Purcell: Sonata for trumpet and strings in D major

Question 1

What is the harmonic series and how is this significant to the 17th century trumpet?

Answer 1

The combination of notes required to make a major or minor scale, which is significant to the 17th century trumpet because trumpets of the period didn’t have valves and were unable to play certain notes - therefore pieces for trumpet needed to be written in D Major

Question 2

How many bars long is the first movement?

Answer 2

29 bars long

Question 3

Describe the A motif

Answer 3

The A motif starts in D Major and modulates to A Major in bar 6. The motif starts as melody and accompaniement before the accompaniement takes over the tune, in typical “Call and response” form. A melodic sequence is repeated and developed. The motif features several upper auxillary notes and 4-3 suspensions.

Question 4

How is motif A developed in section A?

Answer 4

Motif A is developed

Question 5

Describe the structure of the first movement

Question 6

How is a bright mood achieved in the first movement?

Question 7

Describe bars 7-10

Question 8

Describe the new motif in bars 11-13

Question 9

Describe the ideas used in bars 14-18

Question 10

Describe the ideas used in bars 19-29

Question 11

What is unusual about the 2nd movement of this concerto?

Question 12

How does the 2nd movement contrast with the first?

Question 13

Give 3 features of the harmony in the 2nd movement

Question 14

Third movement - describe bars 50-64

Question 15

Describe the 2 ideas used in bars 65-81

Question 16

Describe bars 82 - 112