Music Composition Forms

Study Notes

A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists that tells a religious or contemplative story through music
Typically performed without staging, costumes, or acting, distinguishing it from operas
Narrative often based on religious or biblical themes, divided into movements, including arias, recitatives, and choruses

A collection of musical pieces or movements that are usually related stylistically or thematically and played in a sequence

A form of dance that emphasizes a specific, often formalized or artistic style
Involves deliberate, structured movements that are distinct from everyday, natural movements
Found in various genres and cultural contexts, including classical ballet, traditional folk dances, and contemporary dance forms

Begins with an exposition, where the subject is introduced and played or sung in all the voices or parts
Typically written in four standard voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass
Each voice starts with the subject at a time dictated in the music, while the first voice continues with new material
Imitation is continued through all the voices, with the exposition ending when all voices complete the initial subject
May be repeated in a different order of voices or continue with less weighted entrances at varying lengths known as episodes
Episodes provide a little relaxation or relief from the early regimented systematic polyphony of the exposition
In longer fugues, episodes are followed by a section in another key with continued overlapping of the subject, which can repeat until returning to the original key

A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists that tells a religious or contemplative story through music
Typically performed without staging, costumes, or acting, distinguishing it from operas
Narrative often based on religious or biblical themes, divided into movements, including arias, recitatives, and choruses

A collection of musical pieces or movements that are usually related stylistically or thematically and played in a sequence

A form of dance that emphasizes a specific, often formalized or artistic style
Involves deliberate, structured movements that are distinct from everyday, natural movements
Found in various genres and cultural contexts, including classical ballet, traditional folk dances, and contemporary dance forms

Begins with an exposition, where the subject is introduced and played or sung in all the voices or parts
Typically written in four standard voices: soprano, alto, tenor, and bass
Each voice starts with the subject at a time dictated in the music, while the first voice continues with new material
Imitation is continued through all the voices, with the exposition ending when all voices complete the initial subject
May be repeated in a different order of voices or continue with less weighted entrances at varying lengths known as episodes
Episodes provide a little relaxation or relief from the early regimented systematic polyphony of the exposition
In longer fugues, episodes are followed by a section in another key with continued overlapping of the subject, which can repeat until returning to the original key