When discussing the music of the Classical Era (1750-1825), there are many things that one needs to take into account. Such aspects as design, form, and order make the works of this period unique and memorable. Since I began this course, I have listened to several notable and famous compositions, each of them bringing something unique to the art of music. I find that with time, I was able to better distinguish the form of a musical composition, understand its structure. To further enhance my listening experience, I have learned different techniques to be more aware of the music form. One of such methods is mentally separating the piece into sections.
There are several things I tend to look out for, including repeating themes, variations in notes, as well as changes in key and rhythm. Noting the apparent patterns and constantly being aware of the music playing allows me to understand its form. As an example, I would use Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major (Mozart, 1786). The first movement of the composition is written in sonata form. I think that this form is similar in structure to the process of character development in a movie, in some ways. It has three major sections: exposition, development, and recapitulation. The parts are used to present a certain tone, transform it, and then repeat it in a slightly different form. Similarly, a movie hero might go through an arc that shows them develop in such a pattern. The character is introduced and subjected to a series of events that affect them and they are forced to change as a result. An easy example of such a hero is Batman, who starts as an innocent child, witnesses the murder of his parents, and becomes a vigilante as a result.
Reference
Mozart, Wolfgang A. (1786). Piano Concerto No. 23 in A Major.