Analysis of Elements of Music (summative Assessment) in Mozart Symphony #40 in G Minor

Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 is a sheet of music that composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, and there’s two versions that was separated composed by 1788 and 1780. This is one of the two Minor Symphony that was written by Mozart in his whole life. This music was first inspired by Storm and Stress, which is an artistic movement in Germany. This sheet of music separated into four different part, which is Molto Allegro, Andante, Menuetto, and Allegro Assai. Usually, the music created in Classicism Period still played in the place like church, Royal Palace, etc. Unlike Baroque Period, this type of music is softer and more comfortable. Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550 is one of the popular music created at that time. Also, music in Classicism Period usually composed in Vienna, Austria because Vienna is the center of Royale and power at Europe at that time. So, the composer like Mozart, Beethoven were all create the symphony there during the Classicism Period.

The music I am analyzing with is the first part of Symphony No. 40, Molto Allegro. Allegro is an Italian term that use for music compose, it means ‘Fast’ in English. Molto is also an Italian term to describe the speed of music, it means ‘Very’ in English. So, we’ll get the meaning of Molto Allegro as very fast in English. Which means this part of the Symphony’s tempo would be very fast.

Pitch

Violin

The pitch of violin started from the middle, but then it changed into high pitch when it’s 0:39. It changed back to middle pitch when it’s 0:56. Then it turned into high pitch when it’s 1:36. It continued the pitch until 2:02.

Viola

The sound of viola is about the middle pitch during 0:17 to 0:22, then it started getting higher at the last three seconds. ⚫ While 0:35 to 0:53, the flute sound had high pitch. The first notes of the time period (1:44-2:02) is low, but then the pitch become higher and higher.

Bass

The sound of bass is exactly low during the time period of 0:00 to 2:02.

Flute

At the beginning of time period (1:02-1:18), flute’s sound have a middle pitch, but then it started getting higher. At the end of time period (1:02-1:18), the flute sound was quite high.

During the time period of 1:29 to 1:45, the flute’s sound has a middle pitch. But then it becomes higher. Finally, at the time 1:46, the flute changed into high pitch.

Rhythm

Tempo of the music

The music started with a fast tempo. But it changed into the speed of medium slow when it's 0:55. Then the tempo of music turned into medium fast when it’s 1:18. Started from 1:44, the music went back to the original speed, which is fast.

Speed of Violin

The speed of violin from 0:00 to 1:08 is about medium fast. During the time period of 1:17 to 2:02, the speed of violin’s melody is fast.

Speed of Viola

During the time period of 0:17 to 0:25, viola’s speed is about medium fast. From 0:35 to 0:53, viola’s speed changed into medium slow. During the time period of 1:44 to 2:02, viola’s speed changed back to fast.

Speed of Bass

Start from 0:00 to 0:34, the speed of bass is about medium fast. Then it changed into fast when it’s 0:34 to 0:52. Since 0:52 to 1:13, it changed into slow speed, but then it started accelerate into the speed of fast. The speed of bass changed into fast during 1:14 to 2:02.

Speed of Flute

Melody of flute during 1:02 to 1:18 is about medium fast. The time period of 1:29 to 1:48 is about medium fast, but then it changed into fast.

Dynamics

Violin

The sound of violin is the major melody of this part of music, so it’s mostly f, which means forte in music. Forte in English means loud.

Viola

Viola is the second major melody of this part, it’s about mp. mp means mezzo piano, which is medium soft. But during the time of 1:11, it started getting louder, which can also be mark as

Bass

Bass is the minor melody in Molto Allegro, the dynamics bass has is f or ff. The sound of bass is quite soft, which we can’t heard it easily.

Flute

Flute is one of the major melodies in this sheet of music. It only played for two different part. During the time period of 1:02 to 1:18, flute represent the major melody, which means it’s f, the dynamics of hard. Then it changed into mf or mp during the time period (1:29-2:02), which means it become softer and the second melody of the music.

Timbre

Violin (0:00-1:08, 1:17-2:02)

Violin is one of the most common instruments in daily life, it’s a type of string instrument. Violin usually use in the band for high pitch notes.

Viola (0:17-0:25, 0:35-0:53, 1:44-2:02)

Viola is also a type of string instrument, it’s larger than the violin. Usually viola use in the band for medium pitch.

Bass (0:00-2:02)

Bass is a type of string instrument, it’s the largest of violin family. Bass is usually use for low-pitch part of the music. Since it’s the low pitch, which means it’s hard to hear it during the music.

Flute (1:02-1:18, 1:29-2:02)

Flute is a type of woodwinds instrument, it usually uses in band for the highest pitch part.

Texture

Molto Allegro has a homophonic texture, which only have one major melody. In this part of Symphony, violin and flute are the major instrument that played the major melody. The rest instrument like bass, viola, are the minor melody that use for accompaniment. Bass and viola didn’t have too much melody, their notes are mostly chord that use for accompaniment.