REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES

State Universities and Colleges

GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Module 3
Arts and Humanities
Name: Course/Year & Section:
Instructor’s Name: Deadline Period:

Lesson 10: Musical Structure and Design

Objectives:

At the end of the lesson, the students should be able to:

1. Identify the Musical structure and design

2. Determine the structural distinction
3. Explain the variation forms
4. Evaluate the positive effect of music therapy

Acquire

Musical Structure or musical form is a plan or design of a composer where he or she assembles his or her
materials. Form is the quality in a work of art which presents to the mind of the beholder an impression of judicious
arrangement. It helps us to grasp the work of art as a unity.

Structural Distinctions

1. Form in relation to a piece as a whole

2. Form in relation to the separate, shorter parts of a piece.

In constructing a musical piece, the composer starts with an idea called theme. A Central theme which recurs
throughout a composition produces unity, even though one or more subordinates themes may be introduced. The
principle of variety in music means modifications (alteration) of essentially the same idea. The principle of form
is embodied in a variety of musical forms. They are based in one way or another on repetition and contrast-unity
and variety. Repetitional principle apply both to the large sections which comprise an entire movement and also to
the small units within each section. Exact repetition is the most elementary of all types of repetitions. This maybe
represented by a-a-a-a-a, etc. An example is “Nagtatanim ng Palay”. Simple repetitions are to be found in my
songs where the same music is repeated in consecutive stanzas. The first form, of variation occurs when, in similar
songs, minor alterations are made in the repetitions are made in the repetition to allow for a closer setting to the text.

Variation Form

Repetition is a basic element of musical structure. Variation is operative to some extent in every kind of music. The
most common variation form is known as theme and variation or theme with variations. The plan of the form
involves two steps (1) there is a statement of a theme (or melody), (2) the theme is then rested several times, each
time with some modification or variation applied. The means of variation are melodic, harmonic, rhythmic, metric,
tonal, texture, etc.

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 REPUBLIC OF THE PHILIPPINES
State Universities and Colleges
GUIMARAS STATE COLLEGE
Buenavista, Guimaras

Sonata Form

The term came from the Italian sourne, “to sound” indicating a piece to be sounded on instruments as distinct from
cantata, a piece to be sung. The sonata form or sonata allegro form is a large-scale dramatic from. It is the most
highly organized member of the several movements that make up the sonata cycle. It is built on two themes which
are presented in three large sections called the exposition, development and recapitulation.

(a) Exposition Section. This section contains two principal theme and usually several subordinate themes.
The main themes, themes A and B are always in different keys and are connected by “ extrathematic”
music called “transition”.
(b) Development Section. The two themes are developed in any way the composer chooses. In this section,
music moves into new and foreign keys.
(c) Recaputation restates more or less literally what was found in the exposition, except that all the themes
are now in the tonic key-that is, theme B is now heard in the same key as theme A.

Free Form. All forms that do not have as a point of references the usual form molds are technically “free” forms.
(1) The toccata is usually written for a keyboard instrument. It has no standard structural scheme thus it usually
contains altering passages or sections of scale work, figuration (pattern material) chordal materials and contrapuntal
textures.
(2) The prelude is a form closely related to the sonata. It is a piece to be played as an introduction. Preludes are
short; some are not only a page in length, several consist of two or three lines. (3) The impromptu which conveys
some underlying mood or style, although has connotations of spontaneity or on the spur of the written down and
published.
(4) The etude is a special type of free form usually of great difficulty. It is a composition of artistic worth suitable
for concert performances. (5) The nocturne is another composition which illuminates a particular mood rather than
a general idea. It suggest the atmosphere of night.

Music Therapy is the prescribed use of music by a qualified person to effect a positive changes in the
psychological, physical, cognitive, or social functioning of individual with health or educational problems. This
pertains to music that is curative in function. Catharsis an emotional relief experienced by the individual thereby
helping him recover from a previous pent-up emotion.

Apply

Remember your past. Have you been into a situation where you were so down and emotionally unstable? What
song/music did help you to cope with this? Write an essay about it in not less than 10 sentences.

Assess

1. Discuss the significance of music in your life.

2. Does music have the power to change your mood? How does music affect you? Explain.

3. Why do you think music therapy is prescribed to effect a positive change with an individual who has
an emotional problem? Explain.

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