Structure & Style: the Study

and Analysis of Musical Forms

Chapters 3 & 4

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• phrase
- generally 4 measure length
- the shortest unit terminated by a cadence
- usually associated with other phrases
- structural basis of homophonic forms
- homophony is music with a primary melody and
accompaniment parts (see S&S p. 261)
• phrase definition
- “The phrase is a unit, conventionally four measures in length,
which is terminated by a cadence.” (S&S p. 22)

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase

• Ex 51 - meter and tempo have an effect

we may perceive this as:

- 8 measure phrase in 3/8

- 4 measure phrase in 6/8

- 2 measure phrase in 12/8

- since there is one clear cadence at the end, it is a

single phrase

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• Ex 52 Beethoven Symphony No. 5, I
- this phrase is a single, undivided unit
- at 0’ 47” on Spotify
• Ex 53 Haydn Symphony No. 102, in B-Flat, I
- book list this as “Finale” but it is the first
movement
- this phrase divides into two semi-phrases
- at 2’ 24” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase

• Ex 54 Mozart Eine Kleine Nachtmusik,

II. Romanza
- Stein interprets this passage as a single phrase that
divides into two semi-phrases
- Stein believes there is no cadence at the mid-point
- you may disagree
- ask yourself if you hear a cadence at the mid-point?
- if you do, then this is two phrases

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase

• Ex 56 Mozart Piano Sonata in A (K. 331), I

- this example has two phrases (with two
cadences)
- each phrase can be described as a
sentence:
a a b__ ; where the length of b = a + a

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
groups of three or more phrases
• AMF No. 9a Mendelssohn “Spinning Song”
- group of 3 phrases (mm. 30-33, 34-37, 38-41)
- at 0’ 34” on Spotify
• AMF No. 15 Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 2, No. 3, IV
- group of 4 phrases (mm. 143-146, 147-150, 151-154,
155-167)
- do mm. 155-167 divide up? a single phrase?
- at 2’ 21” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• double period consisting of four phrases
- (double period defined on p. 51)
- AMF No. 3 Chopin Prelude in A
• phrase as independent unit
- AMF No. 5 Mendelssohn “Venetian Boat Song”
- mm. 1-7 are an independent introduction
- do you think mm. 3-7 might be a phrase?
- the “a” phrase starts on the pickup to m. 8

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
coda or codetta may involve independent
phrases
• AMF 25 a Bach French Suite, “Allemande”
- codetta last 4 measures at 1’ 25” on
Spotify
- listen to the entire piece to see why it
sounds like a codetta

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
independent phrase within a larger form
• AMF No. 12a Mozart Serenade
III. Minute and Trio
- the “B” section of the trio is a single, independent
phrase (mm. 25-28)
• AMF No. 19 Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 31, No. 3, I
- Stein says mm. 1-8 are an independent phrase
- you may disagree, hearing mm. 1-8 connect to
mm. 10-17

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• the phrase’s role in homophonic forms
- Stein will juxtapose homophonic forms with polyphonic
forms
- homophonic forms primary melody plus a less important
accompaniment
- AMF No. 19 has primary melody in soprano with acc.
- polyphonic forms have multiple equal voice parts
- AMF No. 21a has 3 equal lines (often called voices)
- AMF No. 27 Palestrina Dies sanctificatus has 4 equal voice
parts

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• the phrase’s role in homophonic forms
- some polyphonic forms will use a clear
phrase structure
- AMF 25a is polyphonic but breaks up
into seven 4-bar phrases
- however most vocal polyphonic forms
use sections rather than phrases and
sentences

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 3
the phrase
• In class as a group, identify the phrases in
AMF No. 5
• homework, assign groups to identify the
phrases in:
- AMF No. 7a
- AMF No. 10b
- AMF No. 17a (mm. 1-24)

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases

• Ex 58 Dvorak Symphony No. 9, II. Largo

(mm. 7-10)
- two measure phrases
- also called “From the New World”
- book labels this incorrectly as Dvorak
Sym. No. 5

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases
• Ex 59 Mozart Symphony No. 40, III. Menuetto
- two three-bar phrases
• Ex 60 Beethoven Symphony No. 9,
II. Scherzo Molto vivace
- Bassoons and Oboes
- three three-bar phrases
- at 2’ 39” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases

Extensions: anticipation of melody

• Ex 67 Haydn Symphony No. 94 “Surprise”
III. Menuetto
- just after the fermata in return of the
A-section in the Minuet
- at 1’ 06” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases

• accompaniment pattern intro to phrase

- AMF No. 7a Schumann “Widmung”
- one measure acc. pattern introduction

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases
extension within the phrase
• Haydn Symphony No. 94 “Surprise”
III. Menuetto
- try to create a graph of A-section by ear
- in 3/4 with a two eighth-note pickup
- one of the phrases will have an irregular
length; that one contains an internal extension
- 0’ 00” - 0’ 17” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases
extensions at the end of the phrase
• Ex 76 AMF No. 15 Beethoven Piano Sonata Op. 2, No. 3, IV
- the extension follows the cadence in m. 22
- the material in mm. 21-22 is sequenced creating the
extension mm. 23-24
- this is not a “cadential extension” since the cadence is
not repeated
- here the music of the cadence is transposed
(sequenced)
- m. 19 is at 0’ 18” on Spotify

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases
cadential extension
• Ex 79 Haydn Symphony No. 94 “Surprise”
IV (final cadence)
- the final V - I cadence is repeated and
stretched out
- book example is at 3’ 39” on Spotify
but listen from about 3’ 20”

Wednesday, August 29, 12

 Chapter 4
irregular phrases

• as a group try to find the irregular phrases

in:
- AMF No. 4a (mm. 1-6)
- AMF No. 5 (mm. 30-34)
- AMF No. 7a (mm. 33-39)
- for more see S & S p. 36

Wednesday, August 29, 12