AOS 1 - Musical forms and devices

eras, form and structure, devices, scales and chords, cadences

When was baroque era?

1600-1750

When was classical era?

1750-1810

When was romantic era?

1810-1910

Features of baroque era

harpsichord, ornaments, basso continuo, small orchestra

Features of classical era

Piano, alberti bass, string quartets, medium orchestra

Features of romantic era

range of dynamics, richer harmonies, program music, large orchestra

Binary

AB - contrasts with related key and returns to tonic

Ternary

ABA - contrast in B and returns back exactly or slightly diff

Rondo

ABACA - returns throughout, with episodes of new ideas and diff keys

Minuet and trio

ABAB CDCD ABAB - graceful dance, classical era, 2nd minuet doesn’t repeat

Variations

a A ah - main theme developed in diff ways

Strophic

AAA melody repeats

Chord

two or more notes played at the same time

Triad

three note chord

Chord sequence/ pattern

series of chords

Diatonic harmony

notes that belong to key

Primary chords

I, IV, V

Secondary chords

II, III, VI, VII

Repetition

idea copied exactly

Imitation

idea copied in another part

Sequence

repetition in diff pitch

Ostinato

short, repeated pattern

Drone

long held or constantly repeated note

Arpeggio/ broken chord

notes of chord played separate

Alberti bass

broken chord of 1535

Anacrusis

up beat

dotted rhythm

jagged and bouncy effect

Syncopation

off beat accents

conjunct

stepwise

Disjunct

leaps

regular phrasing

balanced bar lengths (eg. 4 bar phrases)

Perfect cadence

V-I finished

Plagal

IV-I amen

Imperfect

…-5 unfinished

Interrupted

V-VI surprise