Year 10 Music Definitions

Definition of Binary Form

• musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated.
• three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated after the second section (B) ends
• a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
• a type of composition in three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation) in which two themes or subjects are explored according to set key relationships.

Ternary Form

• a type of composition in three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation) in which two themes or subjects are explored according to set key relationships.
• a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
• three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated after the second section (B) ends
• musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated.

Fugue

• musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated.
• three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated after the second section (B) ends
• a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
• a type of composition in three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation) in which two themes or subjects are explored according to set key relationships.

Sonata Form

• a type of composition in three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation) in which two themes or subjects are explored according to set key relationships.
• a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts.
• three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated after the second section (B) ends
• musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated.

Ritnornello Form

• a type of composition in three sections (exposition, development, and recapitulation) in which two themes or subjects are explored according to set key relationships.
• a fomr based on the alternation between tutti and solo sections
• three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated after the second section (B) ends
• musical form in two related sections, both of which are usually repeated.

homophonic

• one voice, often the highest, plays a distinct melody, and the accompanying voices work together to articulate an underlying harmony.
• melody line with no harmony
• two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody

polyphonic

• one voice, often the highest, plays a distinct melody, and the accompanying voices work together to articulate an underlying harmony.
• melody line with no harmony
• two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody

monophonic

• one voice, often the highest, plays a distinct melody, and the accompanying voices work together to articulate an underlying harmony.
• melody line with no harmony
• two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody

retrograde

• reverses the order of the motive's pitches: what was the first pitch becomes the last, and vice versa.
• the melody turned upside-down. For instance, if the original melody has an ascending major third, the inverted melody has a descending major third
• a melody, theme or motif is presented in longer note-values than were previously used.
• a melody, theme or motif is presented in shorter note-values than were previously used.

inversion

• reverses the order of the motive's pitches: what was the first pitch becomes the last, and vice versa.
• the melody turned upside-down. For instance, if the original melody has an ascending major third, the inverted melody has a descending major third
• a melody, theme or motif is presented in longer note-values than were previously used.
• a melody, theme or motif is presented in shorter note-values than were previously used.