The Forms of Music

This week during our Facebook discussion, we were supposed to discuss the forms of a unit we had already completed.  However, I feel far more comfortable discussing music, so I thought I'd take a look at the forms of music here.

First, there's the obvious forms.  The layout of the piece, if you will.  Some pieces have an ABA form, where you have a section "A", followed by a different section, "B," and ending with the same beginning section, "A."  Some are more complex; ABBA, AABA, ABACA, etc.  Then there's popular music.  You generally start with the first verse, move into the chorus, second verse, chorus, third verse, chorus, etc.  Oftentimes, the chorus may be repeated a couple of times at the end, and there may be one or more "bridges."

How about concertos?  Concertos often have a fast movement, slow movement (which may or may not be in another key), ending with a fast movement.  Sometimes there's an extra slow movement at the beginning of the piece.  Symphonies are often arranged with a fast movement, a slow movement, a minuet (or 3-beat dance), and finally another fast movement.

You can also arrange most pieces with the following format: introduction, development, and coda, or ending.  I think of this format kind of like an essay.  The introduction brings in the main theme, and gives you something to listen for.  The development takes that main theme, and turns it on end, inside out, and explores all the different ways you can hear it.  This is the body of the essay, where you back up your main points.  It is also often the most difficult portion for a musician to learn.  Finally, you have the coda, where you arrive back at the main theme, safe and sound.

Now, these forms help give music order.  Eisner writes that as humans, we seek order in our worlds, and our music is no exception.  It is pleasing to the ear to hear something we expect.  Another example of this order-seeking can be found in chord progressions.  The most common chord progression is I-IV-V (or V7)-I.  There is a great sketch I saw on youtube that illustrates this beautifully.  This example uses a collection of popular tunes, but it is also basically true of many classical pieces.  The exception can be found with modern "classical" music.

In the 1900's, "classical" composers felt that nothing new could come from the same chord progressions that had been used.  They sought some different ways of harmonizing music.  One way they sought to create new music was with "12 tone" music.  Most people, after listening for a few seconds, grow uncomfortable.  We're not used to music sounding this way.  Another example is harmonizing with fourths, rather than thirds.  This doesn't sound as uncomfortable as the 12-tone music, but it still seems odd.  Again, because we're not used to it.

In addition to the previous forms, there are many technical and musical elements that go into making a piece more or less compelling.  Elements like vibrato (how much, how wide, how fast, etc), bowings or articulations, what string to play on (for a strings player) as each string has a slightly different tonal quality, dynamics (loud versus soft), accents, tempo, etc.  There are many more, but this gives you an idea of the number of choices a musician makes in performing a piece.  In addition to the aural elements, a musician can also move while they play, which tends to add a lot to a performance.  Just watch a performance of someone standing perfectly still - it seems irrevocably boring.  Watch the same song with someone moving, and suddenly it gains a whole new perspective and meaning.

This reminds me that my students have so many decisions to make.  Not only in their playing, but also in their day to day lives, in their "normal" school subjects, in the simple act of leaving a phone message.  There are so many details in all of our lives.  Sometimes we need a break from all these details, but we also have to work at processing them and making decisions.  Music can help with both.  As I've shown, music is full of details and decisions.  However, at the same time, it can also provide an escape.  While you're thinking about the music you are creating, the rest of the world falls away and becomes insignificant.  This provides perspective, relaxation, and relief.