Classical-era Form—Sonata Form, Part 2

Overview

Sonata form is an instrumental manifestation of operatic procedure, with the character introductions, development, denouement, and curtain calls of the opera house corresponding to the exposition, development, recapitulation, and coda of sonata form. In this lecture, with reference to the uniquely dramatic fourth movement of Mozart’s Symphony in G Minor, K. 550, we will continue our examination of sonata form: the modulating bridge, the development section, and the recapitulation.