Symphony No. 12 (Villa-Lobos)

Analysis#

The symphony consists of four movements: The form of the first movement resembles a five-part rondo (ABACA) with a coda in which the main theme returns in augmentation. The second movement is in a ternary form (ABA) and leads without break into the third movement. Like the first movement, the scherzo is a five-part rondo, except that the returns of the main A section are in different keys, and the second occurrence is immediately after the first: A A’ B C A . The finale is also in a modified five-part rondo form. As in the scherzo, the refrain returns in keys different from its initial appearance.

References#

• Béhague, Gerard. 1994. Villa-Lobos: The Search for Brazil’s Musical Soul. Austin: Institute of Latin American Studies, University of Texas at Austin, 1994. .
• Peppercorn, Lisa M. 1991. Villa-Lobos: The Music: An Analysis of His Style, translated by Stefan de Haan. London: Kahn & Averill; White Plains, NY: Pro/Am Music Resources Inc. (Kahn & Averill); .
• Salles, Paulo de Tarso. 2009. Villa-Lobos: processos composicionais. Campinas, SP: Editora da Unicamp. .