Structure Flashcards
Arch-shape
A musical structure of contrasting sections in the form A B C B A.
Binary
A musical structure of two sections material in each(AB).
Call and response
Vocal music in which a soloist sins phrase to which a group of singers respond. Mostly found in African music, but also in jazz and pop music.
Continuo
Accompanying part in instrumental music of the Baroque period. Played by a bass instrument(such as a cello) and a harmony instrument (such as a harpsichord).
Ground Bass
A recurring bass line over which the melody changes
Minuet and Trio
A minuet is an elegant dance in 3/4 time. In many Baroque and classic compositions, a minuet is paired with a trio, and repeated to form a minuet-trio-minuet movement.
Rondo
A musical structure in which a main melody alternates with a contrasting section (A B A C A).
Scherzo and Trio
‘Scherzo’ means a joke or game, and is a movement with light-hearted tone, often fast in tempo and incorporating rhythmic effects such as a cross-rhythms. It can be substituted for a minuet and paired with a trio, to form a scherzo-trio-scherzo movement.
Sonata form
The most common structure for the first movement(and sometimes other movements) of compositions in the classical style, comprising exposition, development and recapitulation.
Ternary
A musical structure of three sections with a similar outer sections and a contrasting central one (A B A). Can also be described as arch form.
Theme and Variations
A composition where the main musical idea (theme) is repeated, each time with alternations to one or more of its original elements.
Through-composed
A type of song in which different music is used for each for each verse of lyrics; opposite of strophic.