Lesson

Five 3.3 The Elements of Music: FORM

INTENDED LEARNING OUTCOMES

By the end of the learning experience,

student must be able to:
 define Forms of music;
 discuss the uses and meanings of musical forms;
 Make a Lesson Plan

An architect prepares a plan for a building; an engineer makes the blueprint; a

teacher for lesson plan, then a musician is into a musical form.

In this lesson, we shall study and understand the overall structure and organization
of music. We shall analyze the internal relationships of the elements of music that
constitute the design of a musical score.

Activity

A. Tell Me Activity!

1. 2.

3. 4.

1. What do you observe in the pictures? Can you see patterns?

2. Describe the patterns you observed and relate it to science and nature.

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of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
system, without permission in writing from the University of Southern Mindanao.
 Musical Form is the structure outlined in a song or a piece. Like an architect’s
ground plan for a house or a building. The composer keeps this in mind when he/she begins
to write a song or a piece. It is said as the road map of music.

Musical Form is the organization of musical elements to achieve utmost symmetry

and balance which gives the order to music.

The study of “form” often begins with the smallest unit of a scale until it progresses
toward a larger scale. The motif is the smallest unit of music and can be easily identified. It
usually serves as the foundation of composition and appeared many times in a structured
form. One perfect example of a familiar motif is the first few notes of our National Anthem.
The one who leads actually gives the motif of the song “Lupang Hinirang,” before the rest of
the song is sung. This gives an idea of how the song is sung.

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mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
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“No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by means, electronic or
mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
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Other Examples of Motif

A. Rhythmic motif
4 4

4 4

B. Melodic Motif (O When The Saints Go Marching In)

When motifs are joined together, they form a musical sentence called Phrase. A
phrase is a melodic statement made of a succession of tones arranged in such a

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mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
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way to give musical thought or idea often compared to how a sentence functions in
language.

Example: This melody has four phrases (each in a different color), one for each sentence
of the text.

Source: https://www.aboutmusictheory.com/melodic-phrases.html

A phrase is also made up of an Antecedent (Question), Consequent (Answer). A pair of

antecedent and consequent phrase forms a musical period or sentence.

Example

Songs usually begin with a motif (introduction) and build up in phrases, and end with a
coda or cadence. A cadence is a combination of notes that leads the listener to the end
part of the song.

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mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
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Structure of Musical Form
Form in music is the overall structure or the specific relationship among the
elements. Some forms are very simple; other forms entail combination of structures.

The simplest of all forms is called “strophic/Unitary Form” represented by “AAAA”.

It contains only one section which remains the same all throughout the whole composition;
even if the word change, the music stays de same.

Example: Let’s sing the song

Sitsiritsit

Sitsiritsit, alibangbang Mama, mama, namamangka

Salaginto at salagubang Pasakayin yaring bata.
Ang babae sa lansangan Pagdating sa Maynila
Kung gumiri’y parang tandang Ipagpalit ng manika.

Santo Niño sa Pandakan Ale, ale, namamayong

Putoseko sa tindahan Pasukubin yaring sanggol.
Kung ayaw mong magpautang Pagdating sa Malabon
Uubusin ka ng langgam Ipagpalit ng  bagoong.

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mechanical, including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval
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 Some musical compositions have two basic parts or ideas, which called as “Binary or 2-
Part Form.” In this kind of form, musical sections are labelled as “AB.” Sections A and B may be
repeated or combined to create a variety of form in music. Resulting forms could be AB, AAB, ABB, or
AABB.

Example: Row, Row, Row, Your Boat

Part A: Row, row, row, your boat gently down the stream
Part B: Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily life is but a dream.

Composers have certain ideas before they create music. A more complicated music requires a more
organized structural form. This allows the composer to create variations and thematic movement
which will develop new ideas for their compositions.
The musical composition which utilizes a three-part form ABA or ABC is called “Ternary form.” In
this structure, unifying elements and contrasting elements are observed. The music begins with section
A, which is the initial statement, followed by section B is the contrasting element and goes back to
section A, which ends the composition in its original key and provides the unifying component.
Example: Twinkle, Twinkle
Part A: Twinkle……How I wonder what you are
Part B: Up above…..in the sky
Part A: Twinkle……How I wonder what you are.

Source: https://www.cmuse.org/twinkle-twinkle-little-star-song/

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including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
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 On the other hand, Rondo form usually follows a general plan that may be characterized by the
sequence A-B-A-C-A. It’s a natural extension of the 2 forms: Binary Form and Ternary Form and
sometimes altered in its restatements. If Binary Form is A-B and Ternary Form is A-B-A then Rondo
Form is A-B-A-C-A-D-A. Can be 5 parts ABACA or 7-part ABACADA

Round song is a song which can be sung by two or more groups of people singing exactly the
same melody, but each group starts at different time. A round song is a melody that is done in exact
repetition at different times that becomes polyphonic texture when performed as a round.

Examples: Row Your Boat, 3 Blind Mice, Are You Sleeping, Brother John.
Let’s play the ABACA form!

Other Musical Signs

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including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
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Repeat Signs - a repeat sign is a sign that indicates a section should be repeated. If the piece has
one repeat sign alone, then that means to repeat from the beginning, and then continue on (or stop, if
the sign appears at the end of the piece).
(a) Repeat signs- play again what is in between the two markings
(b) 1st and 2nd endings- once you reach the last measure of the 1 st ending you will usually see a repeat
sign. Go back to repeat the material and when you come to the first measure of the 1 st ending, skip
ahead to the 2nd ending section

Da Capo (D.C) – Repeat from the beginning of the piece.

Dal Segno (D.S) – repeat from the segno or sign; point at which a repeated section may begin at. This
symbol usually occurs in the opening or middle sections of a piece.

Coda – marks the place where you skip ahead to the final section of a piece. D.C. al Coda and
D.S. al Coda are used sometimes.

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Another common is D.C. al fine or D.S. al fine , which means that the piece will end
when you see the word Fine written in the music.

Source: https://melodyful.com/complete-list-of-music-symbols-with-their-meaning

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including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
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 Synapse Strengtheners

 Form in music is the overall structure and relationship of the different musical elements.
 A song with a strophic form contains only one section that remains the same
throughout the whole composition.
 Musical compositions that have two distinct basic parts have binary structures.
 Ternary form utilizes a three-part form ABA.
 Complicated music/songs use more complicated forms.
 A rondo is a musical form that follows the sequence ABACADA, where section A is
always referred to as refrain.

References

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functional MRI study of happy and sad emotions in music with and without lyrics. Front.
Psychol. 2:308. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2011.00308
(3) Cai, Y., and Pan, X. (2007). An Experiential Research on How 8 Music Excerpt’ Tempo and
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Quezon City.
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Oxnard Street, Suite 500 Woodland Hills, CA.
(7) Del Castillo-Gloria, L. (1984). Music for the Classroom Teacher. Rex Book Store. Manila Philippines.
(8) Estrella, E. (2019). An introduction to the Elements of Music
(9)Faber, N. Faber, R. and Mcarthur, V. (2011). Piano Adventures: The Basic Piano Method. Dovetree
productions, Inc. USA. And Patterns. GIA Publications, Inc. Chicago.
(10)Gardner, H. (1983). Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences. Basic Books. NewYork.
(11)Gordon, E. (2001). Learning Sequences in Music: Skill, Content,
(12) K to 12 Curriculum Guide in Music, 2012 & 2016
(13)Snell, K and Hidy, D. (2004). Piano Town Level 1 -3 Performance. Kjos Music Press.San Diego
California.
(14) Siruno, T. (2001).General Music Education. Rex Book Store. Manila Philippines.
(15) Richer, M. (2003). Music theory. McGraw-Hill Companies. Chicago USA.
(16)USM Student Manual

“No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by means, electronic or mechanical,
including photocopying, recording or any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in
writing from the University of Southern Mindanao.