Connections between movements of one large-scale work

[kghayesh]

I have been wondering about this. In a symphony or a concerto or a sonata, when there are several movements, are there any connections between the music in each part ?? (apart from the key of course!) Are there any rules for connections between movements, like motifs to be repeated here and there , or it is just the general mood of the music. Even the mood is not always the same between movements.

The only work that I felt a connection between its movements was Dvorak's Symphony 'From the new world'. I listened to passages from the first movements being repeated in the third and fourth ones. So, is this an exception from the rule or what and what are the rules if there are any?!!!

[phil13]

There are no exact rules, but it does give a piece the sense that it's unified, not sporadic.

Go listen closely to Rach 3 RIGHT NOW. Practically the entire concerto is built on the leitmotif at the beginning and a few smaller motifs in the 1st mvt.

Phil

[preludium]

Beethoven's 5th symphony is another example. In the 3rd movement you'll find the rhythm of the 1st theme from the 1st movement. I'm sure there are plenty of examples, most of which may be quite subtle (on purpose, I suppose).

[mikey6]

Brahms was good at dis - the fmin sonata devolops everything from the 1st 4 bars I think - my friend did his research paper on it.
The Bb concerto's themes are all tied together although I'm still trying to figure that one out.
Liszt's thematic metamorphosis I think come's under this topic although it's gereannyl through 1 movt - check out les preludes - pretty much the same theme modified through its sections.