A Plan for Analysis

Question 1

Small elements:

Answer 1

Questions like these should be asked…

What is the character and the dimensions of the smallest, most self-sufficient musical idea.
Does the composer use dynamic contrasts to define and individualize an idea?
Describe the characteristics of the melody. Are certain intervals repeated? Does the melody
unfold in step-wise motion or does it have a lot of leaps?
Are the subphrases “static” or do they create a sense of motion within the phrase?

Question 2

Middle elements:

Answer 2

Sentence, Clause, Paragraph, Section, Part
Focusing on the individual sections of a work.

Questions like these should be asked…
How does the orchestration mark the entrance of the 2nd theme in sonata form?
Is there transitional material? Is there introductory material? Is there a closing theme? Are any of these related to one another? If so, how?

Other than cadences, how does the composer “punctuate” the musical paragraphs of the work? Are the modulations structural or simply for color?
What is the texture of the music?

Question 3

Large elements:

Answer 3

Movement, Work, Group of Works

What to listen for in the “Large elements” category:
Sound: change of instrumentation between movements
Harmony: frequency and contrast of tonalities between movements
Melody: thematic connection and development between movements
Rhythm: the selection of meters and tempi
Growth: variety in the types of forms used.

Questions like these should be asked.
In what bars do the most impressive dynamic climaxes occur? (Sound)
Apart from the Tonic, what harmonic areas receive the most attention? (Harmony)
Is there a sense of melodic peaks or “forward motion” between the sections? (Melody)
Are the rhythms more complex in one section than they are in another? (Rhythm)
Do the articulations change in various sections? (Growth)