A Saxy Sonata: The Form of the 'Allegro' of Lawson Lunde's "Sonata for Alto Saxophone"

Indianapolis, IN

Lawson Lunde's "The Sonata for Alto Saxophone" can be analyzed with the form of the first movement. I believe that elements such as key centers and melodic and rhythmic motifs demonstrate that the first movement is an archetypical sonata. The exposition starts on the tonal center of A-flat and the recapitulation is in the same key center, making A-flat the global key center. The development has numerous key centers that never establish, however, they create a blend of every musical idea from the exposition into a patchwork of music. Similarities between the exposition and recapitulation include the key center and melodic and rhythmic motifs. These sections contrast with the transposition of the secondary thematic area and a coda section that finalizes the movement.