structure & form. the way musical ideas are arranged and ordered in a composition needs to have...
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Structure & Form
The way musical ideas are arranged and ordered in a
composition
Needs to have the right balance of repetition andcontrast
Two sections of roughly equal length:A B
Each section is usually repeated
Three sections of roughly equal length:
A B AB contrasts with the A sections
The main theme (A) keeps on returning, with contrasting
sections (episodes) in between
A B A C A D A
Sounds like a question and answer
Common in African music, gospel, blues, and jazz
Used in pop music:Intro - beginningOutro – beginning & endVerse – Tells the storyChorus (refrain) – Focal point; CatchyFills – bridge between sectionsMiddle 8 – contrasting section 12-bar blues
Starts with a simple theme, then repeating it but changing/
varying it each timeChanging tempoChanging rhythmTonality (e.g. major to minor)Adding extra notes/ ornamentsVideo: Mozart- ‘Ah! vous dirai je maman’
Recitatives – tells the story, like a narrator
Aria – A tuneful songChoruses – Everyone sings
Female opera stars called Divas
Search YouTube for:
Mozart- ‘Ah! vous dirai je maman
…video and embed here
Minuet is a stately dance from 17th/ 18th centuries in 3/4 time
In ternary structure: A B AMinuet Trio Minuet
Trio – thin texture (3 instruments)Video: Example of a minuet
Recitatives – tells the story, like a narrator
Aria – A tuneful songChoruses – Everyone sings
Female opera stars called Divas
Search YouTube for:
‘Minuet’
…video and embed here
Same music is repeated for each verses e.g. hymn
Opposite of strophic – new music for each verse in the song
Music develops, changing to reflect moods/ situations in lyrics
Song frequently found in operaIn ternary form
Aria = ‘air’ (melody)
Sung by solo singer, accompanied by orchestra
Constant repetition of a fixed number of beats, or melodic pattern
During each cycle, can be developed through changes in texture or dynamics
Common in Africa, India & Asia e.g. gamelan music
Video: Balinese Gamelan music
Recitatives – tells the story, like a narrator
Aria – A tuneful songChoruses – Everyone sings
Female opera stars called Divas
Search YouTube for:
‘Balinese Gamelan Music’
…video and embed here
Melody or riff in the bass that is repeated while melody/ harmony
changes
Featured in all types of music – baroque to pop music
Video: ‘Livin’ On A Prayer’
Recitatives – tells the story, like a narrator
Aria – A tuneful songChoruses – Everyone sings
Female opera stars called Divas
Search YouTube for:
‘Bon Jovi – Livin on a Prayer’
…video and embed here
Large scale musical form in 3 parts:
1)Exposition: Characters are introduced
2)Development: Develops ideas such as melody & rhythm. It’s dramatic, usually with many key changes
3)Recapitulation: Brings back musical ideas from exposition – ‘rounded off’