1. Elements of Music: Form
Common Musical Forms
Patterns of Beats: Musical Phrases
Contrast
Repetition
Listeners expect music to unfold in
predictable ways, but also enjoy the
unexpected. Composers use Repetition
and Contrast in their musical structure.
Form is music’s blueprint, and shows
how musical events are combined.

2. Elements of Music: Form
Common Musical Forms
Musical Phrases
Contrast
“The Rivals” by James Stephens
Repetition
I heard a bird at dawn
Singing sweetly on a tree,
That the dew was on the lawn, And the wind was on the lea;
But I didn’t listen to him,
For he didn’t sing to me!
I didn’t listen to him,
For he didn’t sing to me
That the dew was on the lawn,
And the wind was on the lea!
I was singing at the time
Just as prettily as he!
I was singing all the time,
Just as prettily as he,
About the dew upon the lawn,
And the wind upon the lea!
So I didn’t listen to him,
As he sang upon a tree!

3. Elements of Music: Form
Common Musical Forms
Musical Phrases
Repetition
“Mother to Son” by Langston Hughes
Contrast
Well, son, I’ll tell you:
Life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.
It’s had tacks in it,
And splinters,
And boards torn up,
And places with no carpet on the floor –
Bare.
But all the time
I’se been climbin’ on,
And reachin’ landin’s,
And turnin’ corners,
And sometimes goin’ in the dark where there ain’t been no light.
So, boy, don’t you turn back;
Don’t you set down on the steps
‘Cause you find it kinder hard.
Don’t you fall now –
For I’se stil goin’, honey,
I’se still climbin’,
And life for me ain’t been no crystal stair.

4. Elements of Music: Form
Common Musical Forms
Contrast
Repetition
REPETITION > UNITY
CONTRAST > VARIETY
Musical Phrases
The smallest unit of musical Form is the Phrase. A phrase
is typically about what one can sing in one breath.
Composers repeat phrases to unify their work, and
introduce contrasting sections to add interest.
This creates completed sections of music, to be
developed further.
THE U.S. CAPITOL BUILDING IS A MODEL IN ABA FORM.

5. Elements of Music: Form
Musical Phrases
Repetition
Form: A Blueprint
AB – simple two part form
ABA – three part form
AABA 32 Bar Song Form
Common Musical Forms
Sonata Form - expanded ABA used in
the first movements of multi-movement
works like symphonies and concertos. It
includes a Statement, Fantasia and
Restatement
Theme and Variations
Rondo
12 Bar Blues Form

6. Examples
Architecture makes a good comparison to Form in music. Repetition and contrast are
used to unify and add interest to structures. Some structures are built on familiar shapes
or symbols like the cathedral (upper right).
The Sydney Opera House (left) is an
architectural “Theme and Variations”.

7. In More Depth
Form in Popular Song: Verse, Chorus, Intro, Bridge, Coda, etc.

8. Assessment