Music 100

Week 2
Chapter 2: Lesson 2d:
The Elements of Music Musical Form

This lesson corresponds to Revel text, chapter 2, 2.3, pp. 16-17.

 • Structural organization of a piece of music
– Involves repetition, variation, and

Musical
contrast

• Like structure of language:

Form – Organized into notes, melodies,
chords, phrases, sections, movements,
and entire works

• Make sense of what we hear

 • Often use letter names to show structure

• Ternary form
Musical – ABA

Form: – Common for entire movements,

pieces
Ternary & – Departure  return

Binary • Binary form

– A B or A A B B
– contrast
Ternary
Form: ABA

A: phrase 1-2
B: phrase 3-4
A: phrase 5-6
 • Sonata form
Musical – Used in sonatas and symphonies
– 3 -part form: exposition,
Form: development, recapitulation

Sonata, • Theme and variations form

Theme and – Theme is presented
– repeated with variations in key,
Variations melody, rhythm, dynamics, tempo,
or harmony.
Musical
Form: • Jazz and rock forms
– 12–bar blues
Blues &
Song – 32–bar A A B A form

Form
 Musical Form:
the Blues
(measures
I I I I
1–4) 12-bar blues:
• 3 lines of verse
(measures • First line is repeated.
IV IV I I • Third line is different.
5–8)
• Creates A A B pattern.
• Standard Harmonic pattern
(measures
V IV I I
9–12) A blues song by Joni Mitchell, ”A Bird that
Whistles” Listen here.

”Lost Your Head Blues,” Bessie Smith.

Listen here.
 • Musical form of 32–bar song
– 1st line = 8 bars (A)
Musical – 2nd line = 8 bars (A)
• Repeats the same music but

Form with different words.

– 3rd line = 8 bars (B)
• Music here is different to
provide contrast.
– 4th line = 8 bars (A)
• Music is same (or similar) to
first line
Example of 32-bar form: Beatles, “From Me
to You”. Watch the link here.
Musical Form: 32-bar AABA form
“Somewhere Over the Rainbow”

Listen to the version by Israel "IZ" Kamakawiwoʻole’s version of the song here.
Revel Quiz 2.3: Musical Form

• You can proceed now to the brief

module quiz 2.3 on Musical Form.
• The quiz is due by Friday September
24, 11:59pm ET