Poulenc Trio for Horn, Trumpet and Trombone (1st mvt)

Question 1

Typical features of the neoclassical style

Answer 1

• Short movements unlike the large-scale movements of late Romantic composers.
• Structures based on simple traditional forms e.g. binary and ternary forms.
• Syncopated rhythms reflected influence of jazz.
• Time signatures frequently change
• Wide variety of instrumentation and instrumental techniques compared to Romantic
• Tonal, diatonic melodies

Question 2

Structure

Answer 2

9-17 and 17-21: Faster subsidiary pair of themes.
22: Return of opening idea but slower and with suggestions of tonic minor (Gm) |

30: Horn takes over.
34: Trumpet resumes the theme.
39: Four-bar linking section → two octave leaps for trumpet + trumpet cadenza
40: Developed theme, related to the opening melody of the movement, in B flat major

| 58-end | A (including 4 bar coda) | Return of the main theme in the tonic key (G). Music from the end of Section B (from bar 48) is then added om
73: The small ideas return.
86: Short chromatic coda, gradually slowing down

| 1-25 | A (G major) | 1-8: Main theme modulating to D major.

26-57 | B | 26: New slower theme in E flat, played by the trumpet.

Question 3

Texture

Answer 3

• • Simple, melody-dominated homophony at beginning - trumpet has tune, trombone - simple bass line, horn alternating notes for harmony
  • Sometimes two part texture in top two instruments (e.g. they’re in 6ths in b12)
  • b22-25 - monophony
  • b26 - three-part textures. trumpet and trombone move together in two-part counterpoint. horn has broken chords.
  • final bar - all instruments move in octaves - homorhythms

1-25 | A (G major) | 1-8: Main theme modulating to D major.