like a mixture of viola, violin and cello, possibly double bass. The mixture of these instruments creates a melodic A section. The start of the B section starts with a decrescendo transforming the piece to mezzo piano. As the music continues in the B section it progresses into the Minuet movement. The symphony closes when the movement goes back to what the listener believes to be the original tempo and melody. However, as the piano plays the allegro melody the strings and woodwinds play in piano creating a contrast. This is what makes this section an A’ section. All three of the movements in the symphony follow sonata form.