Section 1. Difference between Variation and Development

Compare:

the theme from WA Mozart’s Twelve Variations on “Ah vous dirai-je, Maman”, K.  265/300e from 1781-82

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/theme.mp3]

to variations 6, 7 and 8:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/variations-6-7-8.mp3]

Now Compare:

Theme 1 from the 1st movement of WA Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV. 550 from 1788

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-01-1-theme01.mp3]

to its development:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-02-development.mp3]

Question for thought No. 1.1: In musical terms, how is a Variation different from a Development?

Section 2. Changes from Exposition to Recapitulation in Sonata Form

Still in the 1st movement of WA Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 in G minor, KV. 550 from 1788

Bearing in mind that the tonic is:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/tonic.mp3] (feel free to listen to the tonic before, after, during the other passages)

Compare:

the transition section into theme 2 of the Exposition:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-01-2-transition01.mp3]

with the same transition section in the Recapitulation:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-03-2-transition01.mp3]

Now Compare:

Theme 2 of the Exposition:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-01-3-theme02.mp3]

with Theme 2 in the Recapitulation:

[audio:http://www.jaimeoliver.pe/snd/Moz-40-03-3-theme02.mp3]

Question for thought No. 2.1: What is the role of the transitional section?

Question for thought No. 2.2: How does Theme 2 change in the Recapitulation?

Question for thought No. 2.3: What then could be the underlying narrative of Sonata Form?