Chapter 2: The Sentence Flashcards
What is a theme?
A complete formal unit, which includes its particular melodic-motivic content, its accompanimental texture, and its supporting harmonic progression
What is a sentence?
An 8mm theme built on 2 phrases. The first phrase is a 4mm presentation phrase followed by a 4mm continuation phrase.
What is a presentation phrase made of?
A 2mm basic idea and a repetition of the basic idea.
What are the 3 formal functions of the sentence?
Presentation
Continuation
Cadential
The basic idea is usually stated in tonic harmony and is then repeated. What are the ways the basic idea can be repeated?
-Exact repetition
-Dominant (statement response) repetition
-Sequential repetition (model sequence)
What are the 4 devices/characteristics of the continuation phrase?
Fragmentation
Accelerated harmonic rhythm
Increase in rhythmic activity
Sequential Harmonic Progressions
What are the 3 possible cadential endings for the continuation phrase?
PAC, IAC, HC
(not deceptive cadence as it is not an “ending”)
The basic idea’s melodic content is usually characteristic, not conventional. What does this mean?
Characteristic - individual to the piece
Conventional - interchangeable piece to piece (often cadential material, but not always)
How large is a basic idea?
2mm (more or less can vary; must contain 2 metrical downbeats)
When assessing a basic idea and repetition, what content should be considered?
Harmonic content, not melodic content
Of the three kinds of repetition of the basic idea, which one is not as frequent?
Sequential
What is Tonic Prolongation?
The progression that prolongs tonic harmony
What is a grouping structure?
Organization of significant timespans at any level in a movement (i.e.: group, unit, part, section idea, phrase)
What is a formal function?
Specific way a musical passage expresses a more temporal quality (where it falls in the timeline of the music) (i.e.: beginning, “being” in the middle, ending, basic idea, presentation)
What is the purpose of the presentation function? How does it achieve this purpose?
Establish melodic-motivic content within a stable tonal harmonic structure/environment
(1) Initial statement and the repetition of the BI will fully present melodic content to the listener
(2) Tonic prolongation provides harmonic stability
What is the purpose of the continuation function? How does it achieve this purpose?
Destabilizes the formal content from the presentation and provides greater mobility (ease of movement) to the theme
(1) Fragmentation
(2) Acceleration of Harmonic Rhythm
(3) Increased (surface) rhythmic activity
(4) Sequential Progressions
What is fragmentation?
-breaking down of the 2mm unit into smaller segments often made clear through repetition
-sometimes doesn’t happen until after continuation has begun
-sometimes it begins as if it were giving a 1/3 restatement of the basic idea
What is acceleration of harmonic rhythm?
Faster rate of harmonic changes
What is increased (surface) rhythmic activity?
(feels faster than the presentation)
-fragmentation, harmonic acceleration, and shorter note values help give a sense of increased rhythmic activity
-effective in absence of harmonic acceleration
What is sequential progression?
-destabilizes harmony
-model sequence technique
T/F: The presentation phrase always ends in a cadence.
False
T/F: The continuation phrase always ends in a cadence.
True
T/F: A sentence always ends in a cadence.
True
How do you identify a cadential function?
A falling of the melodic contour (usually) w/cadential harmonic progression
Cadential material starts to be seen when…
…composers systematically liquidate the characteristic melodic and rhythmic motives of the basic idea
What is liquidation?
Gradually eliminating characteristic (motivic) features, until only uncharacteristic ones remain
Why is there not a cadence at the end of the presentation phrase?
(1) Repetition of BI gives sense of beginning
(2) Thematic closure (cadence) needs idea in contrast to initial idea
(3) Distinguishing difference between cadential material and tonic prolongation
“Real” vs. “Notated” Measures
Real=the measures you feel
Notated=the measures you see on the page
(i.e.: a sentence may only be 4mm long if it’s slow and feels like 8 OR a sentence may be 16mm if it’s fast and feels like 8)
Can a sentence modulate?
Yes. If so, it will occur in the continuation phrase and will usually be to a closely related keys.
