The Structure of MusicMusical Forms

Identification

•Repetition and Contrast: major parts of form

•Divide music into its major sections▫Music tends to be in 4 bar phrases▫Or multiples of 4: 8,12,16…

•Utilize letters to identify sections▫A for the first section▫New material = new letter (B, C, D…)▫If there isn’t new material then A again ▫Or if A is changed it is A’

Simple Musical Forms

•Strophic•Binary•Ternary•Arch

Strophic Form

•Letter Form: AAA•Same music each verse (melody)•Different words for each verse (strophe)•Example:

▫“Amazing Grace” and other hymns

Binary Form

•Letter Form: AB or AABB•Melody is introduced in first section

(maybe 2x)•Then new material for the second section•Song ends after “B” section•Example:

▫“Appalachian Spring” by Aaron Copland▫Arrangement from the production Blast!

Ternary Form

•Letter Form: ABA or AABA•Melody is introduced in first section•New material in second section•Return to original melody in third section•Example

▫“Loss” from the production Blast!

Arch Form

•Letter Form: ABCBA or ABCDEFEDCBA•Melodies are new for each section•After middle section of the piece, move

backwards through the sections (each section is still played forwards)

•Example:▫“Land of Make Believe” by Chuck

Mangione▫Arrangement from the production Blast!

Complex Forms

•Theme and Variations•Rondo•Fugue•Sonata

Theme and Variations Form

•Letter Form: AA’A”A’”…•Basic Melody stays, but each repetition

becomes more complex•Example

▫“Bolero” by Maurice Ravel▫Arrangement from the production Blast!

Rondo Form

•Letter Form: ABACADA…•First melody (section) is repeated

between each new section•Main melody: Refrain•New material between: Episodes•Example

▫“Trumpet Concerto” by Franz Joseph Haydn

▫Tina Helseth: Trumpet & Norwegian Chamber Orchestra

Fugue Form

•Polyphonic song based on a melody•Subject: Tonic•Answer: Dominant•Countersubject: accompany the subject

with a different melody

Fugue Form

•Episodes: transitions between statements, may contain parts of subject.

•Pedal point: A single note held while voices work around it

Fugue Form (cont.)

•Example▫(a surprise) by Vincenzo Culotta▫“Theme from Bad Romance” by Lady Gaga

Sonata Form

•A single movement. Three sections: •Exposition (themes stated): A

bridge/transition B (new key)•Development (themes changed): A’ and B’,

fragmented, new keys, tension builds•Recapitulation (themes return): A

bridge/transition B (all tonic)▫Sometimes a Coda is added to state the

themes one more time.

Sonata Form (cont.)

•Example▫“Symphony No. 5, First Movement” by

Ludwig Von Beethoven▫Arrangement from Disney’s Fantasia 2000

Jazz Music Form: The Blues

•Most common form, the foundation of Jazz music and early Rhythm & Blues

•Usually 12 bars long with a specific chord progression, but can be 8, 16 or 20

•I,I,I,I IV,IV,I,I V,IV,I,I•Example

▫“Everybody Loves the Blues” from Blast!▫“Johnny B Goode” by Chuck Berry

Review

•Strophic•Binary•Ternary•Arch•Theme and

Variations•Rondo

•AAA…•AB or AABB•ABA or AABA•ABCDCBA•AA’A”A’”…•ABACADA

Review (cont.)

•Fugue: 5 parts of a fugue?▫Subject, Answer, Countersubject, Episodes,

Pedal Point•Sonata: 3 parts of a sonata

▫Exposition, Development, Recapitulation•The Blues: How many bars?

▫At least 8 bars, 12 or 16 more common▫What is the chord progression?▫I,I,I,I IV,IV,I,I, V,IV,I,I