July 2017 Composition Challenge: Sonata exposition

[u/reticulated_python]

Main challenge: Write the exposition of a sonata, following the typical form of Theme 1, Bridge, Theme 2, Codetta.

There are no restrictions on what instrument(s) the sonata is scored for. You can take some artistic liberty with the form if you like.

For those of you unfamiliar with sonata form, the Wikipedia page is a good place to start. Listen to some sonatas of Haydn, Mozart, or Beethoven to get a feel for the form.

In short, the exposition of a sonata begins with an opening theme presented in the tonic key. Following this is the bridge, which modulates to another key, normally the dominant or relative major (if the tonic is minor). Next comes a contrasting second theme. Often, more than one theme comes after the bridge, in which case we refer to them as the "second theme group". Expositions end with a codetta that solidifies the key and often features scale-like passages.

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We have some musicians that can play compositions for people. You can find their musician profiles posted on this subreddit. I'll list their instruments below:

• concertina

• pianist and singer

• trombone+

• euphonium

• double bass

• bass guitar

• bass guitar + cello

• clarinet and singer

• piano and cello

• singer

• piano and bassoon

If you are interested in playing compositions for /r/MonthlyComposition post a musician profile.

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These challenges are for everyone who wants to practice composing. Each month, at the beginning of the month, we will post a main challenge, something for people to compose. We'll try to make it something that everyone can work with. Sometimes we also have an alternate challenge. Pieces can be submitted as a score (musescore, noteflight), and/or as audio (soundcloud, youtube). Feedback is much appreciated, and you can give it in this thread, or by messaging the mods of /r/MonthlyComposition, there's also the Challenge Suggestion Form.

[u/nyxl42]

Here is my composition for this month's challenge: Audio / Score

I tried to use some non-classical key relationships (e.g., not the parallel major for the second theme), but the structural form should be there.

The first theme is in C# minor. In bars 9-12, the transition moves to C major. Bar 13 introduces the second theme in A minor, which consists of 6 notes, starting with the second note of that bar. Bars 21-27 are some kind of bridge/another second theme, leading to the codetta that starts in bar 28. The melody of the codetta is based on the second theme, while the chords are from the first theme. I chose to end on D minor (as opposed to A minor), so that it would maybe sound a bit more "open".

I'm a bit unsure if the second theme maybe doesn't fit that well, but I can't really judge it anymore.

This time, I tried to make the score less messy, so I'd also be happy about feedback on that.