The term form is in music used “to denote a standard type, or genre, and to denote the procedures in a specific work. The nomenclature for the various musical formal types may be determined by the medium of performance, the technique of composition, or by function.”

• Our studies of musical form will include: Binary (AB), Ternary (ABA), Sonata*

• *Sonata Form:  (a.k.a. Sonata Allegro Form or First Movement Form — First movements of classical works are often allegro and in sonata form.)

  || : Exposition : || : Development Recapitulation : || Theme 1   tr Theme 2   c Freedom Rtr Theme 1   tr Theme 2   c Major: I V V V ? Modulations V I I I minor: i * * * ? Modulations V i i i * In minor, the second theme may be in either the relative major (III) or the dominant (V).

  The Exposition establishes tonic then modulates to a new key. If the exposition is repeated, a short transition may modulate back to tonic. Theme 1, the first theme or group of themes, grabs attention. It is entirely in tonic. tr, the transition or bridge, modulates to V or V/V in major and to III or V/III in minor. A dependent transition is motivically related to the first theme. Theme 2, the second theme or group of themes, is in the new key and is usually a lyrical contrast to the opening theme(s). A second bridge may link theme 2 and the closing theme. c, the closing theme(s) or codetta, employs cadential figures and confirms the new key. Rtr, the retransition, is an optional bridge-like section which concludes the development by settling on the dominant in anticipation of the return to tonic. The Development may begin like the exposition (transposed) or with the closing theme or even a new theme in a new key. The development freely manipulates musical ideas (keys, themes, textures, dynamics and even tempos) evoking restlessness, drama, surprise and tense expectancy. The development provides an important contrast to the more direct and stable outer sections. The Recapitulation is much like the exposition in structure and may employ an identical first theme. However the transition is altered to end on tonic or dominant so the secondary and closing themes confirm tonic. Keys are as important as themes. Many Haydn sonatas are monothematic, i.e. S = F transposed. The exposition is often repeated. The development and recapitulation are sometimes repeated. Introductions and codas are common.

TEXTURE, HARMONY and FORM

TEXTURE

Texture has to do with the way various musical sounds and melodic lines blend. It is the interrelationship of voices and instruments. When hearing texture in music one must ask oneself how many melodies are occurring and how are they related? The three textures in music are . A composition can start in one texture and move freely into another.

		Monophonic
		Polyphonic
		Homophonic

 

MONOPHONIC

One main melody. (mono=one, phony=sound). A single-line melody unadorned and unaccompanied. Often monophonic texture is not enough information to continue to hold ones attention as an artistic experience. The exceptions are vocal chants such as plainsong and certain pieces sung a cappella such as, Amazing Grace.

 

 

POLYPHONIC

Two or more melodies of equal importance played or sung simultaneously. The term frequently applied to polyphonic texture is counterpoint or contrapuntal. There are two types of polyphony.

IMITATIVE POLYPHONY

Melodic lines sounding together with the same or quite similar melodies at staggered time intervals. Strict imitative polyphony uses the same melody that copies itself which is called canon or round. In non-strict imitative polyphony you hear imitation but it is not the exact melody chasing itself but a very similar one.

NON-IMITATIVE POLYPHONY

Two completely different melodies going on at the same time. Two distinctly different melodic layers floating in and out of each other.

 

HOMOPHONIC

One main melody of real interest combined with other sounds that are markedly subsidiary. The “melody and accompaniment” of music. One main melody with every thing else accompaniment. A principal melodic line with subordinate sounds used as supportive accompaniment.

 

When notes or a chord or harmony sound simultaneously it can produce stability or tension. These two types of harmonies are referred to as:

CONSONANCE

Harmony that is stable, non active, agreeable, free of tension, blending and resolved.

DISSONANCE

Harmony that is unstable, in opposition, conflicting, jarring and unresolved. A dissonant chord leaves the listener with a feeling of expectation. It takes a consonant chord to complete the gesture created by a dissonance. Most good music has a combination of consonance and dissonance.

Harmonies move in progressions that help form the key of a piece. Each key is positioned around a tonic and harmony can be formed from the tonic note or any other scale degree. Harmonies can also help to change the key of a composition, when necessary. The processes of changing keys in music is called modulation. Harmony like scales can be major or minor and classical music uses those two primarily but eventually you will hear about or get to know diminished, half-diminished, augmented, dominant seventh and many more types of chords or harmonies.

 

FORM

Form relates to the organization of music, its structure or plan. A compositions ideas in time creates its form. The form of a composition also has to do with its shape, arrangement and relationship of various musical elements. Form is perceived in terms of repetition, contrast, or variation. Form is usually diagrammed with letters to indicate how sections relate to each other through statement, departure or return. Composers need some structure to their pieces. It is easier for a composer to be creative when there is some guideline to follow. Below are some of the basic forms. There are five basic forms for which much of music is organized in.

 

STROPHIC

The musical form having one section only with the same music played or sung on each repeat; diagrammed as A.

In the popular spiritual “Amazing Grace” the changing lyrics holds the listeners attention while the melody stays the same with each verse.

A Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound, That saved a wretch like me…. I once was lost but now am found, Was blind, but now, I see. A T’was Grace that taught… my heart to fear. And Grace, my fears relieved. How precious did that Grace appear… the hour I first believed. A Through many dangers, toils and snares… we have already come. T’was Grace that brought us safe thus far… and Grace will lead us home.

 

BINARY

The musical form having two contrasting sections, a first statement followed by a contrasting statement; diagrammed as AB for example the folk song “TwinkleTwinkle Little Star.”

A Oh, say, can you see, by the dawn’s early light, What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last leaming? Whose broad stripes and bright stars, thro’ the perilous fight, O’er the ramparts we watch’d, were so gallantly streaming? B   And the rockets’ red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof thro’ the night that our flag was still there. O say, does that star-spangled banner yet wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

 

Listen to Ternary form in Beethoven’s piano piece, “Eccosaise.”

The A section

The B section

The AB and then return to A section

 

TERNARY

The three part musical form in which the last section repeats the first. A musical form having a departure from the first section and then a return of the first section; diagrammed ABA. For example the folk song “TwinkleTwinkle Little Star.”

A Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are, B   Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky, A   Twinkle, twinkle little star How I wonder what you are.

 

VARIATION

The musical form or repeating a clearly defined melody (theme) and successively changing it artfully and cleverly without ever losing touch with the original melody. In variation form, as each section re-dresses the main theme, the main theme is always present in the listener’s ear; diagrammed as

A There was a man lived in the moon, lived in the moon, lived in the moon, There was a man lived in the moon, And his name was Aiken Drum; And he played upon a ladle, a ladle, a ladle, And he played upon a ladle, And his name was Aiken Drum. A1   And his hat was made of good cream cheese, good cream cheese, good cream cheese, And he played upon good cream cheese, And his name was Aiken Drum. A2   And his coat was made of good roast beef, good roast beef, good roast beef, And he played upon good roast beef, And his name was Aiken Drum. A3   And his buttons were made of penny loaves, penny loaves, penny loaves, And he played upon his penny loaves, And his name was Aiken Drum. A4   And his waistcoat was made of crust of pies, crust of pies, crust of pies, And he played upon his curst of pies, And his name was Aiken Drum. A5   etc.

A A1 A2 A3 A4 A5 etc.

 

RONDO

Periodic return of a central theme; diagrammed as ABACADA.

A I know a man named Michael Finnegan, B   He had whiskers on his chinigin, The wind blew them off, but they grew in again, Poor old Michael Finnegan. A   I know a man named Michael Finnegan, C   He went fishing with a pin-agin, Caught a fish and dropped it in-agin Poor old Michael Finnegan. A   I know a man named Michael Finnegan, D   Climbed a tree and barked his shin-agin, Took off several yards of skin-igin Poor old Michael Finnegan. A   I know a man named Michael Finnegan, E   He got fat and then got thin again, Then he died and had to begin again, Poor old Michael Finnegan.