Sonata Form

A Graphical Exploration

{ Year 11 CHA Week 2, Term 1

 Sonata Form An Overview

Exposition Development Recapitulation

How many sections are there?

What is at the end of the first section?
 Sonata Form Detailed Structure

Exposition Development Recapitulation

Tonic Related key Many different keys Tonic Tonic

1st subject 2nd subject Development of thematic material 1st subject 2nd subject

Introduction Transition Codetta Transition Coda

 Harmonic Structure of Sonata Form
(in a Major Key)

Exposition Development Recapitulation Coda

Unstable

Subject Subject Subject Subject

#1 #2 #1 #2

Use Roman Numerals to outline the harmonic structure of

Sonata Form.
Write these answers in your resource booklet (pg. 16)
 You are about to see a series of
images representing Sonata Form

1. What do they tell you about the structure of Sonata Form?

2. What do their colours tell you about Sonata Form?

Sonata Form Graphical Template

What does this fourth box represent?

Lets focus now on Section 1
The EXPOSITION

Now turn to pg. 14 of your resource booklet

Lets focus now on Section 2
The DEVELOPMENT

What do the different colours + types of foods represent?

 Lets focus now on Section 3
The RECAPITULATION

What does the colour represent musically? Where are the grapes?
Finally the (optional) CODA

What does the colour represent musically?

Here is the form in its entirety:
 EXPOSITION DEVELOPMENT RECAPITULATION CODA

Musical material is played SUBJECT 1 is stated in The CODA is

SUBJECT 1 is introduced
with and developed. the TONIC KEY. more-or-less
in the TONIC KEY.
A BRIDGE passage a fancy
A BRIDGE PASSAGE ending
In the development, you transitions to Subject
transitions from the (tailpiece)
will often find 2, but there is NO
tonic to the DOMINANT section that
Lots of key changes MODULATION.
KEY. reinforces
(harmonic tension is SUBJECT 2 is then
SUBJECT 2 is introduced important) stated in the TONIC the TONIC
in the DOMINANT KEY. Fragments of one or KEY. KEY.
There is a CODETTA both of the subjects Recap is not always a
(optional) in the Lots of dynamic literal repeat of the
DOMINANT KEY. variation Exposition involves
Imitation between the some changes
Exposition is REPEATED
parts
Sonata Form
{ Study Notes + Extra Information
The Exposition
The Exposition has a DOUBLE role in Sonata form:
1) Harmonic = Establishing tonic (I) and modulating to dominant (V)
2) Thematic/textural = Subject #1 contrasting with Subject #2

The Exposition has 2 main themes - we call these themes the first
and second subjects.
There may be an introduction before the first subject.
The first subject is a statement of the tune in the tonic key.
There is a bridge passage (transition) from the tonic key into the key
of the second subject.
The second subject is a contrasting tune in a related key such as the
dominant or relative minor.
There may be a codetta after the second subject.
The Development Section
The development takes the ideas heard in the exposition and
develops them.
It is a reaction to the tension created between the first and
second subject.
Motifs and short phrases(fragments) from the exposition are
extended and developed.
New themes are added.
The tonality is less stable and many different keys are
explored.
The Recapitulation
This is a modified repeat of the exposition, which reconciles the
first and second subjects through tonality.

The first subject is repeated almost exactly.

The transition may contain new material or change key, but it
will always return to the tonic.
The second subject is stated in the tonic key.
There may be a coda, which finishes the piece in the tonic key.
Codas are not always present and vary greatly in length.