CHAPTER 6 Musical Form
MULTIPLE CHOICE
1. What quality of a work of art refers to its structure or shape?
a. theme c. form
b. melody d. harmony
2. The basic structural concepts in the element of form are
a. repetition and contrast. c. polyphonic and homophonic.
b. major and minor. d. duple and triple.
3. A vocal work in which each poetic stanza is sung to the same melody is in ________ form.
a. refrain c. chorus
b. strophic d. variation
4. The term ________ describes the technique whereby some aspects of the music are changed, yet the whole remains recognizable.
a. variation c. form
b. contrast d. repetition
5. The technique through which performers create music on the spot is known as
a. ostinato. c. inversion.
b. improvisation. d. canon.
6. The form based on a statement and a departure without a return to the complete opening statement is called
a. binary. c. variation.
b. ternary. d. repetition.
7. Which of the following best defines binary form?
a. A-B-A c. A-A
b. A-B d. B-B
8. Ternary form is represented by the pattern
a. A-B. c. A-B-A.
b. A-A-A. d. A-B-C.
9. The compositional technique whereby a composer searches out a theme’s capacity for growth and expansion is known as
a. augmentation. c. thematic development.
b. diminution. d. ternary form.
10. The restatement of a musical idea at a higher or lower pitch is called a(n)
a. motive. c. theme.
b. sequence. d. ostinato.
11. A basic technique in thematic development is the fragmentation of themes into
a. melodies. c. rhythms.
b. motives. d. notes.
12. The smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-rhythmic unit is called a
a. motive. c. canon.
b. sequence. d. cadence.
13. A singing style that features a leader who is imitated by a group is called
a. call and response. c. crossover.
b. ostinato. d. thematic development.
14. Ostinato, or the repetitive use of a short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern, is common in
a. rock. c. jazz.
b. the blues. d. all of the answers shown here.
15. The separate sections of a large musical work are called
a. songs. c. movements.
b. symphonies. d. chapters.
16. A piece where no main section of the music or text is repeated is called
a. through-composed. c. variation.
b. strophic. d. improvisation.
17. A melodic idea used as a building block in the construction of a larger work is called
a. a theme. c. thematic development.
b. through-composed. d. a binary.
TRUE/FALSE
1. Musical structure generally features a balance between unity and variety.
2. Forms are fixed molds into which composers force their material.
3. Improvisation is common in Western music, but not in non-Western music.
4. A musical form based on a statement, a departure, and a restatement of the first idea is called binary form.
5. Ternary form is best outlined as A-B-A.
6. The restatement of a theme or motive at a higher or lower pitch level is known as a sequence.
7. Call and response style is common in African and Native American cultures.
8. An ostinato is the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-rhythmic unit.
9. A short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern repeated throughout a musical work is called an ostinato.
10. A movement is a complete, comparatively independent division of a large-scale work.
11. Strophic form is one of the most common in vocal music, both popular and classical.
12. The opposite of strophic form in a song would be through-composed.
13. The expansion of a theme, achieved by varying its melody, rhythm, or harmony, is considered thematic development.
14. Variation is one kind of form that falls between repetition and contrast.
15. Each piece of music is unique because composers adapt a general form to create an individual work.
ESSAY
1. Discuss how repetition and contrast create structure in music. Include descriptions of several fundamental musical forms.
2. Describe the building blocks of form.
3. Describe the difference between strophic form and through-composed form.