Writing articles must have a structure, and composing music must also have a structure. The structure of a musical work is the musical form. Usually composers compose according to a certain musical form, which can better express the musical theme.

What are the musical structures?

1. Single-movement form

This form has the simplest structure. It generally consists of several phrases, with no obvious repeated paragraphs, no second theme, and no subtitles. Song. Music written with this structure is usually shorter.

2. Single two-part form

A musical form composed of two sections is called a single two-part form, and its structure is A+B. Usually section A and Section B will provide a sharp contrast.

If you continue to subdivide it, it can be divided into two situations:

(1) A single two-part form with reproduction. In this form, the first half of the B section is usually The contrast part, the second half is the reproduction part.

(2) A single two-part form without reproduction. Section A and Section B of this form are composed of completely different materials, with sharply contrasting strokes.

3. Single three-part formula

It consists of three sections, the first and third sections are the same material, and the structure is A+B+A. The middle section B of this music form will form a sharp contrast with the two sections A before and after, usually completely different in terms of speed, intensity, and emotional changes. In some works, the theme of paragraph B may also be changed from the theme of paragraph A. The third paragraph is a reproduction of the first paragraph. Some works are exactly the same, and some works may have some minor changes.

4. Complex trilogy form

The general structure of this form is exactly the same as that of the single trilogy form, except that in the three paragraphs here, each paragraph also has Contains an independent musical form structure, which may be a single two-part form or a single three-part form. In classical works, the middle passage is called the "Trio".

5. Rondo form

This form consists of two parts, the main part and the secondary part. In a paragraph, the odd-numbered paragraphs 1, 3, 5... are the main part; the 2, 4, 6... even-numbered paragraphs are the sub-part. The theme of the paragraphs in the main part is consistent, while the theme of the subpart is constantly changing. The number of rondo main and secondary parts can be large. This form of music sounds like new themes are constantly appearing, and then returning to the original theme.

The rondo form originated from the vocal rondo. In the rondo, there are verse songs and choruses. The verse songs are usually sung solo and the chorus is a chorus. After each solo is completed, it will return to the song. When it comes to the chorus, the chorus part is the same every time.

6. Variation form

Variations will have a complete theme paragraph at the beginning, and the following paragraphs will be the development and changes of this theme. This development and change will change the sound pattern, rhythm, tonality, speed, range, etc., but some materials in the theme will remain, such as harmony, melody direction, logical relationships of sentences, etc.

There can be many variations in the variation form. For example, Rachmaninoff's "Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini" has 24 variations, and Bach's "Goldberg Variations" has 30 variations.

7. Sonata form

The sonata form is the same as the trilogy form in terms of its overall structure, but its internal structure is more complex. The presentation part of the first paragraph and the recapitulation part of the third paragraph use the same theme, and the development part in the middle develops and changes this theme.

The presentation often also includes the first theme, the second theme, the first ending, and the second ending. There are some connecting sections between these fragments. In terms of tonal arrangement, the first theme is the main one. mode, the second theme goes to the dominant mode.

The expansion part is more varied, the content can be long or short, and the material can be taken from any part of the presentation part. This part usually has more tonal changes.

The recapitulation part includes all the parts in the presentation part, the difference is that both the first theme and the second theme are the main themes here.

There are many sonatas, concertos, symphonies, and chamber music movements that use the sonata form, especially the first movement, which is the most used. However, not all works are written in the sonata form. It can also be written using other structures.

8. In addition to the main structure

In some works, in addition to the main structure, an introduction is added at the beginning of the work and an epilogue is added at the end. Of course these two parts are not necessary.

The introduction part of some works actually becomes the title of the work, such as Beethoven's "Pathétique" Sonata, whose "Pathétique" theme is reflected in the introduction, which is inserted multiple times between paragraphs. , and there is no pathos part in its main structure (presentation, development, recapitulation).