One of the key elements in musical terminology is the definition or concept of form. "Form" is the pattern that a piece of music follows. While the form of a great Gothic cathedral might begin with architectural elements such as a single building block, or even a square drawn on a sheet of paper, so the great musical compositions begin with musical elements, such as a simple note, or tone, and musical rhythm.
Musical Form Begins With a Motif and Creates a Sentence
Musical form is the pattern or design of a piece of music. It contains all of the musical elements: rhythm, harmony and melody. The building block in musical form is the motif. A motif is a short musical "thought" or idea, usually expressed in one or two measures' time.
Taking the popular song, "My Favorite Things," from the Sound of Music musical, the first motif is heard in the first phrase, which contains the words, "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens." This is repeated with the next phrase, "Bright copper kettles and warm woolen mittens." This set of motifs is followed by a second set. The second set has a new idea, or motif. This motif is heard in the lyrics, "Brown paper packages tied up with string," which is answered by the final phrase, "These are a few of my favorite things...."
Taking the example of "My Favorite Things" again, the first, repeated motif becomes the first phrase when it is put together: "Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens." Since this is the first phrase, it is called the antecedent phrase. Notice that the melody on the word "kittens" sounds like there is more to the song.
Of course, there is, but the way the tones (notes) are written, the listener "knows" there is more music to come. This incomplete ending is called a half cadence. The music pauses, but it does not completely stop. In many songs, the second phrase has a strong final cadence which is like putting a period at the end of sentence in grammar. However, the second phrase, "Brown paper packages tied up with string, these are a few of my favorite things..." has another half cadence. This tells the listener, on purpose, that Fraulein Maria has a long list of favorite things.
Musical Form in Dances and Songs
Simple musical form has a theme, or motif, which is paralleled with a second theme. This is very easy to hear in dances, where there are usually two themes which repeat over and over as long as the dance lasts. The two themes are called "A" and "B." The musical Lion KIng has a great example of A-B form in the song called, "The Lion Sleeps Tonight." The A theme follows the lyrics, "In the jungle, the mighty jungle, the lion sleeps tonight," which is repeated with a small variation. There is a short instrumental interlude, which is followed with the B theme, "He, ha helelemama."
Songs often follow an A-B-A form. This may be a verse followed by a chorus or refrain, and ending with another verse. It may be a simple melody followed by a contrasting melody, then returning to the first melody. Almost every folk and pop song ever written follows A-B-A song form.
Listening Selections for Form in Music
The classical music appreciation student should listen to the recordings mentioned in the text, above. To learn how to identify a motif, a phrase, and half and full cadences, a student may listen to "My Favorite Things," from the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Sound of Music. Listen to the Original Broadway Cast Recording of The Lion King, written by Elton John and Tim Rice, performing "The Lion Sleeps Tonight" for simple A-B dance form. There is a lighthearted spoof on folk music protest songs written by Tom Lehrer called "Folk Song Army." This comical piece not only conforms to simple A-B-A song form by putting the B theme in a minor key, but the lyrics describe what makes a folk song a protest song.
References:
Connections.org, "Musical Form," by Anthony Brandt
STLyrics.com, "My Favorite Things," from Rodgers and Hammerstein's Sound of Music
Connections.org, "Theme and Motif in Music," by Catherine Schmidt-Jones
SMU.edu, "Theory on the Web: Cadences"
Lionking.org, "The Lion King Lyrics- The Lion Sleeps Tonight"
Donna Pravel - Donna Earnest Pravel is the owner and senior editor of www.Heart of Texas Copywriting Solutions.com.
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