Form AP Music Theory Mr Silvagni Musical Form

Form AP Music Theory Mr. Silvagni

Musical Form • Form is the analysis of phrase structure • Phrases are labeled using small letters (a, b, etc. ) • Song Form – aaba – Letters imply aa (or aa’) at the beginning is likely a parallel period and ba (or ba’) is likely a contrasting periods – One or multiple periods can be analyzed as a section of a form

Labeling Form • While lowercase letters refer to phrases, uppercase letters refer to sections of form • An A section could contain one double contrasting period (aa’bb’) • The following B period could contain all new music (cdef) • The length of the capital letter form sections depend on the length of the music • For AP Music Theory, the music lengths are short, so expect one period per capital letter A = aa’, B = bb’

Binary Form • Binary Form (AB) – two sections often repeated ||: A : ||: B : || – Could also be AA’ – Often used for dances – Sectional (closed) Binary – A section ends with an authentic cadence in original key – Continuous (open) Binary – A section ends with another cadence or with a modulation

Ternary Form • Ternary Form (ABA) – three sections with a recapitulation (return of A) ||: A : || B A – Ternary form eventually evolves into song form in popular music (on a much smaller scale) – Popular with 18 th century arias – The recapitulation of A at the end is the A section in its entirety – Can be sectional/closed (1 st A section ends on tonic) or continuous/open (1 st A section does not end on tonic) – Compound Ternary Form – each of the ABA sections are their own miniature binary or ternary forms

Rounded Binary Form • Rounded Binary Form (A B 1/2 A) – two full sections and a shorter third section ||: A : ||: B 1/2 A: || – More similar to ternary form than binary form • Repeats like Binary, but sectioned like Ternary – The recapitulation of the A section does NOT appear in its entirety – The half of A is usually the second half of A which ends with a PAC

Strophic Form • Strophic Form (AAAA) – every verse or stanza is the same music – Often seen in folk music or music that serves as background for storytelling – Also called "verse-repeating" or chorus form – Strophe means a group of verses in a poem

Through-Composed • Through-Composed (A B C D E F G etc. ) – New music for each stanza – Complete opposite of Strophic Form – Music played is never repeated once the section is changed – There can be some repetition within a section

Sonata-Allegro Form • Sonata-Allegro Form – a unique type of compound ternary form that was used in almost all Classical period sonatas in the 1 st movement – A: Exposition – First theme is in the tonic key, the second theme in the dominant key or the relative major key if the first theme is in minor – B: Development – Previously presented themes are expanded and developed, often in new keys – A’: Recapitulation – A restating of the exposition with the first and second themes both in the tonic key, often concluding with a coda

Rondo Form • Rondo Form – commonly a final movement in a classical piece – Has a principal theme that alternates with one or more contrasting themes, generally called episodes or digressions – Either five-part rondo (ABACA) or seven-part rondo (ABACABA) – Arch form rondo (ABCBA) resembles a symmetrical rondo without the intermediate repetition of the main theme

Theme and Variations Form • Theme and Variations (A A’ A’’’’, etc. ) – Has only one “section” and is repeated indefinitely – Each repetition adds variety to the main theme, unlike strophic form which is the same every time – May be an individual section of any shorter form such as binary or ternary – Passacaglia and chaconne feature a repeating bass theme (bass ostinato) over which the rest of the musical structure is written

Coda Section • A coda or codetta is the closing few measures of a composition after the PAC that is usually not part of the main thematic material • It often extends the PAC, repeating dominant and tonic chords in a powerful final conclusive manner • It is a type of cadential extension found at the end of music