Chapter 4: Musical Form and Musical Style

Key Terms
form outer form inner form genre style repetition contrast return variation form

Form in Music
the overall shape of a musical work the arrangement, relationship, or organization of musical elements can range from clear-cut to gradual and organic helps shape our emotional response

Repetitions and Contrasts

define relationships between phrases or sections
strict or free repetitions subtle or dramatic contrasts

memory is key to recognizing these relationships

Kinds of Relationships
repetition (a a) contrast (a b) variation (a a) contrast and return (a b a)

Repetition (a a)
parallelism restatement of a phrase, theme, or section feels reassuring but lacks excitement

Contrast (a b)
b = new phrase or section
can have subtle connections to a can be entirely new

provides excitement but feels unstable, incomplete

Variation (a a)
a is restated with one or more elements altered simultaneous repetition and contrast can change or transform the mood

Contrast and Return (a b a)

original material restated after contrasting material provides unity and variety combines excitement with stability

Listening Exercises
repetition? contrast? variation? contrast and return?

Form as a Standardized Pattern

strophic form (A A A) ternary form (A B A) fugue baroque dance form (a a b b) sonata form

A B A Form
statement, contrast, return nesting can create more complicated forms:
A = a b a B = c d c A = a b a

Outer vs. Inner Form

outer form
standard pattern outlining a works overall shape reassuring, satisfying, easy to follow

inner form
the content of each section the moment-to-moment inner workings the feel of contrasting material

Inner Form
take any work in A B A form
In what mode or key is each section? What elements create contrast in B? What feeling does the return convey?

take any other work in A B A form

The answers will be different! same outer form, different inner form

Listening to Inner Forms

Describe the A section. Describe the B section. How does B contrast with A? How literal is the return of A?
CD 4 CD 5

Musorgsky, The Great Gate at Kiev Brahms, Violin Concerto in D, III

Listening to Inner Forms

Musorgsky grand, triumphant, full orchestra subdued, hymnlike, woodwinds soft vs. loud, minor vs. major shorter, melody in lower register, new countermelody Brahms lively, dancelike, violin vs. orchestra emphatic, loud passage, new keys stability vs. tension, lilting vs. forceful shortened, ends differently

Musical Genres
categories or types of compositions can be defined by
performing forces function or purpose text

Examples of Genres
concerto mass oratorio symphony sonata string quartet song cycle opera

Genre vs. Form

genre: defined by broadest features (performers, function, text)
poetry is a genre

form: defined by internal sections and their interrelationships

haiku, sonnet, and limerick are forms

Genre vs. Form

the symphony is a genre:
large work in several movements for orchestra written for public concerts, entertainment

each movement of a symphony may use a different form:

sonata form theme and variations minuet rondo

Listening Exercises
What is the function of this music? What are the performing forces? What is the genre?

Musical Style
the combination of qualities that make a work distinctive the way a work combines elements
melody and form harmony and tonality rhythm and meter texture and tone color

Who can have a style?

a composer a school a historical cultural period a culture or nation an entire continent

Historical Style Periods

ancient music, before 476 C.E. medieval, 476c. 1400 Renaissance, c. 1400c. 1600 Baroque, c. 1600c. 1750 Classical, c. 1750c. 1820 Romantic, c. 1820c. 1900 twentieth century, 19002000