Outline the form and features of a typical classical concerto first movement.

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Outline the form and features of a typical classical concerto first movement

Caroline Bruce

A typical concerto first movement would be written in sonata form, for a soloist and orchestral accompaniment. Sonata form is composed of three sections in an ABA sequence – Exposition, Development and Recapitulation. Often a sonata form movement would use a codetta (or coda) to finish it off, and would sometimes include a cadenza.

A concerto exposition is written to be repeated – but unlike a symphony sonata, where the exposition is simply repeated, in a concerto, the first time through is only the orchestra playing, and the second time through the soloist joins in and elaborates.. The soloist will repeat themes that the orchestra have played in his or her exposition, but will also use new themes, just as the orchestra will use some themes that the soloist doesn’t imitate. These themes are called ritornello. In this way, the soloist and the orchestra will work together, using antiphony and imitation to create a successful atmosphere for the piece.

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The exposition will usually be composed of a first group (in the tonic key) and a second key (in the dominant, if major, or the relative major if in a minor key to start).

The orchestral exposition would give the outline or the skeleton of the themes and the piece, and then when repeated by the soloist, they would change keys and give the full version with all the themes (minus the ritornello).

The development section commonly starts with material that directly relates to the end of the exposition section, in order to make the move between the two ...

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