A Suite

Is a Collec*on of Contras*ng Dance pieces.

Sonata Da Camera – Chamber Sonata.

Is a Suite for a Solo instrument and the Chamber Orchestra with Dance *tles.

Sonata Da Chiesa – Church Sonatas.

Is a Suite with slow fast and slow movements, without dance *les. More serious in
Character.

Common Movements in a Suite are:

Prelude, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, MenueAo I and II, Gigue.

1. Prelude – Introductory piece.

A piece with chords and its improvisa*on.

2. Allemande:
WriAen in 4/4 or C. Starts with a Short anacrusis.

3. Bourree:
A fast Dance in 4/4 or 2/2. Starts with an Anacrusis on the last Crotchet beat.

4. The Italian Courante:

A fast dance in ¾ or 3/8

5. The French Courante:

WriAen in ¾,3/2 or 6/4. Main feature is Hemiola.

6. GavoHe:
A slower dance wriAen in 2/2 or 4/4. Starts with an anacrusis on the last 2 crotchet beats of
the bar.

7. Italian Giga:
A fast dance in 12/8.

8. French Gigue.
WriAen either in 6/8 or 12/8. Polyphonic in Texture.

9. Minuet or MenueHo:
A German dance wriAen in ¾. OPer composed in 2 bars segment or Phrase.

10. Sarabande:
A slow dance in ¾ or 3/2 with a feeling of heaviness on the second beat.
11. Air with variaOons:
Air means a Tune with accompaniment. First the Air is played and followed by a number of
versions. These versions may have Change in rhythm, The melody, The Accompaniment, The
key (closely related keys), The texture, the ar*cula*ons and the Dynamics.

Ternary Form or ABA form.

The first sec*on A is called the statement, in a binary form with a perfect cadence in the
tonic key.

The second sec*on B is called the digression, is also in binary form in a closely related key,
with contras*ng melody and mood. Ends with a perfect cadence in the related key.

The third sec*on A is called the restatement, and it is the repeat of Sec*on A.

Compound Ternary form:

Is combining the binary form dances. For example Sec*on A is GavoAe I, Sec*on B is GavoAe
II and Sec*on A is GavoAe I

Trio:
Means played by 3 players. The texture of trio will be very thin.

The Chorale:
Is a hymn, wriAen in Strophic form.

The Folk Ballad:

WriAen in strophic form and some*mes in verse and refrain form. The words of the Ballad
tells a story.

Pedal Point:
One note, usually tonic or dominant, is held below or the above the chords that may or may
not fit with it as a harmony note.

Basso ConOnua:
Means Con*nuous bass line below a melody with figures (figured bass). This bass line is
strengthened by Cello, Bassoon or A double Bass.