EnsembleGenreForm TERMS TO KEEP CLEAR. A group of performers… - orchestra - choir - band - orchestra - choir - band ENSEMBLE

EnsembleEnsemble

GenreGenre

FormForm

TERMS TO KEEP CLEARTERMS TO KEEP CLEAR

A group of performers…A group of performers…

- orchestra- orchestra - choir - choir - band - band

ENSEMBLEENSEMBLE

A category of musical A category of musical composition…composition…

- song, - song, - opera - opera - concerto - concerto

GENREGENRE

The structural design The structural design of a musical work of a musical work

or movement…or movement…

FORMFORM

StrophicStrophic

BinaryBinary

TernaryTernary

BASIC FORMSBASIC FORMS

BASIC FORMSBASIC FORMS

• STROPHIC (many verses sung to STROPHIC (many verses sung to the same music) the same music)

• BINARY ( A vs. B)BINARY ( A vs. B)

• TERNARY (A B A)TERNARY (A B A)

STROPHIC FORMSTROPHIC FORMCommon Example:Common Example:

“Deck The Halls” . . . “Deck The Halls” . . .

BINARY FORMBINARY FORM(Opposition of 2 contrasting sections)(Opposition of 2 contrasting sections)

““A” vs. “B”A” vs. “B”Example:Example: “Take Me Home, Country Roads” “Take Me Home, Country Roads” by John Denver by John Denver

TERNARY FORMTERNARY FORM(Contrast and Resolution of 2 sections)(Contrast and Resolution of 2 sections)

““A B A”A B A”

Example: “Yesterday” by The BeatlesExample: “Yesterday” by The Beatles

Beatles: Beatles: Yesterday Yesterday (1965)(1965)

-Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. . .

- Suddenly, I’m not half the man I used to be . . .

- Why she had to go . . .

- Yesterday, love was such an easy game to play . . .

TERNARY FORMTERNARY FORM

• ““A” SECTION:A” SECTION: “Yesterday...” (slow pace, fragmented) “Yesterday...” (slow pace, fragmented)

• ““B” SECTION:B” SECTION: “Why she had to go...” (faster, higher) “Why she had to go...” (faster, higher)

• ““A” returns with new wordsA” returns with new words Your perception of the issue changes because you have a complete picture

Example: “Yesterday” by The BeatlesExample: “Yesterday” by The Beatles

STYLE & INTERPRETATIONSTYLE & INTERPRETATION

• STYLESTYLE: The manner in which musical : The manner in which musical elements are used at various points in elements are used at various points in historyhistory

• INTERPRETATIONINTERPRETATION: The performer’s : The performer’s manner of STYLE and FEELING that makes manner of STYLE and FEELING that makes each particular rendition of a piece unique.each particular rendition of a piece unique.

THE 6 STYLE PERIODSTHE 6 STYLE PERIODS

• MEDIEVALMEDIEVAL c c 500-1450500-1450• RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE c c 1450-1600 1450-1600 • BAROQUE BAROQUE c c 1600-1750 1600-1750 • CLASSIC CLASSIC c c 1750-18201750-1820• ROMANTIC ROMANTIC c c 1820-19001820-1900• MODERN MODERN c c 1900 to now1900 to now

of Western Art Musicof Western Art Music




[Anonymous] [Anonymous] Alleluia: vidimus stellam Alleluia: vidimus stellam (before 1000)(before 1000)

Alleluia (Hallelujah!)

Vidimus stellam ejus in Oriente (We have seen the star in the East)

Alleluia (Hallelujah!)


• MEDIEVALMEDIEVAL c c 500-1450500-1450• RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE c c 1450-16001450-1600 • BAROQUE BAROQUE c c 1600-1750 1600-1750 • CLASSIC CLASSIC c c 1750-18201750-1820• ROMANTIC ROMANTIC c c 1820-19001820-1900• MODERN MODERN c c 1900 to now 1900 to now


Palestrina: “Kyrie” from Palestrina: “Kyrie” from Pope Pope Marcellus Mass Marcellus Mass (1567)(1567)

Kyrie eleison (Lord Have Mercy)

Christe eleison (Christ Have Mercy)

Kyrie eleison (Lord Have Mercy)


• MEDIEVALMEDIEVAL c c 500-1450500-1450• RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE c c 1450-1600 1450-1600 • BAROQUE BAROQUE c c 1600-1750 1600-1750 • CLASSIC CLASSIC c c 1750-18201750-1820• ROMANTIC ROMANTIC c c 1820-19001820-1900• MODERN MODERN c c 1900 to now 1900 to now


Tchaikovsky: “March” from Tchaikovsky: “March” from The Nutcracker The Nutcracker (1892)(1892)

- Trumpets & Plucked Strings

- Brass & Woodwinds alternate

- Trumpets & Plucked Strings

TERNARY FORMTERNARY FORM

• ““A” SECTION:A” SECTION: Brass (trumpet fanfare) & Strings Brass (trumpet fanfare) & Strings

• ““B” SECTION:B” SECTION: Woodwinds & Strings Woodwinds & Strings

• ““A” RETURNS:A” RETURNS: Brass (trumpet fanfare) & Brass (trumpet fanfare) & Strings (wave-like effect) Strings (wave-like effect)

Example: “March of the Tin Soldiers” fromExample: “March of the Tin Soldiers” from The NutcrackerThe Nutcracker by Tchaikovsky by Tchaikovsky

Schoenberg: Schoenberg: Pierrot lunaire Pierrot lunaire (1912)(1912)

At night, the moon drenches thirsting eyesand a flood wells up on their still horizon.Tremulous sighs travel up through the swell.Waves of wine for thirsting eyes gush forth from the moon at night.

The poet, deep in devotion, grows drunk of the holy drink.His head turns in ecstasy to the heavensand reeling, he slips and slurps the "wine" that slakes his thirsting eyes.




““Cantus Firmus” TechniqueCantus Firmus” TechniqueMedieval/early RenaissanceMedieval/early Renaissance

In the Medieval and early Renaissance eras, the Western Christian (“Catholic”) church required all new compositions to be based on pre-existing CHANT tunes.

(“cantus firmus” = “fixed voice”)

So… the form of the piece followed the form of the chant.

““Formes Fixes”Formes Fixes”Medieval/early RenaissanceMedieval/early Renaissance

In the Medieval and early Renaissance eras, secular (non-religious) music from France and Italy was often based on “fixed” poetic forms, each involving some type of structural contrast between two opposing sections. These poetic forms are called the “Formes Fixes.”

Formes FixesFormes Fixes (Medieval/early Renaissance)(Medieval/early Renaissance)

Ballade

Virelai (French)Ballata (Italian)

Rondeau

A a BA a B

A B b a AA B b a A

AB a A a b ABAB a A a b AB

BALLADEBALLADE Formes Fixes Formes Fixes (Medieval/early Renaissance)(Medieval/early Renaissance)

AA

A a BA a B

1.1. 1st idea1st idea

2.2. New wordsNew words

BB3.3. 2nd idea2nd idea

Lowercase letter means New WordsLowercase letter means New Words

1 2 3

VIRELAI (Ballata)VIRELAI (Ballata) Formes Fixes Formes Fixes (Medieval/early Renaissance)(Medieval/early Renaissance)

AA

A B b a AA B b a A

1. 5.1. 5. 1st idea1st idea


BB2.2. 2nd idea2nd idea



1 2 3 4 5

RONDEAURONDEAU Formes Fixes Formes Fixes (Medieval/early Renaissance)(Medieval/early Renaissance)

AA


1. 4. 7.1. 4. 7. 1st idea1st idea



BB2. 8.2. 8. 2nd idea2nd idea



1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8


• MEDIEVALMEDIEVAL c c 500-1450500-1450• RENAISSANCE RENAISSANCE c c 1450-1600 1450-1600 • BAROQUE BAROQUE c c 1600-17501600-1750 • CLASSIC CLASSIC c c 1750-18201750-1820• ROMANTIC ROMANTIC c c 1820-19001820-1900• MODERN MODERN c c 1900 to now 1900 to now


Formes FixesFormes Fixes (Medieval/early Renaissance)(Medieval/early Renaissance)

Ballade

Virelai (French)Ballata (Italian)

Rondeau

A a BA a B

A B b a AA B b a A


BINARY FORMBINARY FORM

A BA BI - V V - I

(as used in Baroque Instrumental music)(as used in Baroque Instrumental music)

Purcell: “Dido’s Lament” fromPurcell: “Dido’s Lament” fromDido and Aeneas Dido and Aeneas (1689)(1689)

-When I am laid in earth, may my wrongs create no trouble . . .

- Remember me, but ah! forget my fate . . .

AA

BB

Baroque Instrumental SuiteBaroque Instrumental Suite

SUITE: A sequence of international BINARY (A vs. B) dance structures based on contrasting movements, speeds, and moods.

- Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gigue, Bouree, Air, etc.

Example: Bach, “Air” from Orchestral Suite No. 3

Baroque Ritornello FormBaroque Ritornello Form

Contrasts Big (“tutti”) vs. “small” (“solo”) groups

Example: Vivaldi, Spring mvt. 1 from The Four Seasons

The brooks flow

The birds resume . . .

RITORNELLO

SOLO 1

SOLO 2

SOLO 3

SOLO 4

SOLO 5

RITOR. 2

RITOR. 3

RITOR. 4

RITOR. 5

1

w/ orch

RITORNELLO DESIGN:

Joyful spring has arrived

The birds greet it with their cheerful song

Joyful spring . . .

Joyful spring . . .

Joyful spring . . .

Joyful spring . . .

Joyful spring . . .

Thunder & lightning

The birds . . .

RITORNELLO6

• Tutti ("played by full group") theme in E major (I) represents the joy of spring.

• Echoed bird calls played by solo violin with two violins from orchestra.

• Tutti theme (2nd part) returns in E Major

• Tutti theme (2nd part) returns in B major (V)

• Tutti theme (2nd part) returns in C# Minor (vi)

• Tutti theme (2nd part) returns in E Major

• Running notes in solo violin represent the brook.

• Tremolos in strings represent thunder as flashy runs in solo violin depict lightning.

• Echoed bird calls by solo violins return.

• Tutti theme (1st part) returns; moves to B (V)

• More echoed bird calls by solo violins.

Baroque Contrapuntal DesignsBaroque Contrapuntal Designs

Example: Pachelbel

Canon in D major

CANON: “Leader” vs. “Follower”The initial canonic texture of this work may be graphed as follows:

x - x - x -

2

3

4

1

etc.

o

oo

o o

o

o o

o

oo

o o

o

o o

Ostinato (short figure repeated over and over)

o

oo

o o

o

o o

o

oo

o o

o

o o

o

oo

o o

o

o o

o

oo

o o

o

o o

BASSO CONTINUO (harpsichord and a low bass instrument)

Leader

Follower 1

Follower 2

Follower 3

x - x - x -

o

oo

o o

o

o o

* * * * *

etc.

Baroque Contrapuntal DesignsBaroque Contrapuntal Designs

Example: Bach “Little Fugue” in G minor

FUGUE: Complex manipulation of a musical “subject”

1

2

3

SUBJECT

SUBJECT

Countersubject

SUBJECT

Countersubject

Countersubject

free counterpoint

free counterpoint

SUBJECT

(etc.)

XXXX

XXXX(HIGH)

4

(MEDIUM)

(LOW)

(Very LOW PEDALS)

Diagram of the opening section of this fugue:

Some terms relating to FugueSome terms relating to Fugue

SUBJECT: The main idea

ANSWER: The main idea transposed to a different pitch level.

COUNTERSUBJECT: A contrasting idea that appears more than once against the subject.

FUGAL EXPOSITION: A section where the subject is being presented in various “voice” parts.

EPISODE: A musical section that modulates using SEQUENCES (stepwise patterns)

Ways to Manipulate MaterialWays to Manipulate Material

AUGMENTATION: Lengthen the note values

DIMINUTION: Shorten the note values.

INVERSION: Use the opposite melodic intervals.

RETROGRADE: Do the melody backwards.

TRANSPOSITION: Start the melody on a different scale step to move it all higher or lower in pitch.

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EnsembleGenreForm TERMS TO KEEP CLEAR. A group of performers… - orchestra - choir - band - orchestra - choir - band ENSEMBLE