Poulenc Trio for
Horn, Trumpet and Trombone

Harmony

Tonality

Structure

Melody

Introduction

4 bar phrases.

  • Begins in G major

Modulation back to G for A reprise occurs abruptly, undermining the smooth setup

End of bridge incongruous Ab dominant 7th before return to G

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Changes to Eb major for the B1 section and Bb major for the B2 section


chromatic grace notes in the horn near the end.

Melody flips (trumpet plays melody in A section, horn in B section.

Very chromatic coda

Mostly diatonic with clear tonalities similar to traditional Classical styles

Incongruous coda contrasts the whole piece with chromatic and minor elements

Large contrast between A and B section with change of key and tempo (from G to Eb)

The A section is unstable with irregular changing time signatures. It gets sporadic and ends with a small codetta that hints at the minor.

large two octave jumps in the trumpet in the B section - difficult to perform

Expanded Ternary Form with some unusual, neo-classical features.

There is a B2 section which has an A feel but is similar to b in terms of tonality. It links back to the a reprise.

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End of A section is humorous with fragmentation of opening idea.

Melody is in thirds (horn and trumpet) in the A section.

End of B1 section include a chromatically ascending bass line

Coda uses chromaticism and similar pitches, giving an ambiguous tonal feeling

Trumpet cadenza linking ideas