Lecture 10. Sonata-Allegro and Theme and Variations

Listening to Music (MUSI 112)

Professor Wright delves into sonata-allegro form in some depth in this lecture. He focuses especially on characterizing four types of music found within a sonata: thematic, transitional, developmental, and cadential. He then moves on to discuss a different form, theme and variations, which is accomplished through the use of examples from Beethoven's and Mozart's compositions. Professor Wright and guest artist Kensho Watanabe then conclude the lecture by demonstrating a set of theme and variations through a live performance of Corelli's La Folia.

00:00 - Chapter 1. Introduction
02:34 - Chapter 2. Parts of the Sonata-Allegro Form
08:18 - Chapter 3. Distinguishing Functional Types within the Sonata-Allegro
20:58 - Chapter 4. Theme and Variations
34:11 - Chapter 5. Examining Theme and Variations in Corelli's La Folia

Complete course materials are available at the Yale Online website: online.yale.edu


This course was recorded in Fall 2008.