GCSE MUSIC FORM AND STRUCTURE

binary

AB

Ternary

ABA

Rondo

ABACA

Minuet and Trio

Both the minuet and trio are in binary form, each repeated before the minuet returns for a final time, giving an overall ternary form, i.e. A A B B A A

Repetition

When sections in a composition are repeated

Contrast

When there is a clear difference between sections

Theme and Variations

The theme is a melody and a number of variations are created – sometimes simply decorated, sometimes more complex

Strophic

This structure has verses that are musically the same each time. Only the lyrics change. aA

32 Bar Song Form

Song Form A A B A (with each section being 8 bars long).

12 Bar Blues

a repeating chord pattern that is 12 bars long, using primary chords (1,4,5)

Call and Response

A short musical idea followed by an answering phrase

ostinato

A constantly repeated phrase

Bridge

A piece of music that links two other musical sections together.

Verse

A section of a song that has the same music when repeated but different lyrics each time.

Chorus

A section of a song that has the same words and music when repeated.

Break

An instrumental or percussion section that provides an escape’ from the rest of the song or piece.

Improvisation

Music that’s made up on the spot by the performer. Very popular in Jazz/Blues

Loop

When a musical idea is ‘looped’, i.e. repeated indefinitely.

Middle eight

Eight bars in the middle of a song that provide a contrast, i.e. different chord progression.

Fill

A short musical idea that fills in the ‘gaps’ in the music at the end of a phrase

Intro

Opening part of a song or piece that ‘introduces’ the main ideas.

Outro/coda

The concluding section of a song or piece, i.e. the ‘last’ part . Only used in popular music.

Riff

A short, ‘catchy’ memorable idea or pattern found in jazz, rock or pop; the idea is repeated often in the music.

Regular phrasing

When the melody is divided up into shorter, well-balanced and symmetrical phrases (e.g. 4 bars + 4 bars)

Irregular phrasing

When the melody is divided up into phrases that are not symmetrically balanced (e.g 4 bars + 3 bars)