h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Entry: Structure In Classical Music - A6811977
Author: ChiefNautilus - U1738401

This an entry to give a brief overview of the most common forms in music, predominantly classical.

Sorry, I didn't notice this here until now. It is very good. The only suggestion I can make at the moment is that you make the sections "The Exposition" etc in the Sonata Form into subheaders:

The Exposition

I disagree; I think all the different forms should be subheaders, and then the sections of sonata form should be smaller subheaders:

The Exposition

This is pretty good!

Yes, that looks much better, - thanks.

You can't subheaders without headers. Subheaders are for breaking up a section that already has headers. A lot of people don't seem to like headers and prefer the look of headers, but the House Style insists on headers.

I think that champagne has gone to your head, Gnomon

You can't have subheaders without headers. Subheaders are for breaking up a section that already has headers. A lot of people don't seem to like headers and prefer the look of subheaders, but the House Style insists on headers.

Is that better?

Lovely

I meant that there's a header called 'Musical Form', and then there are headers underneath that tell different forms. So the 'Musical Form' one should have around it, and the ones of different forms should have around them.

I'm not feeling particularly eloquent either.

I thought subheaders were frowned on in EG entries, even when they seem the obvious thing to do. Something to do with H2G2 mobile.

I shall reserve my commenting for the grammar of the replies, rather than their content, as classical music to me is Aerosmith

(though personally I like a bit of Mahler too).

I started reading the entry but sleep is tickling a the back of my head so shall resume on the morrow.

How about if the headings are 'Single Movement Forms' and 'Multi-Movement Forms' or something similar. The actual forms could then be subheadings. Actually I think this is what echomikeromeo was trying to get at.

Sounds good!

Exactly what I was trying to get towards.

OK, that's been done, I also added a new header to categorise the first part about musical sentences, motive and so on. I called it 'musical ideas' but I'm not sure if I'm too happy with it - I could do with some input.

Hello.

Good Entry!

I just missed two things, but it's of course completely up to you if you want to include them or not:

The first thing I miss are succint examples. Like typical composers, or typical periods where you would find a certain type of structure in a classical piece. (You mention 'Frére Jacques' in Canon)

I miss a rounding off paragraph. A recap, a section with links for further reading. Stuff like that.

Obvious: It's up to you if you want to take my comments aboard or not.

Cheers,

HELL

Before I put my pedant's hat on, let me say that this is a great entry - takes me back to my music theory days...



How about 'Basic Structural Elements', or something like that, for the first section?

This may be a difference in teaching, but I've never heard of motifs being spelled motives.

I'm not sure about ending with '...these are called motives:' as this only introduces one of the following three sub-sections. How about:
'In a story, the letters are arranged in words, clauses and sentences; in music, the notes are arranged in motifs, phrases and sentences.'

'complimenting'
->
'complementing'

'There are no rules however, governing...'
->
'There are no rules, however, governing...'

'Musical forms vary from the simple, to the very complex, from short pieces, to long and from thin textures, to thick.'
->
'Musical forms vary from the simple to the very complex, from short pieces to long, and from thin textures to thick.'

Minuet is sometimes seen as 'menuet' - maybe worth a footnote.

'...they are two short...'
->
'...they are too short...'

'...they can be separate – with each forming...'
->
'...they can be separate, with each forming...'

'‘Frére Jaques’'
->
'‘Frére Jacques’'
(I think - I never did French!)

'...augmentation , diminution or inversion .'
Footnote 2 says 'doubling of the note length, while 3 says 'division of the note length'. I can't remember from my music theory: is augmentation always doubling, or can it be any multiplication of note length?

Footnote 5 needs a full-stop (period).

When you're talking about overtures being used as concert overtures, maybe an example or two might be good? e.g. the William Tell Overture?

The list of movements in The Sonata would be better as a list. (using , I think, though my GuideML isn't great)

'...usual layout for a sonata, however,...'
->
'...usual layout for a sonata; however,...'

In the section about overtures, you talk about quick, slow, quick. Then in the section about Sonatas, you use Fast, Slow, Fast. Unless there's a reason for using 'Fast' instead of 'quick' and initial capitals instead of lower case, I think you'd be better just using one format. (You may have a very good reason - in which case, ignore me )

'...chief composers being, Corelli,...'
->
'...chief composers being Correlli,...'

'...quadruple time (4 time)...'
->
'...quadruple time (4/4 time)...'

You have a space before each footnote, which I don't think is needed.

I agree with Dr. Hell that some examples might be good - I found myself trying to think of examples of each form as I read the entry. Although that *was* good fun, others with a more passing interest might be put off by not being able to auralise (is that the aural equivalent of visualise??) what you're talking about.



Notwithstanding all my points above, I think this is an excellent entry. Thanks for all the work.


- Casper.
(The friendly hootoo )

ps for the long post!

It's 'Frère Jacques' - with an acute accent.

I'll add my name to the petion for examples as well.

Casper, thankyou very much for this. I agree that the grammatical creases need ironing out, together with the spellings, typos and other bits.

I will try and answer some of the more contentious points you have raised:

I think that 'basic structural elements is much better - I will change it to that.

Motive is the term I have always used as supposed to motif. Following an earlier discussion in the musicians guild I had the title change to include 'motif'. I would consider both terms to be musically acceptable.

The problem with changing to ['In a story, the letters are arranged in words, clauses and sentences; in music, the notes are arranged in motifs, phrases and sentences.'] is that it sort of messes up the rest of what I've written and that would all need to be changed as well. I need to think about this one.

Augmentation is a halving of the tempo or 'doubling of each note length' and dimnution is the opposite. I'm pretty sure that those definitions are pretty strict.

I didn't consciously put in 'quick' for overture and 'fast' for sonatas but I've always used thought of it that way and if it helps people differentiate then I can't see any harm in it. If you strongly disagree then please tell me.

I will also endeavour to think of some examples that are not too obscure and put them in.

Right I think that's all of that covered!

Thanks again Capser