The Forms by Movements

Formats of 4 movement works  (e.g. symphonies)     

    Movement 1  -  Medium Uptempo  (Allegro)  (sometimes has a slow introduction)

             95% of the time, this is in sonata form
             (sonata form can also be used for the other 3 movements)

             Theme and variations is the other option

             The sonata form is also an option for the other three movements (sometimes even all 4)


    Movement 2  -  Slow Movement  (most often)

              Tertiary or rondo


    Movement 3  -  Medium pace in 3/4 or 3/8

         This is the movement that is not in 3 movement pieces.  

             Usually a minuet, sometimes a scherzo
             (Beethoven mostly uses the scherzo - by 1810 the minuet is obsolete)


     Movement 4  -  Fast Movement  (Allegro to Presto) 

             Rondo, Variations, or Sonata form


       While the slow movement uually comes before the minuet, sometimes the order is 
reversed...