Sonata Allegro Form

Sonata Allegro Form using Eine kleine nachtmusik

1. Sonata Allegro Form
Developed in instrumental
music of Classical Era.

2. Was used in first movements of:
Symphony
Concerto
Sonata
Quartet

3. Structure:
Exposition
Development
Recapitulation

4. Exposition:
Slow introduction (optional)
First theme (or theme group) and its expansion
in tonic
Bridge – modulates to a contrasting key
Second theme (or theme group) and its
expansion in contrasting key
Closing theme, cadence in contrasting key
Exposition repeated

5. First theme or theme group
establishes a home key (tonic).
W. A. Mozart, “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”,
K 525, First Movement: Allegro

6. Theme 1

7. Theme 2

8. Theme 3

9. Bridge – transition between first
and second groups.
Modulates to a contrasting key

10. Second theme or group of themes in
contrast key.
Theme 4.

11. Theme 5.

12. Theme 6 (closing theme).

13. Development.
Builds up tension against the return to
tonic by:
Frequent modulation to foreign keys, and
Fragmentation and manipulation of themes
and motives.
Transition back to tonic.

15. Recapitulation
First theme (or theme group) and its
expansion in tonic
Bridge (rarely modulates)
Second theme (or theme group) and its
expansion transposed to tonic
Closing theme, cadence in tonic
Coda; cadence in tonic

16. Exposition and Recapitulation
Slow introduction (optional)
First theme (or theme group)
and its expansion in tonic
Bridge – modulates to a
contrasting key
Second theme (or theme
group) and its expansion in
contrasting key
Closing theme, cadence in
contrasting key
Exposition repeated
First theme (or theme group)
and its expansion in tonic
Bridge - rarely modulates
Second theme (or theme
group) and its expansion
transposed to tonic
Closing theme, cadence in
tonic
Coda; cadence in tonic.