Structure
• Balanced phrasing (phrases are equal lengths, usually two or 4 bars long). • Question and answer (when a 2 or 4 bar phrase is answered by a phrase of an equal length). • Binary form (AB). Each section is repeated (look out for repeat signs). A change in key (home note) provides a contrast between the two sections.
• Ternary form (ABA) • Rondo form (ABACA). • Theme and variation. A theme is played and then repeated with variations. Variations can be created in many ways e.g. by adding ornaments, changing the accompaniment, changing the instrumentation, inverting the melody. This is called melodic development.
Other features
• Ornamentation (twiddly bits / melodic decoration). For example: trill, turn and grace note. • In a trill, 2 next door notes alternate really quickly e.g. CDCDCDCDCDCDCD • A turn is made up of 4 next door notes shaped like this: or
• Grace note/s are crushed very quickly onto the main melody note. They appear on the score as tiny notes e.g.
• Sequences are created when a motive (a short bit of melody) is repeated on a different note. If the motive is repeated on a higher set of notes this is called an ascending sequence. If the motive is repeated on a lower set of notes this is called a descending sequence. • Imitation (especially in Baroque music) is created when a motive is copied, often by a different instrument or voice. • Melodic inversion is often used to create variation (e.g. CDE becomes EDC) • Ostinato (a repeating pattern, often occurs in an accompanying part)
Tonality OR scales and harmonies
• Major and minor keys, established in the Baroque period, continued to be used in the Classical period. • The chords and harmonies that are built on major and minor scales are called diatonic harmonies.
Vocal Music
Vocal music was written by Baroque and Classical composers (both Bach and Mozart wrote a lot of vocal music). Vocal music usually consists of soloists (a soprano – high lady, alto – low lady, tenor – high man, bass – low man or sometimes all 4), a choir and an orchestra for accompaniment.