5 Defining Moments of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40

Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 undoubtedly receives the recognition it deserves. However, the masterpiece as a whole is often overshadowed by its famous opening. The catchy tune pulls us in right from the beginning, but that’s just the tip of the iceberg of the musical masterpiece. Here are five moments that define the rest of the monument:

1. First Movement: Melodic breakdown, key collapse

The main melody is exquisite, but listen to how Mozart treats its development. He varies each ending slightly, so we are left expecting more, and unsure of the key in which the theme will end. It sounds like an illusion—a musical magic trick:

2. Second Movement: The theme darkened

Early on in the second movement, a dramatic key change leads into what sounds like is going to be a normal restatement of the main theme—but Mozart makes an unexpected variation. The darkening colors grow even darker until blossoming into this beautiful moment when the upper winds and violins play high in their registers:

3. Second Movement: Diminished chords before the sunrise

Also in the second movement, there is another moment shortly after the previous one that has quite the array of chords. The passage almost loses itself in this slow build, but the bright key of B flat major emerges right before it collapses:

4. Third Movement: Multi-dimensional melody

There’s a very cool moment in the third movement at the end of the Minuet, when Mozart strings a melody together across different instruments. Just as a section takes up the lead line, a higher note emerges from another section. It creates a 3D listening experience that appears each time the Minuet returns, lasting only about 10 seconds. Have a listen:

5. Fourth Movement: Ordered chaos

In the fourth and final movement, Mozart literally obliterates the key by ending a passage with a series of sporadic notes, followed by a furious contrapuntal (multiple melodic lines) passage. Marking the beginning of the end for this grand symphony, this development section is certainly the fieriest part of the whole work. Mozart dissolves the energy by having the violins play tremolos—a quick back-and-forth motion on the same note:

The grandeur of Mozart’s Symphony No. 40 goes beyond its memorable beginning. Don’t miss the NJSO performs this great symphony April 25–28!

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Post by Michael Rosin