In recent years I have seen repeated references to an “exposition” of the first Strauss horn concerto. What makes it very puzzling to me is the people I see making the assertion that Straus 1 has an exposition are people with college music degrees. Thus, a Public Service Announcement.
Introducing sonata form
Classical era concertos and sonatas almost always have a first movement in sonata form. Sonata form movements in brief have three sections:
- Exposition
- Development
- Recapitulation
This is something that would certainly be covered in college in a music history or music theory class, and probably in both. If you have not had these courses and are just now learning of this form, the Wikipedia has a handy article on the topic well worth skimming over, as understanding sonata form is a must!
The first movements of the Mozart concertos, for example, are all in sonata form with a double exposition. It is pretty obvious how the exposition relates to the recapitulation and the overall form presented in the horn part.
Is Strauss 1:1 sonata form?
Then we turn back to Strauss 1. The first movement does not have an exposition because it is not in sonata form.
At this point some of you are thinking wait, then what is the form of Strauss 1:1? There is a longer answer to this, but in the big picture, thinking simply, the movement is through-composed in terms of the horn part. Nothing comes back, it is just one musical idea after another. The orchestral materials that bookend the first movement are related, but that does not make the movement sonata form.
It’s not sonata form
The reason for this PSA is that I have seen audition requirements that ask for the exposition of Strauss 1. As near as I can tell those people are thinking of the opening call and the following lyric section with the high Bb’s as being the “exposition.” The first 1/3 of the piece roughly.
PLEASE, if you are creating an audition list spell out what you want clearly. And don’t ask for the exposition, because Strauss 1:1 is not in sonata form and does not have an exposition. Thank you.
UPDATE 2025:
Strauss 2:1 is also not sonata form
I’ve now also seen references to the “exposition” of Strauss 2 on an audition list. Yikes!! It’s not Sonata form either. I’m guessing they mean the first page only?
