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Forms
Canon
Strict imitation. A contrapuntal form in which a melody is repeated a few beats or a bar later. A canon at the unison is when the second voice enters at the same pitch as the first voice; a canon at the fifth is when the imitating voice enters a fifth higher than the original. Listen to this excerpt for voices from the 20th Century
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Binary
A piece of music which is composed in two sections, labelled A and B. Sometimes known as AB form. This form is usually associated with music from earlier period or from traditional music. Listen to this excerpt of a Scottish dance, a reel, played on Accordion.
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Ternary
A piece of music which is composed in three sections. The first section (A) is followed by a contrasting section (B) after which the first section is repeated (A). Also known as ABA form. Listen to this famous Italian Aria which is in Ternary form, 'Caro mio ben' . After the introduction, the solo singer completes the first section which is in a major key, and then sings the middle section which ends with the piano playing a perfect cadence. The second section begins in another major key, ends with a pause before repeating the first section and again ending with a perfect cadence. For students who are using this material to revise at Higher Level it is important to note that the last phrase is repeated. The first time it ends on a minor chord, creating an interrupted cadence before ending the repeat with a perfect cadence.
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Rondo
A form often used in the last movement of a concerto or sonata. This is the pattern for a simple rondo: A|B|A|C|A. A represents each repetition of the melody while B and C represent contrasting sections called ‘episodes’. Here is an example from the Classical period, 1750 -1815, of a rondo from a Horn concerto by Mozart. If you listen carefully you will clearly hear the main, catchy, rondo theme followed by episodes, the sections B and C between the main theme and finally notice the coda the ending section which brings the movement to a close.
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Theme and Variations
A musical idea used as the basis for a composition which is then altered each time it is repeated. The theme can be varied by changing the rhythm, tonality, pitch, tempo, inversion or putting the theme in the bass. Listen to a theme and variations by the Late Romantic composer Rachmaninov. After a short introduction from the orchestra and the piano, the theme is introduced by staccato notes in the Orchestra, and is then clearly developed by the introduction of the piano and a development of this main theme.
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For revision of the first level now listen to a theme by the Baroque composer Bach, played on piano.
Variation
The music is varied by altering the rhythm, melody and / or tonality from what has previously been heard. Listen to a new theme, again from the Baroque period, played on harpsichord, followed by a first variation of the theme.
Listen to the theme
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