how to read the visual listening guide to read the visual listening guide ... p piano, soft...

HOW TO READ THE VISUAL LISTENING GUIDE

from Antonín Dvořák, Symphony No. 9 in E Minor, Op. 95 “From the New World”, Third Movement

1 The main musical key in which this theme or section is played.

2 “Pill” with notation representing the theme. The notation indicates the rhythm and relative pitch levels played.

3 The title of this theme or section of music.

4 Icon representing the instrument playing the theme. Detail regarding what instrument is playing is provided in text underneath the “pill”.

5 The dynamic level (loudness or softness) at which the theme is played (see legend at right).

6 Details about when a theme or motive is played multiple times by different instruments at varying dynamic levels.

7 Indicates that a particular section of music is repeated (i.e. played again).

8 A theme or section’s title, without accompanying musical notation.

The aim of the TSO Visual Listening Guide is to help you structure your listening—and enrich your understanding—of a symphonic masterwork in a visually engaging and comprehensible way, regardless of your musical background. The Guide is not a comprehensive representation of the musical score, but rather, is like a map of important sonic landmarks, showing when the main musical themes are presented, developed, and recur.

The annotated diagram below shows how to interpret the various elements of the Guide.

Transition

Theme aIntroductory “fanfare”

woodwinds

Emin

12

45 6

78

3

fortississimo, very very loud

ff fortissimo, very loud

f forte, loud

mezzo-forte, moderately loud

mezzo-piano, moderately soft

p piano, soft

pianissimo, very soft

pianississimo, very very soft

crescendo, gradually getting louder

decrescendo, gradually getting softer

fermata, pause

Visual Listening Guide by Hannah Chan-Hartley © 2016 Toronto Symphony Orchestra. All rights reserved.

Bridge extended

End

Theme 1 motive

upper stringsin imitation

�

Retransition

full orchestra

Theme 1 fragmented

echoes between strings & woodwinds

Episode – Theme 1

bassoon with lowerstrings & violins in imitation

�

� �

Theme 1 developed

violins�

Closing Theme

Exposition repeatsfull orchestra

Episode –Theme 1 motive

winds�

Bridge Theme

violins�

Theme 1

violins�

Exposition: initial presentation of thematic material

Gmin

Gmin8~

FIRST MOVEMENT

LISTENING GUIDE

KeyMin

Allegro molto “very fast”Tempo

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Symphony No. 40 in G Minor, K. 550

Theme 2

1) divided between strings & woodwinds;2) divided between woodwinds & strings

�B�maj

Bridge Theme

violins�

Theme 1

violins�

Gmin

�

Closing Theme

full orchestra

Episode –Theme 1 motive

winds�

Theme 2

1) divided between strings & woodwinds;2) divided between woodwinds & strings

�

Development: thematic material developed and extended

Recapitulation: return of thematic material from the exposition

Coda: concluding section of movement

Transition

�

�

woodwinds

Gmin �


Bridge

Theme 1 – a‘

2nd violins

1st violins

Theme 1 – b

1st violins,with flute echo

�/��

Development &Recapitulation repeat

Bridge

Exposition repeats

Closing Theme

woodwinds,French horns& 1st violins

�

Theme 1 – b

1st violins,with flute echo

��2nd half of Theme 1 – a

strings

Theme 1 – a‘

violas – 2nd violins – 1st violins

Theme 1 – a ... interrupted by

1) violas – 2nd violins – 1st violins;2) 1st half of theme, cellos & doublebasses – violas – 2nd violins (with new countermelody in 1st violins)...

�

violas

Retransition

Theme 1 repeated-note &2-note motives developed

alternating betweenstrings & woodwinds

�

B�maj

E�maj

Theme 1 – a


E�maj14~

SECOND MOVEMENT

LISTENING GUIDE

KeyMin

Andante“moderately slow”Tempo



Theme 2

1) 1st violins;2) 1st violins & woodwinds

�

Closing Theme

woodwinds &1st violins

�



�

1) violas – 2nd violins – 1st violins;2) cellos & doublebasses – violas – 2nd violins (with countermelody in 1st violins)

�

E�maj

� �

E�maj

Theme 2

1) 1st violins;2) 1st violins & woodwinds

�


Theme a‘

1) � upper strings & woodwinds in imitation;2) � flute

Theme b

upper woodwinds& lower strings

�

Theme a

flute & violins�

Gmin

Theme c3

1st violins,then with oboe

�

Theme c1

violins�

Theme a

flute & violins�

Gmin

Gmaj

Gmin5~

THIRD MOVEMENT – MENUETTO

LISTENING GUIDE

KeyMin

Allegretto “moderately fast”Tempo



Minuet (Section A)

Theme a‘

1) � upper strings & woodwinds in imitation;2) � flute

Trio (Section B)

Minuet (Return of Section A)

Theme c2

woodwindsin imitation

�

Theme c3‘

1st violinswith bassoon,then with flute

�

Theme d

lower strings& woodwinds

�

Theme b

upper woodwinds& lower strings

�

Theme c1‘

French horns& violins

�Theme c2‘

French horns& woodwindsin imitation

�


Development &Recapitulation repeat

Closing Theme

violins; 1) � ; 2) � ; 3) �

Bridge Theme

1) violins; 2) lower strings;3) violins

��

Theme 1 – b

then violins�

Retransition

– silence –Theme 1 – a motive

woodwinds, upper strings& lower strings in imitation

�

2) Tritone motive

woodwinds

Theme 1 – amotive developed

1st violins &woodwinds in imitation

Exposition repeats

Theme 2

1) 1st violins; 2) woodwind variation

Theme 1 – a motive

strings in contrapuntalimitation

1) Long-note motive

French horns�

Theme 1 – a motive

woodwinds & lowerstrings in imitation

�

Gmin10~

FOURTH MOVEMENT – FINALE

LISTENING GUIDE

KeyMin

Allegro assai “very fast”Tempo



Bridge Theme

1) violins;2) lower strings

�

Theme 1 – a

�

Theme 1 – b

then violins�


Gmin

Closing Theme

1) � ; 2) � B�maj

Theme 2

1) 1st violins;2) clarinet variation

�

Transition – Theme 1 – a

full orchestra


�


�

Theme 1 – a

Gmin

1st violins, then�

violins�

1st violins, then�

violins�

�Gmin


how to read the visual listening guide to read the visual listening guide ... p piano, soft...

Documents