ABA CompositionABA Composition

Music in Different FormsMusic in Different Forms

• In Beethoven Copy Cat you looked at a piece by Beethoven which was written using the form aa’ba’. Music can be written in different forms. On the next slide you will hear and see a folk song of the Inuit peoples. This piece has three phrases.

• Answer the following questions

How many measures are in each phrase?

Are any of the phrases alike?

What is the form of the piece?

Atakatanuva

Answers:Answers:

How many measures are in each phrase?

There are four measures in each phrase

Are any of the phrases alike?

The first and the last phrase are the same

What is the form of the piece?

The form is “aba”

Analyzing the PhrasesAnalyzing the Phrases

Phrase a

As well they have the same melodic movement. Notice that the first five notes of each measure are the same and the last note of each measure moves by a skip of a third.

Notice that the first two measures of the phrase use the same rhythmic figure.

C(D)E D(E)F

Repeating a motif such as beginning

on a different note is known as a sequence.

Composers frequently use sequences in their compositions. Can you find a sequence in Phrase b of this song?

That’s right! The motif in measure 1&2 is repeated a step lower in measures 3&4.

Motif Motif – repeated a step lower

Motifs – different variationsMotifs – different variationsWe have seen how motifs can be varied by beginning on a higher or lower note. Motifs can also be turned upside down. Look at the following examples:

Notice that in the first motif the skip at the end is an ascending skip of a third.

In the second example the skip of a third goes down.

Composition AssignmentComposition AssignmentIn this composition assignment you are will compose a piece in ABA form using the following guidelines

• Use any notes from the C major scale & any rhythms which we have learned so far.

• Write a four measure A phrase – repeat the motif of measure 1 in measure 2 beginning on a different note.

• Write a four-measure B phrase. Create a motif in measure 1 & 2 and repeat it as a sequence in measure 3 & 4. If you wish, you may create an inverted sequence.