Orual
05-31-2007, 11:41 PM
I'm sure you're all familiar with sonatas like Beethovan's "Moonlight" and such, but I've always thought that the musical form of a sonata would translate well into a poetic form. As I understand it, (any real musicians, feel free to correct me) a sonata runs something like this is form:
I. Allegro
1) Exposition
a) Two distinct portions
2) Development
a) Rhythmic instability
b) Changes key, usually to relative minor/major
c) Transitions to recapitulation at the most critical moment
3) Recapitulation
a) rehashes exposition with conclusion
II. Adagio -- Slow and thoughtful
III. Minuet/Scherzo -- dance/lyrical rhythm
IV. Rondo -- returns to allegro with slight variation
So now I'm working on my so-called "poetic sonata." I've finished the allegro, but I'd like to know what others think, both about what I have so far and the concept of the form.
I. Allegro
I knew a girl called Hero;
She hated her name,
And left her home
So she could find
A better name to claim.
Her mother was Necessity;
Her father was a crook.
So Hero wanders on alone
Not knowing where to look.
Her face is burned,
Her lips are cracked,
She’s neither learned, nor found exact
The name for which she now contends,
Nor will she ever quite transcend--
Halt! Wretch or wench, what may thee be,
Never more this way dare come,
For thou art living ‘mongst the dead,
While they are hence, here thou shall be.
Thou seekest more than thou may take--
Rest! And rest! For thou art weak.
Thy name is stauncher than thou knows
Or does thou forget from whence thou came?
Sit down a while to hear me speak:
I knew a girl called Hero
Who longed to shed her name,
And left this world
So she could find
Another name to claim.
Hero had no comrades,
No calling and few fears.
She only sought to be assured
All is as it appears.
Her shapeless form,
Her hands of wax,
Awaiting the transforming facts.
Contentment hides from those who ask.
Taken, soon, away from task.
...and then it goes into the adagio. Any thoughts?
I. Allegro
1) Exposition
a) Two distinct portions
2) Development
a) Rhythmic instability
b) Changes key, usually to relative minor/major
c) Transitions to recapitulation at the most critical moment
3) Recapitulation
a) rehashes exposition with conclusion
II. Adagio -- Slow and thoughtful
III. Minuet/Scherzo -- dance/lyrical rhythm
IV. Rondo -- returns to allegro with slight variation
So now I'm working on my so-called "poetic sonata." I've finished the allegro, but I'd like to know what others think, both about what I have so far and the concept of the form.
I. Allegro
I knew a girl called Hero;
She hated her name,
And left her home
So she could find
A better name to claim.
Her mother was Necessity;
Her father was a crook.
So Hero wanders on alone
Not knowing where to look.
Her face is burned,
Her lips are cracked,
She’s neither learned, nor found exact
The name for which she now contends,
Nor will she ever quite transcend--
Halt! Wretch or wench, what may thee be,
Never more this way dare come,
For thou art living ‘mongst the dead,
While they are hence, here thou shall be.
Thou seekest more than thou may take--
Rest! And rest! For thou art weak.
Thy name is stauncher than thou knows
Or does thou forget from whence thou came?
Sit down a while to hear me speak:
I knew a girl called Hero
Who longed to shed her name,
And left this world
So she could find
Another name to claim.
Hero had no comrades,
No calling and few fears.
She only sought to be assured
All is as it appears.
Her shapeless form,
Her hands of wax,
Awaiting the transforming facts.
Contentment hides from those who ask.
Taken, soon, away from task.
...and then it goes into the adagio. Any thoughts?