The History of the Scherzo
As mentioned previously the scherzo developed from the minuet, and gradually came to replace this style as the third or second movement in symphonies, sonatas and similar works. The tempo of the scherzo is generally quicker than that of the minuet, but retains a triple meter time signature and ternary form. The scherzo itself is a rounded binary form; but, like the minuet, is usually played with the accompanying Trio followed by a repeat of the Scherzo, creating the ABA or ternary form. This is sometimes done twice or more (ABABA). The "B" theme is a trio, a contrasting section not necessarily for only three instruments, as was often the case with the second minuet of classical suites (the first Brandenburg concerto has a famous example). Marche et Scherzo by Napoleon Coste performed by Candice Barnes - oboe, and Arash Noori - guitar A technique that exists in some, but not all, scherzi is transposition of a repeated phrase. For example, in the second movement of Beethoven's Moonlight Sonata, the first four measures are played in the dominant key. The four measures following that are a repeat of the first four, but transposed up a perfect fourth to the tonic key. This effect creates the illusion of starting on the 'wrong' key, which corrects itself after the phrase is transposed. Ludwig van Beethoven's Moonlight sonata (op.27 no.2) performed by Laurindo Almeida (audio only) |
