The form of "The Shepherds Dance" from Amahl and the Night Visitors is in two big sections.

In each big section there are many smaller sections.  Click here to view a concentration call chart.

In the first big section there are five smaller sections.  The introduction, theme A, theme A1, theme

A2, and the transition.  The introduction starts out with the ostinati, that continues throughout the

entire first big section.  Theme A, theme A1, theme A2, and the transition is all played with oboes.

The first big section is very repetitive with the rhythms that are played.  The contrast in the first big

section is with theme A2 which uses runs that are bared  Some of the runs have ten notes, others have

nine, and others have five or three.  Click to listen to the first big section  section.vcdThe second big

section can be split into two sections.  The first of the second bigger section includes theme B, theme

C, theme D theme C1, theme D1, and the transition.  Theme B uses a variety of orchestral instruments

besides the oboes like in the first big section.  The first of the second bigger section uses repetition

also.  The feel of this section is a change between three and four.  The feel of three and four in a

compound meter greatly contrasts from the first big section which is in simple meter.  Also the use of

dynamics in this section gives it a different structured feel than the first big section. Click to listen to

the first part of the second bigger section sectiona.vcdThe second of the second big section includes

theme B, theme C2, theme E, theme F, theme E, transition, theme E, and the codetta.  This section

includes some of the same themes as the first part of the second bigger section, which is why you can

call them one big section.  The feel of this section is also a change between two, three, four.  The only

difference is theme E and theme F.  These two themes start off going faster and continue to gain

speed.  Dynamics