Sonata form is a way of organizing a piece of music. It has been used in several pieces since the Classical period (from the middle of the 18th century onwards). Listening to pieces of music in sonata form will help to understand it fully and it is helpful to know something about the different keys.
Sonata form is not just used in sonatas. It can be the form for movements from symphonies, concertos, overtures etc.
In the Baroque period composers like Bach and Handel wrote pieces with dance movements such as minuets. These were in “binary form”. This meant that there were two sections. The two sections were often the same length, and were separated by a double bar line which meant that each section was repeated. The music would not be in the same key all the time. The first section could modulate (change key) and then the second section would gradually modulate back again so that it sounded finished at the end.
Domenico Scarlatti wrote sonatas for harpsichord also in binary form, but long and with additional complexity. The first section would start with a theme in the main key, and then modulate to another key for contrast. The second section might be longer than the first second, starting off by modulating to remote keys before arriving back to repeat the main theme. This kind of piece is the beginning of sonata form.
Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven developed the idea of sonata form. A movement in sonata form has three sections called: “exposition”, “development” and “recapitulation”.
This way of building a piece of music was used by almost every composer from the mid 18th century onwards – well into the 20th century. It gives scope for a very dramatic piece. Of course, composers sometime use it differently. There is often a sense of development during the whole piece, not just during the so-called “development section”. The first movement of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony spends all the time developing the famous idea heard at the beginning: the first four notes (short-short-short-long). Even the other three movements carry on developing this idea.
The Lord of the Rings (disambiguation)
The Lord of the Rings is an epic high fantasy novel by J. R. R. Tolkien.
The Lord of the Rings may also refer to:
There have been several movies based on the book by J. R. R. Tolkien:
Aria
An aria is a long song accompanying a solo voice. An aria is usually in an opera. It is an Italian word of the 18th century meaning “air” (i.e. a tune).
A small amount of text is used in an aria. Characteristics include the use of melismas, repetition and sequences. Typically there would be full accompaniment to the solo voice in the aria although this is not the case in Purcell's Dido and Aeneas where the majority of its arias are only accompanied by the continuo part.
In operas of the Baroque period most of the music was either “recitative” or “aria”. Recitative (from a word meaning: “to recite” i.e. “to tell”) was sung quickly, almost as if it were being spoken. The singer was accompanied just by a few supporting chords, usually on a harpsichord. The story was being told in the recitative.
Once the situation in the story had changed there would be an aria. The singer would sing a song which expressed his or her feelings. The aria had more musical interest than the recitative. Arias were usually in what we call “ABA” form or “Da Capo” form. There was a main section, then a middle part, then the main section was repeated (“Da Capo” means: “back to the beginning”). In the Da Capo section the singer usually improvised, adding many embellishments and ornaments. The aria gave performers the opportunity to show off their virtuosity.
The word “aria” is not just used in opera. Arias can be found in cantatas or just by themselves. Sometimes pieces for instruments are called “aria”. These are often a tune with variations, such as Handel's famous "Air with Variations" for harpsichord, also known as .
In the 19th century the difference between recitative and aria in opera started to disappear. Composers like Richard Wagner made the music much more continuous. He did not want audiences clapping in the middle of his operas. He wanted the music to develop dramatically and continuously.
Elijah Wood
Elijah Jordan Wood (born January 28, 1981, in Cedar Rapids, Iowa) is an American actor.
He has been a professional actor since he was nine years old. Wood is best known for his role of Frodo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy.
Ian McKellen
Sir Ian Murray McKellen (born 25 May 1939) is an English actor in theatre and movies. He got a Tony Award and two Oscar nominations.
He was born in Burnley, Lancashire. In 1939, he moved to Wigan. In 1951, he moved to Bolton.
His work has spanned genres from serious Shakespearean and modern theatre to popular fantasy and science fiction movies.
In a television movie role in 1970 titled "Edward II", he and his co-star, James Laurenson kissed in British television's first gay kiss.
Best known for his roles as Gandalf in the 2001-2003 "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy, as Sir Leigh Teabing in "The Da Vinci Code", and as Magneto in the "X-Men" series of movies.
He is openly gay and is a prominent activist for the rights of LGBT people. He said that the reason why he took the role in the "X-Men" movies was because of his sexuality. He said: "Mutants are like gays. They’re cast out by society for no good reason".
He was made a CBE in 1979 and knighted in 1990 for his outstanding work and contributions to the theatre. In 2008 he was made a Companion of Honour.
McKellen said in 2012 that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2006.
McKellen once signed an autograph to a fan stating "Fuck off, I’m gay." The person given the autograph was politician Michael Howard.
Gandalf
Gandalf is a Middle-earth wizard from the books The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
Gandalf the Grey wanted Bilbo Baggins to let him go an adventure with him and the Company of Thorin Oakenshield to take back Erebor from Smaug. Decades later, he would help Bilbo's nephew Frodo bring the One Ring back to the fires of Mount Doom.
In the Peter Jackson movie adaptations of both books, Gandalf was played by Ian McKellen. In The Hobbit movies, which were written as a prequel to The Lord of the Rings movies, he figures out that the Necromancer happens to be Sauron.
His notable quote "You shall not pass" is known for fantasy and literary fans.
Viggo Mortensen
Viggo Peter Mortensen, Jr. (born October 20, 1958, in New York City) is an American theater and movie actor, poet, musician, photographer and painter. He is best known for his role as Aragorn in Peter Jackson's "Lord of the Rings" movie trilogy.
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Sean Astin
Sean Astin (born February 25, 1971 in Santa Monica, California, U.S.) is an American movie actor. Astin is also a director and Oscar nominated producer. He is the son of Patty Duke and John Astin.
Astin married Christine Harrell on July 11, 1992. They have three daughters, Alexandra (born November 27, 1996), Elizabeth (born August 6, 2002) and Isabella (born July 22, 2005), all with the same middle name of Louise.
Ian Holm
Sir Ian Holm Cuthbert CBE (12 September 1931 – 19 June 2020), known professionally as Ian Holm was a retired English actor.
Ian Holm was born at Goodmayes Hospital in Goodmayes, Essex, He was son of James Harvey Cuthbert and his wife Jean Wilson (née Holm), The hospital was his father working there .
He married to four times, He had five children in his life.
He died in a London hospital on 19 June 2020 from Parkinson's disease-related problems, at the age of 88.
Luigi Boccherini