2nd year theory 1st test

form

the overall structure or plan of a piece of music

section

a large, distinct part of a musical form (e.g., exposition, development)

theme

a recurring, recognizable musical idea

motif

a short, recurring musical idea, smaller than a theme

phrase

a musical sentence, often 4 or 8 measures long

cadence

a harmonic or melodic formula signaling the end of a phrase or section (e.g., authentic, half, deceptive)

tonic

the home key or central pitch

dominant

the fifth scale degree or key, often used to create tension before returning to the tonic

modulation

changing from one key to another within a piece

rondo

a form with a recurring main theme (A) alternating with contrasting episodes (B, C, etc.), e.g., ABACA or ABACABA

refrain

the main theme that returns throughout the piece, always in the tonic key

episode

contrasting sections between refrains, often in different keys

transition

a passage connecting two sections, often modulating to a new key

coda

a concluding section that wraps up the piece

auxiliary section

any extra section, such as an introduction or coda, not part of the main alternation

sonata form

a large-scale form with exposition, development, and recapitulation, often with a coda and sometimes a slow introduction

exposition

the first main section, presenting the main theme(s) (MT) and subordinate theme(s) (ST), often in different keys

main theme (MT)

the primary theme, usually in the tonic key

subordinate theme (ST)

a contrasting theme, usually in a new key (often the dominant or relative major/minor)

subordinate theme introduction (STI)

the passage that prepares and introduces the subordinate theme, often following the transition and leading into the new key area

closing theme (CT)

a theme that ends a section, confirming the key

development

the middle section, where themes are varied, fragmented, and modulated

recapitulation

the return of the main themes, now all in the tonic key, resolving earlier tension

retransition

a passage leading from the development back to the recapitulation, often featuring dominant harmony

slow introduction

an optional, slower section before the exposition

codetta

a short coda, often at the end of the exposition

sonata-rondo form

a hybrid of sonata and rondo forms, typically ABACABA, with the C section functioning as a development

sentence

an 8-measure theme with a presentation (BI + BI/varied BI) and a continuation (development and cadence)

period

an 8-measure theme with an antecedent (ends weakly) and a consequent (ends strongly), often with parallel or contrasting phrases

hybrid theme

a theme that combines elements of sentence and period, such as a CBI followed by a continuation, or a presentation followed by a consequent

compound period

a period where each phrase (antecedent and consequent) is itself a sentence or longer unit

compound sentence

a sentence where the presentation and/or continuation are expanded, often to 16 measures or more

basic idea (BI)

the opening two-measure unit of a sentence, presenting the main melodic idea

contrasting idea (CI)

a two-measure unit following the basic idea, introducing new melodic material

compound basic idea (CBI)

a four-measure unit that functions as a basic idea but is itself made up of two smaller ideas (often used in hybrid themes)

presentation (Pres)

the first four measures of a sentence, typically made up of two basic ideas (BI + BI or BI + varied BI)

continuation (Cont)

the second four measures of a sentence, developing the material, increasing activity, and leading to a cadence

antecedent (Ant)

the first phrase of a period, usually ending with a weaker cadence (often a half cadence)

consequent (Cons)

the second phrase of a period, usually ending with a stronger cadence (often a perfect authentic cadence)

form chart

a diagram or table showing the order and type of sections/themes in a piece

form-functional labeling

marking score excerpts with labels like MT, ST, TR (transition), CT, etc.

double-region couplets

pairs of sections or themes that each occupy a different key area

sonata principle

the idea that material first heard in a non-tonic key in the exposition returns in the tonic in the recapitulation

digression

a section that departs from the main key or thematic material

authentic cadence (AC)

V–I, the strongest cadence, often ends a section

half cadence (HC)

ends on V, creates a sense of pause or continuation

deceptive cadence (DC)

V–vi (or V to another chord), surprises the listener

plagal cadence (PC)

IV–I, often used at the end of hymns

binary form

a two-part form (AB), each section often repeated. Can be simple, rounded, or balanced

rounded binary

a binary form where the opening material returns at the end of the second section (ABA')

ternary form

a three-part form (ABA), with a contrasting middle section and a full return of the opening material

compound ternary

a ternary form where at least one section is itself a binary or ternary form

motivic fragmentation

breaking a theme or motive into smaller parts for development

sequence

repetition of a musical idea at a different pitch level

fragmentation

the process of breaking a theme into smaller pieces for development

external auxiliary section

any extra section, such as an introduction or coda, not part of the main alternation

extension

the lengthening of a phrase or section beyond its expected length

hybrid form

a phrase form that combines aspects of the sentence and the period into one phrase-level form

chromaticism

use of notes outside the prevailing key and harmony

dissonance

a combination of tones that sounds unstable or tense

consonance

a combination of tones that sounds stable or resolved

theme and variations

a form where a theme is repeated in altered versions

fugue

a contrapuntal form based on the imitation of a musical subject between multiple voices

imitation

the repetition of a melody or motive in a different voice or part

periodic structure

a structure based on regular, repeating phrases

phrase expansion

the lengthening of a phrase beyond its normal length

phrase contraction

the shortening of a phrase below its normal length

cadential idea

a passage leading to a cadence, confirming a key

core

the central, developmental part of a theme or section

pre-core

the section leading into the core

post-core

the section following the core

prefix

introductory material before the main theme or section

suffix

concluding material after the main theme or section

expansion

the process of making a section or phrase longer

contraction

the process of making a section or phrase shorter

harm

abbreviation for harmony, the vertical aspect of music focusing on chords and chord progressions