Questions on Symphony 40- Mozart

1. Describe the melodic structure of the first subject and second

subject. Name one feature that is common between the two
subjects.
a. Both are cantabile
2. Describe the use of the performing media in the transition
a. The flute, oboe and clarinet provide a harmonic basis as
they play long pedal notes that shift with the harmonic
changes.
b. The bassoon is doubling the cello and double bass line.
This bass line consists of quavers alternating between
the tonic and mediant of the chord eg. In bar 28
alternating between Bb and D.
c. The horns play pedal notes to provide a varied texture
d. Violins 1 and 2 play the melody.
e. The viola is play an accompanying role, playing notes of
the underlying chords in quavers.
3. How does Mozart develop the theme in the development
section? Refer to the concepts of music and give specific bar
examples.
a. Mozart modulates into D major, the dominant major of G
minor.
b. The principal subject is modified but can be heard at
various times for example in bar 102.
c. Minor tonality is kept despite the modulation into D
major
d. Texture has become thinner, specifically at the
beginning of the development with only the winds
playing short note values (minims and a semibreve).

4. Describe the changes that occur at Bar 140.

a. Bassoon plays in the tenor clef (meaning it has shifted
to its higher register).
b. The flute and first clarinet are playing the melody in
unison.
c. The bassoon plays pedal notes
d. Texture has thinned dramatically from the previous tutti
section.

5. Name the cadence at Bar 47.

a. Plagal cadence
6. Name the keys at Bar 105, 120 and 128.
a. F# minor
b. F augmented
c. Bb major
7. Name the rhythmic device used in Bars 146-152 in the second
violins and viola parts. What is the effect of this device?
a. Imitation
i. The effect of imitation allows for the principal
melody to be retained and interest is created as
the attention of the listener is drawn between the
two different instruments (violin and viola).
8. Name the bar and instrument that use the following:
-

Pedal point
o Bassoon, bar 140

Counterpoint
o Clarinet and violins, bars 72-80

9. Identify two compositional devices used in bars 200-210 of the

string parts in the transition passage in the recapitulation
-

Device 1:
o Polyphony
Violin 1 has the recapitulation of the transition,
albeit in the original key of g minor
Violin 2 plays a countermelody consisting of
quaver runs
The violas and cellos + double basses also play
the recapitulation of the transition, however on
a different beat of the bar.

Device 2:
o Imitation
The basses, cellos and violas play the
recapitulation of the transition first, and then
the first violins play it on a different beat of the
bar and in a different octave.