Mendelssohn 4

Question 1

Overview

Answer 1

A musical representation of a trip to Italy; blue skies of movement 1, a solemn procession of movement 2, a gentle Minuet with nod to his homeland (hunting fanfare theme in the Trio) and a fiery Italian saltarello dance for movement 4

Question 2

Form

Answer 2

4 movements.

Question 3

Mvt 1: Overview

Answer 3

Sonata form with new themes and split development.

Question 4

Mvt 1: Expo

Answer 4

Sonata form - follows usual pattern of tonic and dominant

Question 5

Mvt 1: Dev

Answer 5

New theme introduced (inspired by Beethoven 3.1?). Development in 2 sections.

Question 6

Mvt 1: Recap

Answer 6

3rd theme developed further after 1st and 2nd themes brought back. Long coda.

Question 7

Mvt 2

Answer 7

Subdominant minor. Solemn procession similar to Beethoven 3.2, modal feel with flattened 7th (C) in D minor, a ‘slow movement sonata form’; 2 ideas in exposition, repeated with modifications as a recap with no development in between.

Question 8

Mvt 3

Answer 8

Minuet-Trio-Minuet usual model, avoiding aggressive Beethoven scherzo model. Each section in rounded binary but with further melodic development and modulations. Fanfare in Trio. End of Minuet = combination of Minuet scalic theme and Trio fanfare theme.

Question 9

Mvt 4

Answer 9

Saltarello; Italian folk dance with Tarantella (triplet) features. Tonic minor (A minor); unusual - opposite of Beethoven 5. Sonata form. Theme 1 from movement 1 brought back at the end in a minor key - linking of movements seen in Beethoven 9. Extensive development section and no clear recapitulation.

Question 10

Orchestra

Answer 10

Same orchestra layout as Haydn 104. Woodwind and brass used more independently.

Question 11

Harmony & Tonality

Answer 11

Use of Italian and German augmented 6th chords, cadences are delayed/interrupted and tonic major of movement 1 with tonic minor of movement 4 (rare).

Question 12

Humour, drama, narrative & programme

Answer 12

Blue skies jollity of movement 1, solemn march of movement 2, hunting fanfare theme of movement 3 and folk dance drama of movement 4; fast and fiery.

Question 13

Melody and theme

Answer 13

Much melodic expansion/extension, subject 1 of movement 1 returns in movement 4 but minor and fragmented. New themes introduced in movement 1 development. Minuet and Trio themes combined in final Minuet.

Question 14

Texture

Answer 14

Expected melody dominated homophony with unison at start and end of movement 2. Trio fanfare in more homophonic fashion. Use of fugato writing in march theme in movement 1 development.

Question 15

Rhythm/Tempo/Metre

Answer 15

Motor rhythms throughout each movement. Dotted rhythms of Minuet and Trio and fast triplets in movement 4.

Question 16

Dance, folk & national

Answer 16

Blue skies of Italy (Mvt. 1), Czech pilgrim melody (Mvt. 2), hunting fanfare reference in Trio (Mvt. 3) and Saltarello and Tarantella dances (Mvt. 4)

Question 17

Patronage

Answer 17

Subscription concert

Question 18

Key info

Answer 18

Mendelssohn 4 1833 A major