March Form in Music

March Form in Music

By Emily Wright

Yesterday...

We learned that form is the way music is organized. We learned about binary, ternary and rondo form. Today, we'll learn about March Form

March Form Diagram

Instead of AB or ABA or even ABCBA form, marches have a more complex form.

The introduction is typically 4, 8 or 16 measures long and sets the mood of the music.

​

Introduction

The First Strain is the first melody of the march; typically 8 or 16 measures long; repeated with added counter-melodies, often with dynamic contrast.

First Strain (A)

The Second Strain is the introduction of a second melody; typically 16 measures long; repeated; often played softer for contrast or in different instruments than the first strain

Second Strain (B)

The Trio is the featured section of the march; third, main melody emerges; immediate change in the dynamic level from loud to soft; tonal center, or key signature, changes; typically 32 measures long; most contrasting of all the sections.

Trio (D)

The Break Strain is the louder, more intense part of a march, serves as a break between the softer trio sections; fourth melody emerges.

Break Strain (C')

The Coda is a final return to the Trio theme played much more loudly is the most exciting section of the march.

​

Coda

The Stinger is the last measure of the march contains a chord played in unison by the entire ensemble; can be compared to an exclamation mark at the end of a sentence

​

Stinger

Watch this video as the teacher explains march form using Semper Fidelis!

​https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bXDSJJYoF1U