Rondo Alla Turka - theory

[Lupacante]

I'm writing because I don't understand the theory behind this genius piece of music. So...I understand it all until that very fast part at the end. I can see that it starts in A harmonic major, and that at a certain point its A ionian, and that it ends in an F minor arpeggio, but I can't understand the parts in between. Can someone please tell me what scales Mozart decided to use?

Thank you very much

Lupacante

[sfocata]

Originally Posted by Lupacante

I'm writing because I don't understand the theory behind this genius piece of music. So...I understand it all until that very fast part at the end. I can see that it starts in A harmonic major, and that at a certain point its A ionian, and that it ends in an F minor arpeggio, but I can't understand the parts in between. Can someone please tell me what scales Mozart decided to use?

BTW, there's a free PDF score HERE in case you need it.

There's no harmonic major (R 2 3 4 5 b6 7) in there, as far as I can see. Running through the whole piece...

1. The first theme of the "A" section contains long chunks of Am and Em chords, with mostly the corresponding harmonic minor scales used over the top (with occasional D# notes added over the Am). The second theme of this section goes C-G-C-G-Am-E-Am-E (still in the key of A minor)

2. The "B" section (bottom of page 1 in the PDF score) modulates to A major. There's some simple I-IV-V harmony going on underneath the first theme, and then the second theme (lots of 16th notes) is in F# minor, alternating F#m and C#7 chords. Then, continuing the 16th notes, the harmony alternates A and E7 chords. The first theme of this section then repeats.

3. The "A" section repeats.

4. Variations on the first part of the "B" section (melody in octaves followed by fanfare-style chords).

[Lupacante]

thank you very much.

when i said A harmonic major, what i meant was the third mode of F# harmonic minor. as mode 1 is aeolian #7, and mode 3 is ionian #5, i concluded mode 3 must the called harmonic major (as the major scale 1234567 is known as ionian). then, reading another thread, i found out harmonic major is, as you said, 1 2 3 4 5 b6 7.

thanks again, it makes sense to me now,
Lupacante

[sfocata]

Cool

No, I've no idea what the 3rd mode of the harmonic minor is actually called... anyone else seen a regularly-used name for it?

[frankus]

Originally Posted by sfocata

anyone else seen a regularly-used name for it?

Liking your style, that is subtle