The Structure of Music
Musical 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
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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
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Letter Form: AAA
Same music each verse (melody)
Different words for each verse (strophe)
Example:
▫ “Amazing Grace” and other hymns
Binary Form
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Strophic
Binary
Ternary
Arch
Theme and Variations
Rondo
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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