This lesson will help you explain the performance practices of the 20th century

music, from its setting, composition, role of composers/performers and audiences. You
will also be learning about the different musical form that is currently used in music
today.

In this lesson, you are expected to e xplain the performance practice (setting, composition,
role of composers/performers, and audience) of 20th century music.

IDENTIFICATION

Directions: Give what is asked. Write your answers on your activity notebook.
1. The direct opposite of strophic form is ____________________.
2. The basic elements of form are repetition, variation, and____________.
3. When a melodic idea is used as a building block in the construction of a larger
work, the phenomenon is called_____________.
4. A short, repeated musical pattern used as a structural device is known as a/an
_____________.
5. The musical structure of ABCBA is __________________.
6. Music that is made up spontaneously in performance is called
____________________.
7. One of the basic structures in music is __________, which begins with a
statement and ends with a departure, without a return to the opening section.
8. Which form features a statement of an idea, a contrasting idea, and then the
return of the first idea (A-B-A)? __________________.
9. In through-composed songs, music from previous stanzas is________.
10. Which of the following is the most common form in vocal music? _____.
11. A large-scale work, like a symphony, is often broken up into smaller sections
called ___________.
12. The structure of through-composed songs is ___________________.
13. The structure of ternary musical form is ________________________.
14. The musical form that has a structure of ABACA is________________.
15. The musical form that has a structure of AB is __________________.

In your previous grade lessons, you have learned about the different music from
the Baroque Period, Medieval Period, Romantic Period, Classical Period, and 20th
Century. These periods taught us how music was and today.
Meanwhile, in the previous lesson, you have learned about the stages of
movements of music from Post-Romanticism to Neo-Romanticism and the
improvisations of the basic elements in each stage. To fully understand and appreciate
music as a whole, this lesson will let you experience and explore the Musical forms
used by all musicians to create music and how do the performers perform the created
piece.
 WHAT’S NEW

As a musician, it is important to understand the musical form of a piece. Whether

you’re a pianist or just curious about music, understanding the musical form helps in the
understanding of the structure of a piece. It also speeds up the learning process.
These are the most common musical forms:
 Strophic (AAA)
 Through-Composed (ABCDE.)
 Binary (AB)
 Ternary (ABA)
 Rondo (ABACA) or (ABACABA)
 Arch (ABCBA)
 Sonata (Exposition, Development, Recapitulation)
 Theme And Variations
It’s important to understand how musical form works because it’s the basic
structure of an entire work.

MUSICAL FORMS

STROPHIC FORM

The strophic form is one of the most common musical forms. It’s also called a
song form or verse form. Because of its repetitiveness typically featuring an AAA
structure. It is the most basic of all the forms in music.
An example of the strophic form in a folk song would be “Leron Leron Sinta”. A
church hymn such as “Amazing Grace” or even a simple nursery tune like “Mary Had A
Little Lamb”.

THROUGH-COMPOSED FORM
A composition that is entirely continuous is called “Through-composed form”. It
is any large-scale thematic material that is not repeated, and each section sounds like
something completely different. Typically, it is featuring the ABCD structure.
It’s non-sectional and everything operates independently of one another. This is
a lot different compared to strophic form because nothing is repeated. In song form,
through-composed music gives each verse its own unique melody.
In general, through-composed music is really interesting to listen to. None of
the music is repeated, so you will only hear something happen once. Most through-
composed pieces are quite short, although it is common to hear it being used in some
opera works. An example of through-composed music in popular music would be the
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen.

BINARY FORM
The binary form is music with an A and B section. While the material is different
in each section, it is closely related. Recognizing a piece of music in binary form
requires you to identify where the contrasting material is. Things to look for include
changes in rhythm, key signatures, cadences, and other harmonic adjustments.
There are two different versions of binary form. This includes:
 Simple Binary
 Rounded Binary

In simple binary form, the A material is followed by B material that has moved
to the subdominant. So, for example, a piece that starts in C major will conclude in G
major.
In rounded binary form, the rules mostly remain the same. The difference is that there is
more material added to the B section. This material is pulled from part of the A section.
Unlike a ternary form, it’s not a completely new section.

TERNARY FORM
The ternary form is defined as ABA structure which means the piece starts with
the main theme, goes to contrasting material, and then returns with that exact main
theme material to end it.
It looks a lot like rounded binary form, however, the key difference is that the
last section operates independently of the B section. Rather than having partial A
material, the last section is an entire recapitulation of the main theme. Sometimes the
recapitulation can be slightly varied either through rhythm or tempo.
The three sections of ternary form sound appear and sound like complete
compositions in themselves. Each of those sections concludes on a perfect authentic
cadence, which provides the most closure.
The mood is also an important characteristic of a ternary form. The first section
might be quick and lively while the B section is quiet and less intense. Composers who
use this form put a great deal of effort ensuring that the B section has a well-defined
character that allows each section to sound like their own separate compositions.
Piano sonatas widely use different types of ternary form, especially works by
Haydn, Handel, Beethoven, and Scarlatti. It can also be traced back as far as Middle
Age music such as the ancient Gregorian chants.

RONDO FORM
The rondo form is an ABACA or ABACABA structure. The most common forms
are the 5-part and 7-part Rondo. What you will notice about rondo form is that each
section returns to the A section. However, as the sections progress, new material is
added in between each A section. It can also be viewed as an extension of either
ternary form or binary form. The additional sections help define it from other forms,
especially through-composed which only introduced new material.
Sometimes, rondo form can be much broader and be ABACABA or the first B
section of a piece in rondo form is usually in the dominant or relative major key. The
second B section can trail off to whatever key it needs to. It’s easy to tell if a piece is in
Rondo form if you continue to hear material from the A section returning.

Examples of pieces that use rondo form include:

 Beethoven’s Sixth Symphony
 Mozart’s Eine Kleine Natch Musik
 Bach’s E major Violin Concerto
 Beethoven’s Piano Sonata Op. 13 (final movement)
ARCH FORM
 The arch form is an ABCBA structure. It is called “Arch” because the structure
of the music moves in this form. There is always a new material in each of the
first three sections. Once it reaches the C section, the music simply moves in
reverse order. It goes back through the B material and concluding with the main
A theme.
 While those sections playback in the reverse order, they can be varied. They
can have changes to rhythm and style as long as the thematic material is the
same.
 This musical form is entirely symmetric. While arch form is not as common as
ternary or binary, there are some popular instances of this happening in music.
 The famous composer who was noted to use “rondo” is Bela Bartok. He used it
widely in his string quartet music, most notably the fourth and fifth. It is also
present in his second piano concerto. Samuel Barber also used arch form in his
Adagio for strings. Arch form is essentially a rondo form, but symmetrical.
 SONATA FORM
 The sonata form is a musical composition that is organized in three distinct
sections. It consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation.
 In the exposition, we are presented with two subjects, basically binary form.
The first subject is in the tonic key while the second moves to the sub dominant.
If it is a minor key sonata, then it will work from within the minor key moving to
the relative major.
 Usually, the development section is thicker in musical texture and full in
unstable harmonic structure. Instead of just settling in one key, this section will
sometimes travel through multiple modulations. The development section
features a completely new theme.
 The recapitulation is a clear restatement of the exposition and rolls in
effortlessly out of the development section. It is often varied. Usually, it returns
with a different dynamic than it is the first appearance in the exposition. This
helps set a new mood.
THEME AND VARIATIONS

 The main theme is developed throughout subsequent sections in this musical

form. In the first section, the main theme is first introduced. After that section
comes to a close, and the first variation is introduced.
 This variation along with the rest will follow the same harmonic progressions. In
each new variation, there can be changes to the rhythm, articulations, and style
of the piece. In some instances, the key signature can also change, however, it
will still follow the relative harmonic structure in the new key.
 Countermelodies are also quite common and continue to add on and change in
each variation. There are also changes to the meter, dynamics, mood, and even
the instrumentation. Other piano compositions such as Brahms Variations on a
Theme by Robert Schumann, Beethoven’s 32 variations in C minor and the
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star variations by Mozart are also great examples.

Activity 1: MULTIPLE CHOICE

Directions: Read the sentence. Encircle the letter of your answer.

1. Which of the following denotes the number of the main sections in a binary form?
A. One B. Three C. Two D. Seventeen
2. Which of the following terms describe a binary form showing a clear cadence in the
tonic and melodic key?
A. Rounded Sectional C. Rounded Continuous
B. Simple Section D. Simple Continuous
3. Which of these types of pieces constitutes a ternary form?
A. Both of these C. Da Capo Aria
B. Minuet and Trio D. Neither of these
4. Which of the following is the special section included to bring the music back to the
original material?
A. Retransition B. Transition C. Transitory D. Retaliation
5. Which of the following sections is not commonly held to be a key component of a
movement in a sonata form?
A. Exposition B. coda C. recapitulation D. development
6. Which movement in symphony would most likely be written in a sonata form?
A. The second B. The first C. The fourth D. The third
7. Which of the following composers composed a famous set of 32 variations in C minor
for piano based upon a theme?
A. Bach B. Beethoven C. Vivaldi D. Purcell
8. In which of the following ways would a five-part rondo be realized?
A. ABACA B. ABCDA C. ABABA D. ABCBA
9. The seven-part rondo is often molded into what is called sonata rondo. Which of the
following conditions generally hold(s) true for sonata rondos?
A. The C episode is highly developmental in nature
B. The second B section returns in the tonic key
C. Both of these
D. Neither of these
10. Which of the following artist usually using a through-composed form?
A. Queen B. Platters C. Carpenters D. Chicago

The purpose of form in music is to create a sense of unity among the elements of
a song and make it memorable to the listeners. It is highly common in songs that need
to be sung, marched, waltzed/danced and symphonic works.
However, it is also used to convey a certain idea or emotion such as a movie
score or a symphonic poem.
The form can be loose or very structured and it really helps to unify a piece and
create a sense of the piece being the same, unlike a through-composed piece which
might start at point A and go to point B and never return to point A because it tells a
story for instance (although that is technically an example of form too).
The form can be as rigid as Rondo (ABACA) or Sonata (Exposition -
Development - Recapitulation) or it can be as fluid as a rhapsody which starts at point
A, moves to point B then C then back to A to finish.
The form can be minimalism and the phasing of different parts like in Steve
Reich's, Clapping Music or it can be based on the 12-tone system where you cannot
repeat a note until all notes in the form are played.

Directions: Answer the following questions. Choose your answers on the box below
and write it on the space provided.
1. What is another name for "part B"? ___________
2. Which musical form consists of a verse, chorus, and a verse? _______
3. What is another name for a verse? ___________
4. Which form starts with the verse, goes to the chorus, and comes back to the verse?
___________
5. Which of these is a rondo form? ___________
6. What is the term for organizing music into sections? __________
7. Which song has two sections which are the same? _____________
8. What is another name for the A and B sections of a song? __________
9. What is the A section of a piece of music called? _________________
10. What is another name for chorus? ________________

ABA form Chorus Form Verse and Chorus

Verse Part B ABACA Part A AA ABA

MULTIPLE CHOICE
Directions: Read and understancd. Write answer on your activity notebook.

1. Which of the following is the second section of the sonata form?

A. Development C. Recapitulation
B. Exposition D. Coda
2. Which is the only form to originate during the classical era?
A. Sonata form C. Rondo form
B. Theme and variations D. Minuet and trio form
3. Which of the following describes this form?
121 343 121 coda
A. Ternary B. Binary C. Minuet and trio D. Arch
4. Which of the following form is in a constant triple meter?
A. Rondo form C. Sonata form
B. Theme and variations D. Minuet and trio form
5. Which of the following is the third section of the sonata form?
A. Development C. Recapitulation
B. Exposition D. Coda
6. Which of the following describes this form?
A A1 A2 A3 A4
A. Ternary B. Binary C. Theme and Variations D. Arch form
7. Which of the following form has this description?
“A simple theme is continually altered”
A. Rondo form C. Sonata form
B. Theme and variations D. Minuet and trio form
8. Which of the following is the first section of the sonata form?
A. Development C. Recapitulation
B. Exposition D. Coda
9. Which of the following is a second minuet paired with a first?
a. Quartet B. Duet C. Minuet D. Trio
10. Which of the following form denotes this description?
A B A C A D A
A. Ternary B. Rondo C. Binary D. Arch
11. Which of the following is the optional last section of the sonata form?
A. Development B. Exposition C. Recapitulation D. Coda
12. Which of the following is the standard first movement form in the classical era
instrumental compositions?
A. Sonata form C. Rondo form
B. Theme and variations D. Minuet and trio form
13. Which of the following is the optional first section of the sonata form?
A. Development B. Exposition C. Coda D. Introduction
14. Which form is one of the oldest in music?
A. Rondo B. Sonata C. Binary D. Ternary
15. Which of the following form is this?
Exposition – Development – Recapitulation
A. Rondo B. Sonata C. Binary D. Ternary
SONG LABELLING

1. Write the full lyrics of the song you like.

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2. Label the song as to what Musical Structure/Form it used.
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3. Label each part as Part A, B, C, or D depending on what structure of song does it

fall.
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