Review of Musical Form
General Background
There are many structural designs in music, for small- and large-scale structures within single movements, as well as multi-movement designs.
In this part of the Graduate Music Theory Entrance Exam, we will focus on three aspects:
Section 1: Small-scale phrase structure, basic single-movement forms, and the functional/chromatic harmony that make them work:
- Phrase Structure: Period, phrase group, phrase chain, phrase elision, etc.
- Functional Harmony and Chromatic Harmony:
- "Dominant" chords (chords that resolve to the tonic: V, V7, vii and vii7)
- "Pre-Dominant" chords (chords that set up a Dominant chord: such as ii or IV;
"Secondary dominants" (such as "V7 of V"); or "Pre-Dominant Chromatic Substitution" chords such as the "Neapolitan 6" chord and "Augmented 6" chords
- Common Single-movement Forms (based on contrasting melodic/harmonic sections)
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Ritornello: alternation between two opposing contrasting entities: "Big" (tutti) vs. "small" (solo/soli)
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Binary Form ||: A :||: B :||
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Rounded-Binary Form ||: A :||: B A :|| (this is a precursor to "Sonata form")
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Compound Ternary Form: "Minuet and Trio Form", "Scherzo and Trio Form", "Waltz and Trio Form"
(Compound Ternary is also the design of an operatic "Da Capo Aria")
- Sonata form: a rounded-binary harmonic design with Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation
- Sonatina form (similar to sonata-form with an Exposition and Recapitulation but NO Developmenmt
- Rondo Form: alternating a Rondo theme ["A"] with contrasting "Episodes" such as [ABACA] or [ABACADA]
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Sonata-Rondo Form: 7-part Rondo form |A BA| C | A BA| with harmonic Expos-Dev-Recap in its episodes
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Theme and Variations Form
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Arch Form
- Common Multi-movement Designs
Concerto: 3-movements
1. [Fast] Concerto-Sonata form (a Sonata form that also incorporates Ritornello)
2. [Slow] most often Ternary form (ABA)
3. [Very Fast] Concerto-rondo form (a Rondo form that also incorporates Ritornello)
Baroque Suite: A collection of dances comprised of several contrasting movements
Standard Classic 4-movement Design:
1. [Fast] Sonata form
2. [Slow] Ternary form (ABA), 5-part Rondo (ABACA), Theme & Variations, or another small form
3. [Moderate]
Compound Ternary form such as "Minuet & Trio form" or "Scherzo & Trio form"
4. [Very Fast] 7-part Rondo (ABACADA), or Sonata-Rondo |A BA| C | A BA| with harmonic Exposition/Development/Recapitulation in its episodes
- Non-traditional Designs
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Serialization (numerically pre-determining the order of pitch, rhythm or other parameters)
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Mobile Form (sections are played in a different/random order each time)
such as Terry Riley's "In C"
- Phase music (the same musical line is simultaneously heard against itself out of sync)
such as Steve Reich's "Violin Phase"
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Improvisation (the performer chooses what to play within a given framework)
such as a saxophonist improvising a chorus over a 12-bar blues pattern
- Indeterminacy
(incorporating the element of CHANCE within a composition)
such as John Cage's 4'33"
- Other Designs
- Passacaglia: continuous variation based on a repeated bass line (such as JS Bach BWV 582)
- Fugue (see below)
For more information on these for Section 1 of the "Musical Forms" exam, click the link on the left index for the Printable Review of Chromatic Harmony, Phrase Structures, and Basic Forms.
Section 2: 18th-century Fugue
- Every fugue is different, but we will focus on the most important common features and terms:
- Subject
- Answer ("real" or "tonal")
- Countersubject
- Exposition
- Episode
- Sequence
- Invertible counterpoint
- Double fugue
- Stretto
To review these type of fugal concepts for Section 2 of the "Musical Forms" exam, click the link on the left index for the Printable Review of 18th-century Fugue (JS Bach).
Section 3: Sonata Form (also called "sonata-allegro form")
- Know these essential terms
- Exposition (Theme 1, transition, Theme 2, Closing Theme)
- Development
[retransition]
- Recapitulation
- Be able to analyze types of chords and key centers in strategic places
To review these sonata form concepts for Section 3 of the "Musical Forms" exam, click the link on the left index for the Printable Review of Sonata Form.
