Elgar 1st Symphony - Movement 4 (Development)

Question 1

What theme from the introduction of this movement reappears and is the basis of the development section?

Answer 1

The staccato crotchet theme from the Bassoons and Cellos from the start of the movement.

Question 2

How does the staccato crotchet theme from the start of the movement develop between figures 118 and 120?

Answer 2

The theme is used 5 times. Each time it builds in pitch, dynamics and texture with a big fortissimo, homophonic tutti just before figure 120. A rest within a triplet is added in to surprise the listener upon the theme’s last hearing.

Question 3

What theme do the Strings play at figure 120?

Answer 3

The 1st subject theme.

Question 4

What do the Oboe, Horns and Cor Anglais play in figure 121?

Answer 4

They play the triplets from the 2nd subject theme, on top of the Strings, Flute and Clarinet playing the 1st subject theme.

Question 5

What happens to the staccato crotchet theme when it returns during figures 122 and 123?

Answer 5

It is inverted by the higher instruments and kept normal by the lower instruments.

Question 6

As the intensity rises in figure 124, what is it leading up to in the following figure?

Answer 6

Antiphonal passing of the staccato crotchet theme, with fortissimo dynamics and a lot of homophony to give a forceful nature.

Question 7

What theme do the Flutes and 1st Violins play a fragmentation of at figure 127?

Answer 7

A fragment of the 2nd subject.

Question 8

Which theme returns at figure 129 and what is the tonality at this point?

Answer 8

The motto theme, in Ab minor.

Question 9

The development section ends delicately in figure 130 - 134. What theme does these figures manipulate and how is it different than it initially sounded?

Answer 9

The staccato crotchet theme has become augmented and is now played legato. This gives it a beautiful quality and sounds very late romantic.