The first theme of the movement by Philip Emanuel Bach has two salient qualities: it progresses by leaps upward, and it has a peculiarly noticeable rhythm. These two properties are brought into play almost immediately. After a brief statement of the opening phrase of the theme (36-39) in the relative major key—as if to tell us what is to be the subject of this part of the movement—the composer proceeds to evolve a passage (40-44) with chords (in the right hand) in the rhythm of the theme, and against them (in the left hand) a passage containing the leaps upward. This is further varied by free changes in harmony.
The initial phrase of the first theme and a brief quotation from this passage in the development section are shown in Figure XXXVII.
This development is, however, all too short. After measure 44 the music becomes discursive, showing no longer any definite bearing on the original subject matter.
(a)
![[PNG]](#5102994518728001825_pag123_score1.png.id-5010241205565845787.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
![[PNG]](#5102994518728001825_pag123_score2.png.id-5408114134465097905.wrap-0.html.html){kind=link}
(b)
FIGURE XXXVII