The first movement of Beethoven's first symphony is in sonata-allegro form. This is a common form for the first movement of a symphony, and it consists of three main sections:
* Exposition: This section introduces the main themes of the movement. In the case of Beethoven's first symphony, the exposition begins with a slow introduction, followed by a faster Allegro section. The Allegro section is in ternary form, with an A-B-A structure. The A section introduces the first theme, the B section introduces the second theme, and the A section returns to the first theme.
* Development: This section develops the themes from the exposition. Beethoven uses a variety of techniques to develop the themes, including fragmentation, repetition, and modulation.
* Recapitulation: This section brings back the themes from the exposition in their original order. The recapitulation is often shorter than the exposition, and it may include some modifications of the themes.
In addition to the three main sections, the first movement of Beethoven's first symphony also includes a coda. The coda is a short section that concludes the movement. The coda of Beethoven's first symphony is based on the first theme of the movement.
Detailed structure
The following table shows the detailed structure of the first movement of Beethoven's first symphony:
| Section | Key | Tempo | Meter |
|---|---|---|---|
| Introduction | C major | Adagio molto | 4/4 |
| Allegro | C major | Allegro con brio | 4/4 |
| Development | C major, G major, F major, C major | Allegro | 4/4 |
| Recapitulation | C major | Allegro | 4/4 |
| Coda | C major | Allegro | 4/4 |