Classical Structures Flashcards
What is binary form?
AB (where both section are repeated).
How does a binary form progress tonally?
Section A: tonic modulates to a related key.
Section B: eventually finds itself back at the tonic.
What is rounded binary form?
AB(A).
The B sections hold a little return of the A section.
Both section A and section B (including the return of the A) are repeated).
What is ternary form?
ABA(1).
The ‘1’ signifies if the return to A has been developed or not.
B section contrasts and is in a related key.
What is da capo form?
Ternary form, where instead of writing a return of the A, the piece goes back to the beginning through a da capo.
What is rondo form?
ACACA.
(A recurring A theme is interrupted by contrasting ‘episodes’.)
Describe the exposition of a sonata-rondo form.
It’s sort of like a little ternary form, starting with the first subject, a little transition passage, then second subject, and back to first (the keys mirror this change as well).
Describe the recapitulation of a sonata-rondo form.
Follows a first subject, transition, second subject, first subject projection, but this time all of it stays in the tonic.
What is sonata-rondo form?
ABACABA, where each ‘ABA’ makes up the exposition or recapitulation, and the ‘C’ counts as the development.
Where is sonata-rondo form most often found?
In the final movement of multi-movement works.
Why is sonata form often used in the first movement?
It is a neat way to present and organise the original material.
What is minuet and trio form?
Based on a graceful French dance in 3/4.
Overall, it is ternary, as it follows a minuet, trio, minuet progression.
Each little section is in binary or rounded binary form.
How did Beethoven develop the third movement minuet and trio?
He gradually displaced it with the scherzo.
How does theme and variation work?
The initial theme is presented, and thus follows all the variations.
