When it comes to classical music, the symphony and the concerto are two of the most recognizable genres. Classical artists like Wolfgang Mozart. J.S Bach, J F. Handel and Beethoven wrote countless symphonies and concertos that are still popular today. Mozart is generally considered a “genius” when it comes to musical compositions and in this essay, two of his greatest works are going to be analyzed and compared. The two works include a symphony and a concerto. The first is the symphony no.40 in G minor, K, 550, (first movement), while the second is the Concerto for Flute for Orchestra in D major, K. 314, (third movement). As the analysis will reveal, the major difference between a symphony and a sonata lies in the type, nature and number of instruments that the two pieces are scored for.
A symphony being one of the most recognizable classical compositions is mainly scored for a concert band or an orchestra. Many symphonies consist of at least one movement that has been composed in accordance with the sonata principle. A typical symphony is made up of four movements with the first movement usually being in the sonata form. Mozart’s Symphony no.40 in G minor is a renowned symphony masterpiece and looking at closely, some essential features of the symphony are conspicuous. For the purpose of this essay, the first movement of this symphony is going to be analyzed to reveal some of the essential features of a symphony. The first movement of no. 40 is in the sonata form. This movement opens with a relatively intense theme that helps to establish the G minor home key. The theme then slowly flowers out of a 3-note motif. After this, there is an energetic transitional passage, which is able to sustain the tension of the piece through a sturdy crescendo. This transitional passage leads into a contrasting key, which is the B flat major. The 2nd theme is played in a more relaxed manner the the first theme. However, the melody in this theme maintains the symmetry used in the first theme. The development of the movement modulates swiftly and from one key to the other and concentrates on the 3-note motif, that forms the movements’ exposition. The material in this movement is developed through several techniques: changing the melody, combining motives, introducing a new melody to the bass and expanding motifs via a descending sequence or even inverting them. The development section is finished off with a transition to the original key of G minor. The exposition course is then followed by the recapitulation. This particular transition is actually expanded and circles around the home key. At the end of the movement, the home key is energetically confirmed by the coda.
Unlike the symphony, which is usually scored for a concert band or an orchestra, a concerto is scored for single instruments or for a little group of instruments that are accompanied by an orchestra. A concerto normally consists of three movements. Mozart’s Concerto for Flute for Orchestra in D major, K. 314, is an example of a concerto made of three movements. Just as it has been stated, the concerto is scored for one solo instrument that is then accompanied by an orchestra. In this particular concerto, the solo instrument is the flute. The third movement of this concerto is the most outstanding. The movement is very playful. The movement, which is in D major, has an allegro tempo. The flute, which is the piece’s solo instrument, is used to introduce the theme. This translates to a very nice descending scale. The orchestra then restates the theme. The exposition of the movement is mainly comprised of fluent musical passages where the orchestra accompanies the flute. The piece’s development utilizes a flute solo where a shift is made between the B minor and the then goes back to D major. The recapitulation of the concerto’s third movement is fairly similar to the exposition. This theme is then speckled throughout the entire piece.
As observed, there is a clear-cut difference between a symphony and a concerto. While a symphony has several segments that are played throughout by the entire orchestra, a concerto on the other hand utilizes a solo instrument that is then accompanied by the orchestra.
References
Ferris, J. (2008). Music: The art of listening (8th ed.). New York, N.Y: McGraw-Hill.
