Chapter 4Musical Form and Musical Style

Form in Music

Key Terms

Form

Memory

Outer form

Inner form

Repetition

Contrast

Return

Variation

Genre

Form in Music

Overall shape of a musical workArrangement, relationship, or organization of various elements of music•Rhythm•Pitch and melody•Dynamics•Harmony•Tone color•Texture•Tonality

Form in Music

Musical works can divide into clear sections with clear-cut relationships or unfold gradually and organically

Form is not purely intellectual

Our experience of form shapes our emotional response to a work

The emotional trajectory of a work is forged by careful use of repetition and contrast

Form in Music

Musical works are formed through repetitions and contrasts of elements•Repetitions may be strict or free•Contrasts may be subtle or dramatic

Repetitions and contrasts define relationships between phrases of a melody or sections of a work

Memory is the key to hearing these relationships as they unfold in time

Form in Music

Possible relationships between phrases, themes, or sections

Repetition (a a)•Parallelism• Identical or nearly identical restatement of a

phrase, theme, or section•Feels reassuring, but lacks excitement

Form in Music

Possible relationshipsContrast (a b)•A new phrase or section•May have subtle connections to previous

material, or may be entirely new•Provides excitement of new phrase, theme, or

section, but doesn’t feel stable or complete

Form in Music

Possible relationshipsVariation (a a’)•A restatement of previous material, but one or

more elements are altered•Simultaneous repetition and contrast•Similar enough to sound like the same idea,

but definitely not identical•Variation can change or transform the mood or

feeling of a phrase, theme, or section

Form in Music

Possible relationshipsContrast and return (a b a)•Unlike repetition, return is restatement of

original material after contrasting material•You can’t return home if you never leave!•Commonly used, emotionally satisfying

formula (unity and variety)•Combines excitement of new material and

sense of relief with return of familiar material (homecoming)

Listening for Form

Try several examples—which of these do you hear?

Repetition?

Contrast?

Variation?

Contrast and return?

Form and Forms

Form is organization of elements in a work

A form refers to one of many standardized patterns used by composers

Possible forms include:•Strophic form (A A A …)•Ternary form (A B A)•Fugue•Baroque dance form (aabb)•Sonata form

Form and Forms

An example: A B A formThree large sections: statement, contrast, return

Each section might have its own form•A = a b a•B = c d c•A = a b a

Such “nesting” arrangements are often used to create more complicated forms

Form and Forms

“Outer” and “inner” formStandard patterns outline a work’s overall shape—its “outer” form (e.g., A B A)

“Outer” forms are reassuring, provide a satisfying, easy-to-follow overall shape

“Outer” forms do not describe the content of each section, its moment-to-moment inner workings, or the feel of contrasting material—its “inner” form

Form and Forms

“Inner” FormTake any work in A B A form• Is B in a different mode or key?• Is B’s contrast due to rhythm, texture, tone

color, or some other element?•Does the return convey excitement, trickiness,

or relief?

Take any other work in A B A form•The answers will be different!

Same “outer” form, different “inner” form

Musical Genres

Categories or types of musical compositions

A genre can be defined by a its:•Performing forces (number and kind of

instruments or voices used)•Function or purpose•Text

Not to be confused with form

Musical Genres

Examples of genres:•Concerto•Mass•Oratorio•Symphony•Sonata•String quartet•Song cycle•Madrigal•Opera

Genre vs. Form

A genre is defined by its broadest features (performers, function, etc.)

A form is defined by its internal sections and their interrelationships

Genre vs. Form

In literature, poetry is a genre•A work in verse•Usually breaks down into stanzas and lines •Often uses poetic meter and rhyme •Traditionally intended for public reading

Haiku, sonnets, and limericks are forms•Each has a specific number of lines (3, 14, and

5, respectively)•Each uses a specific poetic meter (or specific

number of syllables per line)•The last two have an expected rhyme scheme

Genre vs. Form

In music, the symphony is a genre•a large work in several movements for

orchestra (performing forces)•written for entertainment at a public concert

(function)

Each movement of a symphony may use a different form—Haydn’s 95th uses:•Sonata form•Theme and variations•Minuet form•Rondo form

Listening for Genre

Try several examples—answer these questions:

What is the function of this music?•Public or private entertainment? Worship?

Patriotic? Commercial?

What are the performing forces?•Orchestra? String quartet? Chorus? Solo

voices? Piano? Rock band? Jazz combo?

What is the genre?