Music Form and Analysis
Musical form relates to the structure of a given piece, its themes and the relationship between each theme. There are many varieties of form used in music, both popular and classical.
Verses and Choruses[edit | edit source]
Most popular music is shaped around verses and choruses. Each verse has different words [and sometimes different melody and harmonies as well] while the chorus [generally] remains constant. Forms include VVCVCVC… [V-verse C-chorus], CVCV… CC, and variations thereof.
Binary[edit | edit source]
In binary music, there are just two different themes which appear only once[1], one after the other like this:
AB
Ternary[edit | edit source]
Ternary music has two themes, one of which appears twice, like this:
ABA
Rondo[edit | edit source]
A rondo [rondeau] works as bit like the Verse Chorus form of popular music today. It is also called Ritornello.[2]
ABACADA
Canon[edit | edit source]
A canon has a repeated melody line which starts at the same pitch, where each entry is delayed by a few notes. A canon must work so that the harmonies match.