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Mendelssohn’s Midsummer Night’s Dream is written in sonata form. It
has the attributes of sonata form having an Exposition, Development,
Recapitulation, and Coda. Mendelssohn’s piece has 2 subjects and within
each subject he has 2 themes. Each of the themes represents a certain
area of the play. For example Subject 1 theme 1 represents the fairies
Subject1 theme 2 represents the Duke the lovers theme is in the 2nd
subject and the 2nd subject theme 2 is Bergomask’s tune. This piece is
set in the key of E major which will allow it to modulate to B major
the dominant, E minor which is the tonic minor and C# the relative
minor however the piece never makes a significant move to this key.
Introduction
The introduction is very small and sets the theme of the whole
piece. Mendelssohn use magic chords ……..which sound very magical and
set the scene and mood for the first subject theme 1, the fairy theme.
These chords sound magical because some of the chords and diminished
and others are inverted to create that magical effect.
Exposition
The Exposition is in E minor and is known as the fairy theme. This
theme has very fast quavers played by the 1st and 2nd violins. The
fairy theme is a combination of plucked and bowed strings, with a very
close harmonic interval. The speed is very fast and all of the string
section is playing quite high. At bar 62 the piece move into the 1st
subject 2nd theme in E major is the Dukes theme as and the whole
orchestra is playing. This theme of a consists scale based pattern in
octaves in the violins and a massive homophonic texture due the
orchestral tutti. At bar 90 the fairy theme returns and as the story
continues the mortals and fairies are mixing. At this section the lower
brass strings sustain a tonic pedal note while the Strings produce a
pedal note but in a crochet quaver rhythm. However at bar 130 the music
modulates to the key of B major the music is very romantic. This is the
second subject theme 1 and it is a very lyrical and increases in
texture to represent love as depth and power. This theme has features
small fan fare interjections which could represent Duke. The 2nd
subject theme 2 starts at bar 194 and it very robust as a represents
Bergomask and is also known as Bergomask’s theme. This theme is in B
major and is far from subtle with double pedal notes on the dominant
and tonic while the violins are making large leaps of 9ths and 10ths to
make the “eh-oh” noise of the donkey in the play. There is a short
codetta at the end of this subject between bars 222 and 249 with a
herald reprise of Subject Theme 2 which is now in the key of B major.
Development
The development starts at bar 250 in the B major still with the
initial quaver theme from the 1st divided between the violins with
sparse interjection from the woodwind. The development is mainly on the
fairy theme as it keeps showing up throughout the development. However
at bar 270 the 1st subject reappears in the key of F# minor only for
the horns to break this quiet atmosphere at bar 294. The loud horns
represent Bergomask as his theme was very loud robust and sudden.
Although this theme was loud in this development the fairy theme still
manages to return reaching the key of D major. This section of music
could represent the fairies up to there scams and cunning plans and are
stopped by the king but when he goes they return to there scams and
cunning plans. Now the lovers theme is developed this lyrical 2nd
subject theme returns shortly on car 362 leading to a C# minor chord at
bar 394 to mark the relative minor. In the development he divides the
parts more equally; he has lowered the piece by a semi tone. There is
no continuous playing in any parts. The violas only have more
significant part and therefore defining the fairy theme.
Recapitulation
The recapitulation starts the same the whole piece starts off.
However this time the major 3rd opening is supported by the C# minor
chord played by the strings giving it a new dimension. This in relation
to the play could mean that the fairy king and queen have sorted out
there disagreements and are on speaking terms. However it could also be
a summary of the whole play so that people don’t forget it.
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