Download These are the main forms that are used: AB, or

FORM IN MUSIC
“Form” refers to the structure of a piece of music.
Composers often construct music according to established structures which use both variety
and repetition.
This results in music that is both memorable and interesting.
These are the main forms that are used:
BINARY:
AB, or AABB, or ABAB'
A
B
A
A
B
B
TERNARY:
ABA, or AABA, or ABBA etc.
In Ternary Form, there is always a return to the A section.
A
B
A
A
A
B
A
There is always a return to the A
theme at the end in Ternary Form
RONDO:
ABACADAEA…
Often called Ritornello Form, as there is a recurring A theme, with episodes (B, C, D etc)
in between each recurrence.
The A theme is called
the Ritonello theme
A
B
A
Between each presentation
of the A theme are episodes
C
A
D
A
SONATA FORM:
An extended version of Ternary Form
i)
Introduction (not always present)
ii)
Exposition: main themes are presented in the home key
but move to the dominant towards the end (Dominant= 5th note
of the scale.
iii)
Development: main theme(s) are developed, and elaborated,
bringing us through a series of key changes, until we finally move
back to the home key.
iv)
Recapitulation: Main themes heard in the exposition are
presented
once again, but do not change key.
v)
Coda: a tailpiece to round off the movement (not always present).
Intro.
Exposition
Development
Recapitulation
Coda
Main themes
presented
Tonic key
Move to
dominant key
towards the end
Use of themes first heard in
the exposition. Move through
a series of key changes, finally
arrives back in tonic key.
Main themes presented once
again. Ends in tonic key.