Structure (Part 1)
What is Structure?
The structure is how the different sections in a piece of music are organised. We can use structure when composing to create shape and balance in music.
A piece of music can be structured in a variety of different ways - here are some of the common musical forms:
Ternary Form (A, B, A)
Rondo Form (A, B, A, C, A)
Arch Form (A, B, C, B, A)
Theme and Variations (A, A1, A2, A3)
Strophic Form - A, A, A
Strophic form is a repetitive musical structure. Each verse or section of music contains the same melody and harmony that is repeated. This structure is commonly used in folk music, nursery rhymes and pop songs.
An example of strophic form is Blowin' in the Wind by Bob Dylan. The same melody and harmony are repeated in every verse:
Through Composed - A, B, C, D, E....
A through-composed piece of music means that the structure is completely continuous. There are no large repetitions of musical material and each section has its own individual musical material.
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen is an example of through-composed music. Every verse has a completely individual musical character:
Binary Form - A, B
A piece of music in binary form has two different clear sections, A and B. While the overall music material in each section is different, they can be closely related:
