MUSIC GCSE
MUSIC FORMS
& STRUCTURES
Understanding and listening examples
CONTENTS
There are many different types of musical forms & structures:
Strophic (AAA)
Through Composed (ABCDE…)
Binary (AB)
Ternary (ABA)
Rondo (ABACA or ABACABA)
Arch (ABCBA)
Sonata (Exposition, Development, Recapitulation)
Theme & Variations
STROPHIC
Strophic form is one of the most common musical forms.
It’s also referred to as song form or verse form.
It’s the most basic of all the forms because of its repetitiveness. , typically featuring an AAA
structure.
Strophic form is most commonly seen in popular music, folk music, or music that is verse
based. This is because the material is repeated so much. Each of those A’s represents a short
verse, normally 8 to 16 measures long.
It’s also common to see strophic form represented in blues music, chants, and in some instances of Classical music.
An example of the strophic form in a folk song would be “The Wheels On The Bus”. A
church hymn such as “Amazing Grace” or even a simple nursery tune like “Mary Had A
Little Lamb”.
Although strophic form is AAA, there are times where theme and variations can be applied
to it. For example, a piece of music can be in AA’A” form. That means for me the most part
the A material remains the same, although with slight augmentations to it. An example would
be slight changes to the rhythm, changes to tempo, and different cadential material.
STROPHIC
Examples of Strophic form:
Mary had a little lamb
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uYgp3lAfolo
Amazing Grace
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hwkEhVSE60s
Amazing Grace
(Easy Piano)
John Newton Traditional
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THROUGH COMPOSED
Through-composed form is a composition that is entirely continuous.
Any large scale thematic (melody) material is not repeated, and each section sounds like
something completely different. An example of this would be ABCDE.
In song form, through-composed music gives each verse it’s own unique melody.
An example of a through composed song is Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ9rUzIMcZQ
BINARY FORM
Binary form is music with an A and B section. While the material is different in each section, it’s closely related.
Recognising a piece of music in binary form requires you to identify where the contrasting material is. Things
to look for include changes in rhythm, key signatures, cadences, and other harmonic adjustments.
There are two different versions of binary form that were widely used in Baroque and Classical eras. This
includes:
Simple Binary
Rounded Binary
In simple binary form, the A material is followed by B material that has moved to the dominant. So for
example, a piece that starts in C major will conclude in G major.
If the piece were in a minor key, then the B section would simply transition to the relative major key. An
example of that is a piece that starts in A minor, but then transitions to C major.
In rounded binary form, the rules mostly remain the same. The difference is that there is more material added
to the B section. That material is pulled from part of the A section. Unlike ternary form, it’s not a completely
new section.
You mostly find this in theme and variations, especially in Classical-era music. Mozart was known for using
rounded binary in the structure of his piano sonatas. Beethoven also made extensive use of this in his piano
sonatas.
BINARY FORM
Examples of simple binary form include:
JS Bach Bouree BMV 996
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4sjCYNLX6lk
The simple binary form is all about the development of a single musical material in two
essential parts
The first and second sections in simple binary form are similar. The reason is that there is not
much difference in the thematic material that both sections utilised.
The contrast in the second section is not very strong but sometimes a varied repetition of the
first material.
There is a particular thematic and modulatory approach that simple binary form employed.
Basically, the first section material is slightly developed in the section section
The second section may sometimes start on the dominant chord instead of a dominant key.
Suite - BWV 996
BOURREE
BINARY {FORM
q = 140 ARRANGED FOR HARPSICHORD J. S. BACH
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JS Bach Bouree BMV 996? œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ œ ˙˙˙™™™ œ œ ™™ ˙˙˙™™™ œ
{
The simple binary form is all about the development of a single musical material in two
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essential parts
11
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The first and second sections? ™™ œ in simple
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much difference in the thematic material that both sections utilised.
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There is a particular thematic and modulatory approach that simple binary form employed.
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Basically, the first section material is slightly developed in the section section
21
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The second section may sometimes start on the dominant chordœ instead œ of a dominant key.
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BINARY FORM
Examples of binary form include:
Gavotte I, from J.S. Bach English Suite No 3 in G minor, BWV 808
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GGlag3GHsaY
The first section starts on G minor and along the line modulate and ends in B flat major.
The second section clearly begins in Bb major (from 2nd time bar)
The second section develops melody and motives from the first section. The key modulates
back to G minor in the 15th bar of the second section, however, doesn’t use the original
melody in section A (therefore not ternary form).
Binary Form structures normally modulate back to the home key during section B (and/or
dominant minor if in a minor key)
BINARY FORM
Examples of binary form include:
Gavotte I, from J.S. Bach English Suite No 3 in G minor, BWV 808
The first section starts on G minor and along the line modulate and ends in B flat major.
The second section clearly begins in Bb major (from 2nd time bar)
The second section develops melody and motives from the first section. The key modulates
back to G minor in the 15th bar of the second section, however, doesn’t use the original
melody in section A (therefore not ternary form).
Binary Form structures normally modulate back to the home key during section B (and/or
dominant minor if in a minor key)
BINARY FORM
Examples of rounded binary form include:
Air from Handel’s Water Music
Common features of rounded binary form include:
The second section comes to an end with very few parts of the first section included - in this
example only the very beginning appears in the middle of section B
BINARY FORM
Examples of rounded binary form include:
Air from Handel’s Water Music
