Musical form: Encyclopedia II - Musical form - Formal structures

Musical form - Formal structures

In classical and popular music, there are many labels applied to forms, abstract formal designs, as contrasted with the principals and procedures of combining materials: form.

Musical form - Single-movement forms

In a sectional form, the larger unit (form) is built from various smaller clear-cut units (sections) in combination, sort of like stacking legos (DeLone, 1975):

• Strophic form (AA...)
• Binary form (AB)
• Ternary form, less often tertiary (ABA)
• Arch form, (ABCBA)

Sections include:

• Introduction or Intro
• Exposition
• Verse
• Chorus or refrain
• Bridge or interlude
• Conclusion
• Coda or outro, and Fadeout

Developmental forms, larger unit (form) is built from small bits of material given different presentations and combinations, usually progressive (DeLone, 1975):

• Sonata form, also called sonata-allegro

Variational forms, larger unit (form) is built from sections treated to one type of presentation at a time, but varying successively (DeLone, 1975):

• Rondo (ABACADA...)
• Variation form, sometimes theme and variation (AA'A"A"'...)
• Passacaglia and Chaconne

These structures are defined by the distribution of different thematic material, melodies, key centres, and other materials used. While many of the above forms are partly defined by their tonal schemes these forms may be applied to music which has a differing or no tonal scheme (DeLone et. al. (Eds.), 1975, chap. 1). More than one formal method may be used, including in-between types, and music which is not composed with the above or any other model is called through composed.

Especially recently, more segmented approaches have been taken through the use of stratification, superimposition, juxtaposition, interpolation, and other interruptions and simultaneities. Examples include the postmodern "block" technique used by composers such as John Zorn, where rather than organic development one follows separate units in various combinations. These techniques may be used to create contrast to the point of disjointed chaotic textures, or, through repetition and return and transitional procedures such as dissolution, amalgamation, and gradation, may create connectedness and unity. Composers have also made more use of open forms such as produced by aleatoric devices and other chance procedures, improvisation, and some processes. (ibid)

Musical form - Multi-movement forms

Types of piece which may or may not incorporate one or more of the above structures as part of their overall makeup include:

• Ballet, larger musical composition intended for Ballet dance form
• Cantata
• Chorale
• Concerto
• Dance, smaller musical composition intended for presentation of a dance, either as accompaniment for dancing or as music as such
• Duet
• Etude or study
• Fantasia
• Fugue
• Mass
• Opera
• Oratorio
• Prelude
• Requiem
• Rhapsody
• Sonata
• Suite
• Symphonic poem
• Symphony

Forms of chamber music are defined by instrumentation (string quartet, piano quintet and so on). The structure of a chamber work is typically similar to a sonata.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Formal structures", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki