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?