Sproul+-+Symphony

=​Symphony= Symphony is a style of music from the classical era. Most of the famous symphony composers came from Austria or Germany. For example:

In the past, symphonies were played by any number of musicians who were around, but eventually, symphonies began to be composed for whole orchestras. The score is normally made up of four movements, starting off fast, then slowing down, and ending fast again. Each movement has distinct characteristics that differentiates it from the other movements. 


 * Description:**



In an orchestra, the position of each instrument is shown below. Before this modern orchestra was created, there was not really a formal group of musicians that would play symphonies. Instead, groups of friends would gather together and play whatever instruments they knew. In the 1600s, an Italian composer, Claudio Monteverdi, was the first to assign specific numbers and instruments to specific parts of his piece. As time went on, orchestras grew to the point where conductors had to stand on a platform so that the orchestra could see him or her.

=Analysis:= Usually, a symphony is arranged into four movements. Each movement is a little bit different from the other movements. Most symphonies start out fast, then become slow, and then fast again. This way, people do not get bored with a constant pace. It starts off fast to pull you into the music, then slows down so you have time to catch your breath before it speeds up again. In general, the first movement of a symphony is fast and energetic and sets the key for the piece. The second movement is slower and more serious. The third movement is usually light and playful. The fourth and last movement is usually fast and strongly ends the piece.

The form that is usually used for the first movement is called sonata form. A sonata starts with one main musical idea. This idea is strong and clearly shows the key of the piece. The music then changes into the second idea, which contrasts the previous section. It can be in a new key (most often the relative minor or major of the original key) or it can just have a different feel to it. The next section (Development) is where the two themes are built up. There is often a lot of activity and movement that eventually leads back to the first idea and the main key, though the exact notes may be varied. This section then leads to the second theme again, also varied, and then a closing musical statement.

The second and third movements are normally written in ternary form, rondo form or variation form. Ternary form is a simple one-two-one sequence. You start with one theme, switch to a second, different theme, and then back to the first theme for the ending. In a rondo, the first theme keeps reappearing, separated by a few different themes. Lastly, a variation form contains one main theme, and then different variations of that idea (hence the name). These variations can transform the theme in as many different ways as the composer would like. After the last variation is played, the theme is repeated to finish the piece. The second and third movements are swapped in many symphonies so that the second movement is light and playful and the third movement is serious.

Beethoven's 5th symphony is one of the most widely known symphonies. It starts off with the motif (main, reoccurring idea) very strongly. The rest of the first movement alternates between fast and strong, and slower and calmer. There are lots of crescendos (where the music becomes louder) between the slow and the fast parts as well as decrescendos between the fast and slow parts. While there are quiet a few different themes, the motif keeps coming back. After the oboe solo, there is a lot of call-and-answer between the strings and band, eventually leading, once again, to the motif. If you would like to listen to a clip, click on the link below. This link contains the first and second movements. There is a very clear contrast between the two movements, because the second movement is almost completely slow and peaceful. There are only a few spots where the music becomes a little bit forceful, and it quickly quiets down after each time.
 * A Symphony Example:**


 * Ms Drysdale, My music clip was coppyrighted!! I had had a clip of the first two movements of Beethoven's 5th. I used part of the 1st movement in my presentation, and now I don't know how to get those first two movements together.**

An example of a rondo form is Beethoven's symphony No. 3 in E flat- 2nd movement. In this piece, the opening idea is played with little breaks of other melodies.
 * A Form Example:**

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