4

Form

Form refers to the design and structure in music. Because it is a summation of other musical elements and structures of music, form cannot be heard independently, nor is it perceived as easily as the other concepts. Many casual listeners of music (especially longer examples) think that a composer begins creating and continues in a stream of consciousness manner until the end of a composition. On the contrary, music is carefully organized, much as a novel, for example, is. A book consists of individual letters that are organized into words; words are used to form phrases and sentences; the sentences are grouped into paragraphs; numerous paragraphs are linked to create chapters--and so on. Music is similarly organized. Individual pitches presented with specific rhythms form possible motives; musical phrases combine to form musical "sentences" (melodies); these, in turn, are grouped into sections; the sections are combined to create movements; and in large compositions, several movements go together to create the entire work (e.g., a symphony).

Formal designs in music are created by means of repetition, contrast and variation. Notice the repetition and contrast involved in the following musical example:

			Example of form