Learn about the musical structures that bind together a great symphony with our easy-tounderstand guides.

What is 'Form'?
Form is simply a concept used to describe the layout and construction of a piece of music - in
the words of Jean Sibelius, the 'profound logic' of the symphony. A knowledge of the different
forms used by composers will greatly enhance your enjoyment of symphonic music.

A Typical Symphony
First Movement
Usually, the first movement of a symphony is a
fairly fast movement, weighty in content and
feeling. The vast majority of first movements are
in Sonata Form.
Read our Beginner's Guide to Sonata Form

Second Movement
In most symphonies, the second movement will be slow and solemn in character. Composers
have used many different forms for slow movements - Sonata Form; Ternary form; Variations
form; Rondo form; and combinations and modifications of these forms. In many cases, the order
of the second and third movements will be interchanged, and the second movement will be a
scherzo, and the third movement will be a slow movement (ie Beethoven's Ninth Symphony).

Third Movement
The third movement of a symphony is, in most cases, a Scherzo (or a Minuet in Classical-period
symphonies). Most scherzos are in Ternary form - however, many scherzos are in Rondo
form (ie Mahler's Fifth Symphony). Some are even in Sonata Form (ie Brahms's Fourth
Symphony). In many cases, the order of the second and third movements will be interchanged,
and the second movement will be a scherzo, and the third movement will be a slow movement
(ie Beethoven's Ninth Symphony).

Fourth Movement
Again, composers have used many different forms for their finale movements, such asRondo
form, Variations form, and Sonata Form.