1. Mozart’s Symphony #40

2. Instruments of the Symphony Orchestra

3. Background Mozart wrote his Symphony #40 in 1788 in Vienna.
It has been nick-named the “Great G-Minor Symphony.” (The “Little G-Minor Symphony” is #25).
Those are the only two symphonies Mozart wrote in minor.
Mozart wrote his last three symphonies (39, 40, 41) in a period of 10 weeks.
Some have suggested that the first movement expresses Mozart’s frustration with his financial situation or the unpopular war with Turkey.

4. Symphony Forms Symphonies have 4 Movements
Fast movement, always in sonata form
Slow movement
Minuet & Trio, 3/4 meter
Fast movement, sonata or rondo form
Rondo Form: A main theme switches off with 2 or 3 different themes. (Abacadabra)
Theme A
Theme B
Theme C I V IV

5. Symphony Forms (Review)
Theme & Variation: The same theme is played over and over, each time changed in some way.
Minuet & Trio: A small ABA form within a large ABA form.

6. Sonata Form (Essay) Exposition Development Recapitulation
Theme #1 In I (or i) key
Bridge Changes to new key
Theme #2 In V (III) key
Cadence Strong ending in new key
Development
Theme #1 and Theme #2 are worked over by being broken apart and moved to several new keys.
Bridge Changes back to first key I (i)
Recapitulation
A repeat of the Exposition (Theme #1, Bridge, Theme #2, and Cadence) but all in the original key this time (i)
Sometimes an Introduction comes before the Exposition, or a Coda comes after the Recapitulation.

7. Symphony #40, Mvt 1 Listening
Raise your right hand when you hear Theme #1
Raise your left hand when you hear Theme #2
Sing along if you wish!