Form
Form is the term we use in music to describe the structure of the music. Form can be very big like splitting a book into chapters, or small, like
splitting a paragraph into sentences. Often we use letters to label different sections as being similar or different. e.g. AABA or ABA or ABCD. However, we can also use terms like verse, refrain (chorus), bridge, introduction, coda, interlude etc, so its best to keep an open mind when trying to work out the form of a piece of music. When listening to music, a really important question to ask yourself is, “is this section or phrase the same, or different from the last one. A good listener needs to develop their instinct by listening to all different kinds of music and working out the structure.
Small Forms
A great example of a small form is the ones we use when writing our 16 bar melodies. We divide the tune into 4 x 4-bar phrases (sentences), each one ending on a long note. For now we use AABA, but we will go on to use AABC, ABCA, and ABCD.
The 7th movement of the Bach Cantata is AABC where each phrase is 4 bars long.
Traditional Irish music is usually split up into 8 bar “parts” (phrases), and usually each part is repeated. Typically, therefore, a trad tune
might be; AABBAABB, or AABBCCAABBCC.
A typical structure for popular songs these days are; Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Chorus.
Medium Forms
Bohemian Rhapsody is a little more complicated. Intro (or “choral” section), Verse 1, Verse 2, Guitar solo, Operatic section, Guitar
interlude, Rock section, Coda (tail piece at the end)
Binary form is a piece in two main sections (AB) Ternary form is in 3 sections (ABA). e.g. 2nd Movement of Bach
Large Forms
Ritornello form is usually a longish piece. Ritornello means “returning”. It is where 1 theme keeps returning in different guises throughout
the piece. e.g. Bach 1st Movement This is sometimes referred to as Rondo form.
Sonata Form
This is a structure which was invented by Haydn and further developed by Mozart and other composers of the Classical era. Sonata Form is a
structure of 3 main sections framed by an Introduction and a Coda. This structure was almost always used in the first movement of a major piece of music like a sonata, symphony, or concerto. It is divided into 3 main sections, The Exposition, Development and Recapitulation
The Exposition is the first section where the main themes or tunes are presented in 1st and 2nd subject groups (groups of themes). The first subject group is in the Tonic key and the 2nd subject is in the Dominant. The function of this section is to introduce the main musical ideas of the movement. In this work however, there are 2 expositions, the first, played by the orchestra only, stays in the tonic. This is followed immediately by the 2nd Exposition, played by Piano and orchestra, which modulates to the dominant as normal.
The Development is where the composer applies various techniques such as imitation, sequence, modulation, etc. to motives from the main themes. Full themes are not normally heard in the development. Rather, little “snippets” of themes (motif) treated to a series of“tricks”
The Recapitulation is a repeat of the Exposition, but this time in the Tonic (doh) key.
All linking sections can be called bridge passages.
A Coda is a tail piece at the end of the movement. A Codetta is a tail piece at the end of a section e.g. Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky, is loosely set in sonata form (very, very loosely!!!!!!!)
Extended and seemingly “Random” Forms
Most modern composers (not pop) don’t adhere to strict pre-conceived forms. Gerald Barry’s Piano Quartet (Cd 1 Tr. 10) is a good example of this, where each section is clearly recognised and falls into the following pattern; A/B1/C1/C2/B2/C3/D1/D2+B3/E1/C4/C5/E2+D3/C6/C7/F+C8/C9/G/H GULP!!!!!
splitting a paragraph into sentences. Often we use letters to label different sections as being similar or different. e.g. AABA or ABA or ABCD. However, we can also use terms like verse, refrain (chorus), bridge, introduction, coda, interlude etc, so its best to keep an open mind when trying to work out the form of a piece of music. When listening to music, a really important question to ask yourself is, “is this section or phrase the same, or different from the last one. A good listener needs to develop their instinct by listening to all different kinds of music and working out the structure.
Small Forms
A great example of a small form is the ones we use when writing our 16 bar melodies. We divide the tune into 4 x 4-bar phrases (sentences), each one ending on a long note. For now we use AABA, but we will go on to use AABC, ABCA, and ABCD.
The 7th movement of the Bach Cantata is AABC where each phrase is 4 bars long.
Traditional Irish music is usually split up into 8 bar “parts” (phrases), and usually each part is repeated. Typically, therefore, a trad tune
might be; AABBAABB, or AABBCCAABBCC.
A typical structure for popular songs these days are; Intro, Verse, Chorus, Verse, Chorus, Bridge, Chorus, Chorus.
Medium Forms
Bohemian Rhapsody is a little more complicated. Intro (or “choral” section), Verse 1, Verse 2, Guitar solo, Operatic section, Guitar
interlude, Rock section, Coda (tail piece at the end)
Binary form is a piece in two main sections (AB) Ternary form is in 3 sections (ABA). e.g. 2nd Movement of Bach
Large Forms
Ritornello form is usually a longish piece. Ritornello means “returning”. It is where 1 theme keeps returning in different guises throughout
the piece. e.g. Bach 1st Movement This is sometimes referred to as Rondo form.
Sonata Form
This is a structure which was invented by Haydn and further developed by Mozart and other composers of the Classical era. Sonata Form is a
structure of 3 main sections framed by an Introduction and a Coda. This structure was almost always used in the first movement of a major piece of music like a sonata, symphony, or concerto. It is divided into 3 main sections, The Exposition, Development and Recapitulation
The Exposition is the first section where the main themes or tunes are presented in 1st and 2nd subject groups (groups of themes). The first subject group is in the Tonic key and the 2nd subject is in the Dominant. The function of this section is to introduce the main musical ideas of the movement. In this work however, there are 2 expositions, the first, played by the orchestra only, stays in the tonic. This is followed immediately by the 2nd Exposition, played by Piano and orchestra, which modulates to the dominant as normal.
The Development is where the composer applies various techniques such as imitation, sequence, modulation, etc. to motives from the main themes. Full themes are not normally heard in the development. Rather, little “snippets” of themes (motif) treated to a series of“tricks”
The Recapitulation is a repeat of the Exposition, but this time in the Tonic (doh) key.
All linking sections can be called bridge passages.
A Coda is a tail piece at the end of the movement. A Codetta is a tail piece at the end of a section e.g. Romeo and Juliet by Tchaikovsky, is loosely set in sonata form (very, very loosely!!!!!!!)
Extended and seemingly “Random” Forms
Most modern composers (not pop) don’t adhere to strict pre-conceived forms. Gerald Barry’s Piano Quartet (Cd 1 Tr. 10) is a good example of this, where each section is clearly recognised and falls into the following pattern; A/B1/C1/C2/B2/C3/D1/D2+B3/E1/C4/C5/E2+D3/C6/C7/F+C8/C9/G/H GULP!!!!!