Mozart K. 458, mvmt. 3 Adagio

String Quartet No. 17 in Bb Major, K. 458 (“The Hunt”)

Mvmt. 3

Mozart

Form: Sonatina

Piece starts out in Eb Major, right into Theme 1

All voices contribute to melodic line but first violin is the leader.

Everything very smooth and melodic.

A transition from Theme 1 to Theme 2 begins, no set key, hints

at C Minor, C Major, and Bb Major.

First violin is in control of the melody

2nd violin and viola in sixteenth notes making the transition even more rugged and desiring to be resolved or brought

back to a strong key area.

Cello and first violin start trading off a melodic fragment.

Theme 2 starts, key Bb Major (dominant of Eb Major)

1st Violin has the melody

Other three voices are providing harmonic support and driving the

piece forward with sixteenth notes, sounds aggitated.

Cello takes melody and repeats what violin stated (almost how they traded

off during the transition but only once)

Theme 3 starts, still in Bb Major, first violin has melody

2nd violin and viola now playing 32nd notes that are bouncing

between two tones in chords, cello in 16th notes; creates even more

tension

Finally! Return to the comfort of slow, calm, melodic Theme 1 material (slightly altered).

Recapitulation starts.

Transitional material from beginning of piece returns but in

Eb Major (tonic key)

Theme 2 comes back in Eb Major.

Theme 3 comes back in Eb Major.

Coda begins

Borrows material from the end of Theme 1, alters some of that material, and adds some new

material.

Returns to material from beginning of Theme 1, sounds very pleasant

and conclusive.

Ends on a PAC