Modernism_and_the_Sonata

The sonata form was invented to the the opening number in a symphony, allthough sonatas have been written without being part of one. The sonata form is a musical way of phrasing a peice in which there are 3 parts. The first is the A, or exposition part, in which the movement is presented, "or exposed (Kerman, 62)." In this section, a main theme is exposed in the original key, and then a melodic modulation, called a bridge, moves the sonata to another key, in which more themes are presented (these are called the second group.) One theme stands out from this group, and is called the second theme. The last theme in the second group is the cadence theme, in which the first part of the sonata is strongly, definately ended. The second part of the sonata, the B part, is called the developement. In this part, the themes presented earlier are now represented in a new way: the music in this part is always filled with tension and modulation, and after it is over, the sonata returns to the original key; this is called the retransision. The third part, the A' section, is also called the recapitulation, which means a step-by-step review.) The themes that were presented in part A are represented, but this time all in the original key, with a a rewritten bridge, and the sonata ends. This ABA' phrasing characterizes the sonata form. Allthough the sonata form arose about 130 years before the rise of modernist literature (Loy, 2011), there are surprisingly huge similarities between the two subjects. The first similarity was the inspiration for these two subjects. The constant change of the sonata form would be created by the classical composer's desire of contrast of every kind in themes, key, and tone (Kerman, 183). Modernist literature was inspired by desire to break away from traditional values. Both these subjects were created by the desire of the artists to be different. Another similarity was the approach the artists took in their art forms. The exposition of the sonata would be the presenting of an allready practiced value by the modernist writer, the development would be the breaking appart and evaluation of the value, and the racpitulation would be the review of why the vallue should have been challenged in the first place. The similarity between these twon demonstrates the similar motives orf artists througout the centuries. The similarities between The Metamorphosis and the sonata form are also striking. The 3 parts of the sonata can be compared to the 3 parts in Kafka's novel. The expostion is comparable to the presentation of Gregor's problem that he has turned into a bug, and the difficulties that he faces because of it. The developement is comparable to Gregor's evaluation of his transformaion, and the Recapitulation is comparable to his acceptance of his transformation, but could also be compared to the realization that not much has changed in Gregor turning into a bug. The modernist conviction that the problems of men come from the focus on them selves (Simmel, 1) is shown in Gregor's downfall, and reflected in the re-evaluation and repetion of the sonata.