Mozart: Symphony No. 40 in G minor

Melody

• Well proportioned/balanced and graceful melody lines
• Regular (periodic) phrases/4+4 bars
• Contrasting melodies as first and second subjects
• Motif of first subject developed in central section (development)

Harmony and Tonality

• Harmony is largely diatonic
• Functional harmony/based on chords I, II, IV, V (V7) and VI
• Some chromatic chords
• Diminished 7th used as a chromatic chord
• Perfect cadences define keys
• Music modulates to related/unrelated keys
• First subject in G minor
• Second subject in relative major B flat
• Second subject in recapitulation is tonic (G minor)

Texture

• Main texture is homophonic
• Come dialogue between strings and woodwind
• Oboes and bassoons often provide harmonic filling
• Doubling of parts
• Use of octaves
• Orchestral textures are varied throughout the movement

Structure

• Sonata form
• Exposition, development and recapitulation sections
• Contrast of two subjects/themes
• Bridge section between first and second subjects (for modulation)
• Exposition often repeated
• Ends with a coda

Instrumentation

• Classical orchestra
• Strings
• Seven woodwind players of one flute, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons
• Brass section is two horns (in B flat and G)
• No trumpets or timpani used in this work