Chapter 4 - Song Form and Trio

Question 1

What is song form and trio?

Answer 1

Song form and trio is another extension or expansion of the ternary form.

Question 2

What is the design of song form?

Answer 2

The design usually consists of three sections and is usually heard as two separate compositions, with the first one repeated after the second. Each of the sections is usually a two- or three-part form:
Section One: Song form (ABA) (principal song)
Section Two: Trio (ABA)
Section Three: Song form (ABA) (da capo repeat)

Question 3

Where is song form most common?

Answer 3

Any type of composition or movement may follow song form, and it is most often found in marches and in the third movement of sonatas, symphonies, string quartets, etc., bearing the names “Minuetto and Trio” or “Scherzo and Trio.”

Question 4

What are examples of song form and trio?

Answer 4

Mozart, Viennese Sonatina No. 2

Haydn, String Quartet in D minor, Op. 76, No. 2 (both sections are three-part ABA).

Question 5

What are additional examples of song form and trio?

Answer 5

Dvorak, Symphony in E minor (“New World”), 3rd movement
Chopin, Waltz in E minor (posthumous) (Song ABA, trio ABA, song – only part A of original)
Debussy, Children’s Corner, Golliwog’s Cake Walk