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'''Form''', in reference to [[music]], illustrates the structure of a musical piece through ideas such as the design, plan, shape and architecture. Generally, the [[composer]] will plan the layout of his music, otherwise it may give the feeling of shapeless wandering.
'''Form''', in reference to [[music]], illustrates the structure of a musical piece through ideas such as the design, plan, shape and architecture. Generally, the [[composer]] will plan the layout of his music, otherwise it may give the feeling of shapeless wandering.
The form of a piece of music is made clear by the arrangement of its "phrases" and "sentences". A phrase may consist of a few short bars (usually 4), then ending with a [[cadence]] or "point of rest". Musical form may be thought of as like the words we speak or write. Music needs introduction, breathing points, punctuation, rests and endings. A cadence may be final or intermediate (ie. non-final). Final cadences are the perfect and plagal, corresponding to a full stop. Non-final cadences are the imperfect and interrupted, corresponding to the semicolon or comma.
==Commonly used terms==
Under the broad heading of form, the terms below are frequently used:
* Motive (or motif)
:: may be described as a short, [[melody|melodic]] pattern or [[rhythm|rhythmic]] figure which recurs significantly in a composition.
* Phrase
:: a unified musical thought coming to a point of rest. See [[cadence]].
* Period
:: usually two or more phrases related by unity of melody, rhythm, tonality and texture.
* Section
:: a cohesive group of phrases or periods comprising a major subdivision of work (such as a "development" or "transition" section).
* Binary
:: a form which is divided into two unified parts, usually AB or AABB.
* Ternary
:: a work comprised of two contrasting sections (A and B) followed by a return of the first section (A).
* Rondo
:: a large structure where a principal theme (A) alternates with contrasting material, usually ABACA or ABABCABA.
* Sonata Allegro
:: a large structure which outlines:
:::# Exposition
:::# Development
:::# Recapitulation
* [[Theme and variations|Theme and Variations]]
:: a composition having the principal characteristic of a central musical idea which goes through various transformations.
The form of a piece of music is made clear by the arrangement of its "phrases" and "sentences". A phrase may consist of a few short bars (usually 4), then ending with a cadence or "point of rest". Musical form may be thought of as like the words we speak or write. Music needs introduction, breathing points, punctuation, rests and endings. A cadence may be final or intermediate (ie. non-final). Final cadences are the perfect and plagal, corresponding to a full stop. Non-final cadences are the imperfect and interrupted, corresponding to the semicolon or comma.
[[Category:Musical terms]]
[[Category:Musical terms]]