Music Terminology - Form and Structure Flashcards
Binary Form
Two-part (A - B) structure of music; usually each part is repeated.
Ternary Form
A compositional form which consists of three major sections, an A section which states the thematic material, a B section which presents a contrasting theme, and a final A section which restates the opening thematic material.
Rondo Form
Compositional form with a returning A section. It is generally considered A-B-A-C-A but it can have more letters added for more section.
Theme and Variations
A style of composition that first presents a basic theme and then develops and alters that theme in successive statements.
Strophic
Musical Form in which every verse (strophe) of the text is sung to the same musical tune. It would be AAA form.
Sonata Form
The form generally used for the opening movement of a symphony. It is also known as first-movement form. It consists of an exposition, followed by a development and a recapitulation.
Tone/Symphonic Poem
A one-movement orchestral genre that develops a poetic idea, suggests a scene, or creates a mood. The symphonic poem is generally associated with the Romantic era.
Sonata-Rondo Form
A merging of Sonata Form (Exp./Dev./Recap.) and Rondo Form (ABACA). The usual form is [A B] exp. [C] dev. [A B] recap.
Minuet and Trio
An A-B-A form (A = minuet; B = trio) in a moderate triple meter that is often the third movement of a Classical symphony.
Through-Composed
Song form that is composed from beginning to end without repetitions of any major sections; each verse having its own, unique melody. ABCD, etc.
Cyclic Form
A technique of musical construction, involving multiple sections or movements, in which a theme, melody, or thematic material occurs in more than one movement as a unifying device
Verse/Chorus
Pop song structure using combinations of verses and choruses.
Pre-Chorus
A small section of music that links the verse to the chorus. It usually prepares the listener for the chorus by building tension.
32-Bar Song Form
Form common in popular music from the 1930s- 1960s. It involves an AABA structure; each being 8 bars long.
12-Bar Blues
A type of structure in Blues music that last 12 bars, each bar with a different chord. It usually takes the form: I / I / I / I / IV / IV / I / I / V / IV / I / I.
Introduction
A small section of music that comes before the main musical material begins.
Exposition
First section of Sonata Form. It introduces both subjects to the listener.
Development
Middle section of Sonata Form. One (or both) of the exposition subjects is explored through different keys and transformations.
Recapitulation
Final section of Sonata Form. The exposition is repeated but with both subjects in the tonic key.
Codetta/Coda
The closing measures of a section or composition. It is usually not part of the main theme groups but a finishing theme added to the end to give the composition closure.
Outro
The ending to a piece a music, usually a pop/rock song.
Middle 8
The middle 8 bars of a pop/rock song. This usually gives variation/contrast within a verse and chorus form.
Programmatic Form
Programme music or program music is a type of classical music that attempts to render an extra-musical narrative musically.
Fugue
A theme or subject is introduced by one voice, and is imitated by other voices in succession. Usually only the first few notes of the subject are imitated exactly, then each voice deviates slightly until the next time it enters again with the subject. Generally the voices overlap and weave in and out of each other forming a continuous, tapestry-like texture.
