#FORMS OF MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS HOW TO#

This is a more complex for of continuation and it is expressed in bars 3 and 4 of the “Sentences”.

Or also called “Interrelationship” Comprises variation and mutation. The next example is focused in a small dimension, in the beginning of this piece “Sicilienne” from the Album for the young of Robert Schumann, his first decision is to repeat the same motive of bars 1 and 2 in bars 3 and 4 to then develop it by transposing to another chord (a secondary chord to lead to the dominant) Beethoven with “Fur Elise” in which the well-known refrain keeps returning after contrasting sections. The most famous example comes from the hand of L. The most common case is in the ternary form in which the A section comes back after the B section, or in a rondo form when the main section, also called the “Theme” or the “Refrain”, which comes back after the initial statement and it keeps returning, hence the name “Rondeau” which comes from French and means “Round”. In large dimensions, the typical example is the return to the same section after a change. The dimensions of repetition can vary in small, medium or large.

It could be an exact repetition of either a motive, sub phrase or phrase. This is the first and the most basic way to continue a motive or phrase. In this article, I intend to shed some light on the matter and help to structure in every composer’s mind, regardless of the level, style and background, the options available to assist in this process.Īll options can be reduced in four basic ways of continuation: This is a question that all composition students ask, and even musicians with lots of experience in the field do ponder.

#FORMS OF MUSICAL COMPOSITIONS HOW TO#

This brings us back to the initial premise: how to develop this movement to create the shape we want to achieve in our compositions? Any sound that follows may reduce, intensify or confirm the embryonic sense of movement, thus creating an overall shape which appeals to the memory of the listener whenever the piece moves forward. Music is essentially movement: from the first vibration of a single string to the massive sound of an orchestra playing “tutti”.

Forms of musical compositions