Form and NotationHow to Understand Music

First, Form

Song FormsAB - strophic form/binary formABA – sonata form/ternary formAABA – 32-bar song formABACADA – rondo formBLUES FORM – Phrase 1 I I I I Phrase 2 IV IV IV IV Phrase 3 V IV I I

Binary Form or Strophic Form (Do I have to call it that?)

Binary form is otherwise known as AB form. A song in AB form will have a verse and chorus.

Example: Jingle Bells Is there anyone who doesn’t know that holiday song?

Binary Form (cont.)Part A: Dashing through the snow in a one-

horse open sleigh. O’er the fields we go, laughing all the

way. Bells on bobtail ring, making spirits

bright. What fun it is to ride and sing a

sleighing song tonight.Part B: Jingle Bells, jingle bells. Jingle all the

way. Oh, what fun it is to ride in a one-

horse open sleigh. Hey!Repeat A and B in order as many times as

possible!

Sonata Form or Ternary Form• A B A•  • EXPOSITION DEVELOPMENT RECAPITULATION•  • 1st Theme Development of 1 All Themes from A

or more themes from “A”• (1st-tonic) (Dominant Key)

(Tonic)

• 2nd Theme• (2nd-dominant• • Closing Theme•  (Closing-dominant)•  •  

•

•

•

Have you heard of Beethoven’s Fifth Symphony?

Let’s listen to the first movement.

Notice how the motive of da-da-da-da repeats throughout the piece.

Also, listen as I point out the “A” section and the “B” section and how the “A” section comes back at the end in a not so subtle way. Let’s look at the diagram on the next page to identify the parts. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRgXUFnfKIY

Sonata Form or Ternary Form A B AEXPOSITION DEVELOPMENT

RECAPITULATION1st Theme Development of 1 All

Themes from A or more themes from “A”(1st-tonic) (Dominant Key)

(Tonic)2nd Theme

(2nd-dominant Closing Theme (Closing-dominant)

ABA SongExample: Twinkle, twinkle little star

A: Twinkle, twinkle little star, How I wonder what you are. B: Up above the world so high, Like a diamond in the sky.

The standard ABA form (ternary or sonata form) popular song is divided into 8 (A)/8 (A)/8 (B)/8 (A) or 32 bars of music.

What song can you name that is in AABA song form?An art piece would be something most of you

have heard, a piece called Fur Elise (For Elise, his student) by Beethoven.

Your turn!

Rondo, or ABACA, FormRondo form involves starting with the A

section, having the A section in the middle, and ending with the A section.

Examples: ABACA ABACADA

ABACADAEAListening example: Turkish Rondo by Mozart http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=juLRqSV45vo

Blues Form This form is the basis of most real blues

songs and most early rock and roll songs. Example: Hound Dog by Lieber and Stoller (famously sung by Elvis Presley) http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUAg1_A7IE&feature=fvwrel (Big Mama Thornton)

Phrase 1 I I I I Phrase 2 IV IV IV IV Phrase 3 V IV I I

One last form: Through-composed

A through-composed song fits NO standard form. Example: The Star-Spangled Banner. It’s form is as follows:

A A B C

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The Concerto and the Symphony

QUESTION: Do I really have to know this? ANSWER: YES

What is a Concerto?• Concerto = concert = together • Concerto grosso - Piece in 3 contrasted

movements with a small body (group) of instruments heard in alternate and together with the larger orchestra.

  Large group: Ripieno or tutti (meaning

full in Italian) Small group: Concertino (meaning

small in Italiano)

What is a Concerto? (cont.)• This form originated during the baroque period.•  • Composers wrote for whatever instruments were

available to the group.•  • Into the classical age, the concertino (small

group) got smaller to the point where they became more soloists with orchestral accompaniment.

• a) Soloists became the flash or sizzle of the piece.

• b) “Violinistic”refers to the flashiness.

What is a Symphony? • Symphony = from the Greek meaning

sounding together. • A symphony is now a SONATA FOR

ORCHESTRA. • The 18th c. operatic overture was the

original version consisted and consisted of 3 movements (quick-slow-quick). It developed into a 4 movement work during the classical period.

The Parts of a Symphony• Movement 1: Sonata Form (usually the

most • important

movement)• Movement 2: Slower and more lyrical• Movement 3: Minuet and Trio, or

Scherzo• Movement 4: Usually Rondo Form (ABACA) or Sonata Form (ABA) ( a

longer piece of music)

Let’s watch an orchestra play a symphony.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2HbMzu1aQW8

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WHAT IS NOTATION?

The Treble Staff.First, the treble staff:

The Bass StaffSecond, the bass staff:

And now, the Grand Staff!The following figure shows a generous range

of notes on the grand staff and how they relate to the keyboard.

The Music Keyboard

And, how about them notes and rests?

Let’s go to a website to help us.

www.musictheory.net

What the heck is a scale and why is it so important?

First we have to define “accidental”.

What is an accidental?A sharp raises a scale tone 1/2 step. The sign

is placed before the note.  • A flat lowers a scale tone 1/2 step. The sign is placed before the note.  A natural indicates that the tone should not be sharpped or flatted for one measure

only.

• .  

Now we can construct the diatonic major and minor scales.A major or minor scale must use all 7 letters

of the alphabet. None can be repeated.  C Major: C D E F G A B C No sharps or flats  A minor: A B C D E F G A No sharps or flats.Why are the above scales like this?

The Music Keyboard, again:

Steps to constructing the scales. It’s patterns, kid!

A major (M) or minor (m) diatonic scale consists of 2 types of tones:

1. Whole tone (w) or 2 half steps 2. Half tone or semitone (h): the

distance from one note to the note next to it on a music keyboard.

Example: E to F, F# to G, G to Ab

Let’s compare scale phone numbers!The major scale telephone number is:

2 2 1 – 2 2 2 1 or w w h – w w w hThe minor scale telephone number is: 2 1 2 – 2 1 2 2 or w h w = w h w w2 = 2 half steps or 1 whole step1 = 1 half step

Examples of ScalesMajor scale examples: F G A Bb C D E F called F Major G A B C D E F# G called G MajorMinor scale examples: A B C D E F G A G A Bb C D Eb F G

Sometimes the scales have relatives!A relative minor starts on the 6th tone of its

relative major scale and shares all the same notes including sharps or flats (just like you might look like your relatives).

A parallel minor starts on the 1 tone of a major scale and DOES NOT share the same notes (This one is adopted!).

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