Schumann - Structure

Question 1

How many movements are there in the trio?

Answer 1

4

Question 2

Which movement is studied for A Level music?

Answer 2

1

Question 3

What are the 4 movements in terms of key and tempo?

Answer 3

o Allegro moderato – G minor
o Scherzo and trio – B♭/E♭
o Andante – G major
o Allegretto – G minor.

Question 4

Movement 1 of the trio uses “sonata form”. What are the main sections in sonata form.

Answer 4

o Exposition (bars 1–90) – repeated
o Development (bars 91–164)
o Recapitulation & Coda (bars 165–288)

Question 5

When was the principle of “sonata form” established?

Answer 5

In the classical period (1750-1810).

Question 6

What happens in the exposition section?

Answer 6

The main musical ideas/melodies (known as subjects) are presented to the listener.

Question 7

The exposition is repeated. Why do you think this is?

Answer 7

To make the music more familiar to the listener, who (back in 1848) would only get to hear the piece as it is played live.

Question 8

What is a “subject” in sonata form?

Answer 8

An important melody or group of melodic ideas that is then developed throughout the piece/movement.

Question 9

True or false - sonata form will have a “first subject” and a “second subject”?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

How is a first subject often different to a second subject?

Answer 10

The first subject will be in the tonic key and the second subject in a different key. A second subject may also often sound lighter or more feminine.

Question 11

The first subject of CS’s trio is described as a “group” of ideas. Describe this group.

Answer 11

1(a) bars 1–4 violin melody (G minor)
1(b) bars 5–8 violin melody answer (G minor)
1(c) bars 22–23 chordal ff idea (G minor)
1(d) bars 23–25 legato p answer on violin (G minor)

Question 12

What section does Schumann include before she presents the “2nd subject group”?

Answer 12

Bridge (bars 30-45).

Question 13

As well as new melodic material, what is the biggest indication that the 2nd subject group has begun?

Answer 13

A modulation to a new key - in this case the relative major (Bb Major).

Question 14

What harmonic device does Schumann use to help the music transition from the 1st subject to the 2nd subject group?

Answer 14

A pedal note, which helps the music to modulate (change key).

Question 15

Describe the 2nd subject group.

Answer 15

2(a) bars 45-48 syncopated
minims in piano
2(b) bars 47–49 quavers in piano with rising diminished 7th broken chord in strings

Question 16

What is a coda?

Answer 16

A section at the end of a piece or movement that concludes things.

Question 17

What is a codetta?

Answer 17

A small coda concluding a section within a movement.

Question 18

What section happens at end of the exposition from bar 73 onwards?

Answer 18

Codetta

Question 19

What happens in the development section of a piece that follows sonata form?

Answer 19

The subjects are altered. This will be done by visiting a variety of new keys, often becoming quite remote from the tonic. Melodic material may also be fragmented (broken into pieces) and passed around the instruments.

Question 20

What bars does the development section of the trio begin and end on?

Answer 20

Bars 91 to 164.

Question 21

How do we know at b155 in the development that the next section (recapitulation) section is close?

Answer 21

A doubled dominant pedal in violin and cello prepares for a return to G minor (tonic key).

Question 22

What happens in the recapitulation section of a piece that follows sonata form?

Answer 22

The subjects are restated and the tonic key is emphasised more to bring conclusion and resolution to the music.

Question 23

What bars does the recapitulation section of the trio begin and end on?

Answer 23

Bar 165 to the end.

Question 24

At what bar does the coda section begin within the recapitulation section?

Answer 24

Bar 250.

Question 25

How do we know the coda has started at bar 250?

Answer 25

Because material from the earlier codetta section within the exposition is restated and developed.

Question 26

What key is the first subject group in at the beginning of the recapitulation?

Answer 26

G minor (tonic), as in the exposition.

Question 27

What key is the second subject group in when it returns in the recapitulation

Answer 27

G major - different to the exposition, which was in Bb major.

Question 28

Why do you think Schumann writes the second subject group in G Major in the recapitulation?

Answer 28

Traditionally the second subject is in the tonic key when it returns in the recapitulation. If Schumann had done this in the trio then the second subject would’ve had to be in a minor key, rather than major. She presumably therefore decided on a compromise and went for G MAJOR, rather than G minor.