Symphony No. 5 (Prokofiev)

The first movement is in a tightly argued sonata form: its exposition presents two themes - one calm and sustained, the other soaring with tremolo accompaniment from strings - which are then involved in an elaborate and climactic development section. The movement is wrapped up with an electrifying coda, punctuated by a roaring tam-tam and low piano tremolos.
1st theme - mm. 1 - 7

mm. 8 - 10

mm. 29 - 30

2nd theme - mm. 54 - 64

mm. 74 - 77

Closing theme - mm. 83 - 86

The second movement is an insistent scherzo in Prokofiev's typical toccata mode, framing a central theme in triple time.
mm. 3 - 10

mm. 56 - 58

mm. 112 - 115

mm. 120 - 127

mm. 154 - 157

The third movement is a dreamy slow movement, full of nostalgia, which nevertheless builds up to a tortured climax, before receding back to dreaminess. mm. 4 - 8

mm. 55 - 62

mm. 82 - 84

"tortured climax" mm. 125 - 131

The finale starts with a cello choir playing a slow introduction containing elements from the first theme of the first movement, which then launches into the movement proper, a rondo. The playful ("giocoso") main theme is contrasted with two calmer episodes, one played by the flute, the other a chorale on strings. At the end, just as the movement is striving to end in a victorious tone, the music unexpectedly degenerates into a manic frenzy (rehearsal mark 111), which is then interrupted by a string quartet playing staccato "wrong notes" (rehearsal mark 113) with rude interjections from low trumpets, making the ultimate orchestral unison on B flat sound all the more ironic.
mm. 3 - 6

Theme from first movement - mm. 15 - 22

mm. 29 - 36

mm. 37 - 38

mm. 54 - 55

mm. 83 - 90

mm. 164 - 172