Musical Forms And Devices Flashcards
Repetition
A musical idea is repeated exactly
Imitation
An idea is copied in another part
Sequence
Repetition of an idea in the same part at a higher/lower pitch
Ostinato
A short , repeated pattern or phrase
Drone
A long held or constantly repeated note(s)
Arpeggio/broken chord
The notes of a chord played individually
Alberti base
A broken chord accompaniment (I, V, iii, V) common in the classical era
Anacrusis
An ‘up-beat’ or pick-up before the first strong beat
Dotted rhythm
A rhythm using dotted notes (gives a ‘jagged’ or ‘bouncy’ type of effect)
Syncopation
Off beat accents
Conjunct
Notes that move in steps
Disjunct
Notes that move in leaps/intervals
Regular phrasing
Balanced parts of a melody (like the phrases in a sentence) eg four bar phrases
Perfect Cadence
V-I
Strong ending, sounds finished, like a full stop
Plagal
IV-I
Sounds finished but softer. Amen
Imperfect
I-V, ii-V, Vi-V
Sounds unfinished
Interrupted
V-vi
Moves like an unexpected chord - a surprise
Binary
Two sections (AB): ‘A’ usually ends in a related key but ‘B’ returns to the tonic. ‘B’ will contain with some change/contrast
Ternary
Three sections (ABA): section B provides a contrast. The second A may return exactly or with some slight changes
Rondo
A longer form (ABACA): B and C are contrasting ideas with different keys
Variations
(A ã å a â à): main theme repeated and developed multiple times in a variety of different ways.
Strophic
AAA: a simple form where the piece uses the same melody over and over again
Minuet and trio
II: AB: II II:CD :II AB- The minuet was a type of graceful dance from the 17-18th century, and was often used as the 3rd movement in the symphonies in the classical era. The minuet had two repeated sections, the trio had two new repeated sections, with a return to the minuet at the end/no repeat)
Diatonic harmony
Based on the chords of major/minor scales
