Musical Elements: Structure

Musical Elements: Structure

Principles of Structure

  • Musical structure relates to the ways in which a composition is arranged or ordered, creating an organised framework.
  • A musical work can have different levels of structure, ranging from smaller units like motives, phrases, and periods, to larger ones like movements and whole pieces.

Binary Form

  • Binary form, denoted as AB or AABB, is a musical structure with two distinct sections.
  • The second section often introduces new themes or melodies and is usually in a different key from the first section.
  • This structure is common in Baroque music, including minuets, polkas, and marches.

Ternary Form

  • Ternary form, or ABA, consists of three sections. The first and last sections (A) are identical or closely related, while the B section contrasts the A sections.
  • Ternary form can be found in various genres of music including pop, classical and jazz.

Rondo Form

  • Rondo form follows an ABACA… structure, with a main theme (A) that recurs, alternating with contrasting sections (B, C, etc.).
  • This form is often used in fast-paced movements of sonatas and symphonies.

Strophic Form

  • In strophic form, the same music is repeated for each stanza or verse of a song.
  • This structure is common in folk and popular music, as well as religious hymns.

Verse-Chorus Form

  • Verse-chorus form, frequently found in popular music, comprises of alternating verses and choruses.
  • The verse and chorus sections have different lyrics and melodies, with the chorus often featuring the song’s “hook.”

Sonata Form

  • Sonata form, also known as sonata-allegro form, is organised into three main sections: the exposition (where the main themes are introduced), the development (where these themes are expanded and transformed) and the recapitulation (where the themes are revisited).
  • This form is highly prevalent in classical music, particularly within the first movement of symphonies and string quartets.

Through-Composed Form

  • Through-composed form denotes a structure where new material is used for each section or verse of the composition, without any repetitions.
  • This form is often employed in operas and art songs to closely follow a story or text.

Variation Form

  • Variation form involves a theme that recurs but is modified in some way in each repetition - for instance, in its rhythm, melody, harmony, texture, or orchestration.
  • This form is used in a significant number of musical styles from classical to jazz and beyond.