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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
FORMFORM is the structure of a composition, the frame upon which it is constructed.
Form is based upon repetition, contrast and variation.
Certain specific forms include sonata-allegro form, pop song form and rondo form.
FORM
Think of it like a trifle.
THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
FORM
In a trifle there are different layers. Some of the layers repeat, while others introduce new ingredients. The trifle dish is what gives this dessert its overall shape.
Remember our definition? Form is structure, based on repetition, contrast and variation.
So...
THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
We start with an empty bowl. This is the STRUCTURE.
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Next we take our various ingredients. This is what creates CONTRAST.
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
But if we just throw everything in together, it doesn't mean anything. It doesn't make sense.
This is what we in the music business refer to as “a mess.”
You know what might help? If we had some REPETITION and VARIATION all up in here.
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
So we start making some layers:First some biscuits.Then some cream.Then some fruit.
Then some more cream.Then some more fruit, but let’s vary it with some different fruit.
Then maybe even more cream.Then let's bring back the biscuits.
And top it off with some more cream and more different fruit!
And voilà!
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
A delicious and attractive trifle, in which the VARYING ingredients, STRUCTURED in a REPETITIVE and CONTRASTING way,
make total sense to the eye and the taste bud!
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
FORM
THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
STRUCTURE. REPETITION. CONTRAST. VARIATION.
Oh, ye of little faith. Firstly, happy birthday, Wren. I hope you enjoyed your donut.
Secondly, trifle-making would be an awesome thing to have on the test. Good idea.
But you forgot the magic words:
OK.
So now you're all like, “Mr. Davis, you brought Wren a donut for her birthday and we all had to watch her eat it,
and you've spent the last ten minutes talking about trifle, and now we're super hungry, and as long as there's trifle-making
on the test we're good, but what does this have to do with music?”
Let's identify the “ingredients” in a pop song:
• Introduction• Verse• Refrain• Bridge
STRUCTURE. REPETITION. CONTRAST. VARIATION.
We've got the STRUCTURE (pop song).We've got the CONTRAST (ingredients).
When we put them in an order, we get the REPETITION and the VARIATION.
FORM
THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
A typical pop song follows the following format:
But remember: In the words of Willy Wonka, “We are the music makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.”
1. Introduction2. Verse3. Pre-chorus4. Chorus5. Bridge6. Middle eight7. Collision8. Instrumental solo9. Ad lib
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
THAT MEANS THE ORDER CAN BE VARIED AND REPEATED HOWEVER THE COMPOSER CHOOSES!
To illustrate, let's hear from the boys of Hot Chelle Rae...
We're so dreamy.
My brother's on “Glee.” He's also in our video.
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
I wish they'd let me standin the front row.
How come you guys didn't tell me we were
cutting our sleeves off?
INTRODUCTIONUno, dos, tres
VERSEIt's been a really really messed up week
Seven days of torture, seven days of bitterAnd my girlfriend went and cheated on me
She's a California dime but it's time for me to quit her
PRE-CHORUSLa la la, whatever, la la la, it doesn't matter,
la la la, oh well, la la la
CHORUSWe're going at it tonight tonight
There's a party on the rooftop top of the worldTonight tonight
and we're dancing on the edge of the Hollywood signI don't know if I'll make it but watch how good I'll fake it
It's all right, all right, tonight, tonight
(REPEAT VERSE WITH NEW WORDS)
(REPEAT PRE-CHORUS)
(REPEAT CHORUS)
(REPEAT PRE-CHORUS)
BRIDGEJust don't stop let's keep the beat pumpin'Keep the beat up, let's drop the beat down
It's my party dance if I want toWe can get crazy let it all out
(REPEAT BRIDGE)
It's you and me and were runnin this townAnd it's me and you and we're shakin the ground
And ain't nobody gonna tell us to go cause this is our show
(PRE-CHORUS)
(COLLISION)
(PRE-CHORUS)
AD LIBJust don't stop let's keep the beat pumpin'Keep the beat up, let's drop the beat down
It's my party dance if I want toWe can get crazy let it all out
TONIGHT, TONIGHT by HOT CHELLE RAE
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Now you're going to try to identify pop form on your own, with the help of ...
Katy Perry!
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THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
