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Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56

“Scottish”184243 min

This guide follows Mendelssohn’s Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56 “Scottish” (1842) in four parts: Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitato (sonata form), Vivace non troppo (sonata form), Adagio (sonata form) and Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assai (sonata form).

Recording: hr-Sinfonieorchester, Andrés Orozco-Estrada (2020)

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AnalysisComments
  1. I - un poco · Sonata form
  2. II non troppo · Sonata form
  3. III · Sonata form
  4. IV - assai · Sonata form
I - un poco Sonata form0:24–17:54

A slow opens with a sombre melody in oboes and violas, often called the Holyrood and seen as the seed of the whole symphony. The un poco follows, stormy but spirited, its related to the 's rising line. Then the comes in a singing clarinet. Then come the and the . In the the 's melody softly and rounds off the .

  2. :
II non troppoSonata form18:01–22:24
IIISonata form22:32–32:37
IV - assaiSonata form32:38–43:09

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

  1. I. Andante con moto - Allegro un poco agitatoSonata form · 18 min · 523 bars
  2. II. Vivace non troppoSonata form · 4 min · 273 bars · quarter note ≈ 123 bpm
  3. III. AdagioSonata form · 10 min · 150 bars · eighth note ≈ 61 bpm
  4. IV. Allegro vivacissimo - Allegro maestoso assaiSonata form · 11 min · 491 bars

Instruments: Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Timpani, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double bass

Felix Mendelssohn, Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56, II. Vivace non troppo: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56?
About 43 min in this recording, in 4 movements: I 18 min, II 4 min, III 10 min and IV 11 min.
What form are its movements in?
I: sonata form, II: sonata form, III: sonata form and IV: sonata form.
Which instruments play in Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56?
Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Timpani, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double bass.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: II quarter note ≈ 123 bpm and III eighth note ≈ 61 bpm.
Is there a score of Felix Mendelssohn's Symphony No. 3 in A minor, Op. 56?
Yes, of II and III.

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BachTrio Sonata No. 1 in E-flat major, BWV 5251730HaydnSymphony No. 1 in D major, Hob. I:11759HaydnHorn Concerto in D major, Hob. VIId:31762HaydnPiano Sonata in A-flat major, Hob. XVI:461770HaydnPiano Sonata in C minor, Hob. XVI:201771HaydnString Quartet in A major, Op. 20 No. 61772HaydnString Quartet in C major, Op. 20 No. 21772HaydnString Quartet in D major, Op. 20 No. 41772HaydnString Quartet in E-flat major, Op. 20 No. 11772HaydnString Quartet in F minor, Op. 20 No. 51772

In the catalog

Felix MendelssohnSymphoniesRomantic periodA minorSonata form

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