Song form: ABA ...................................................................................
Songstructure is frequently based on the ABA form, also called three-part
formor ternary/tertiary form. One of the simplest ways to write in song form
is to simply vary and repeat the melody, as in “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star”
(Figure 13-2).More complicated uses of ABA appears in classical forms.See if you can find the A and B sections in Figure 13-2. Go on, we’ll wait.(If you said the first four measures were part A, the second four measures
were part B, and the final four measures were part A again, you were right. If
not, you should probably start this chapter over again.)Another variation of the ABA form is the AABA form, which is used in the
blues (more on this later in this chapter) and in popular songs such as
“Over the Rainbow,” with the B section working as the bridge linking the
two stretches of A.Arch form: ABCBA ..............................................................................
Music written in archform is made up of parts labeled A, B, and C. In arch form,
the A, B, and C are played sequentially — and then the B section is played for a
second time, followed by the A to end the song. It looks like this: ABCBA.The 20th-century Hungarian composer Béla Bartók used the arch form for
many of his compositions, such as in his Piano Concerto No. 2 and Violin
Concerto No. 2.&
?
c
c
œ œ
œ œ
∑
œ œ ̇
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
œ œ ̇
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
œœ ̇
∑
&
?
œ œ œ œ
∑
œ œ ̇
∑
œ œ
œ œ
∑
œ œ ̇
∑
œ œ œ œ
∑
œœ ̇
∑
Figure 13-2:
“Twinkle,
Twinkle,
Little Star”
has song
(ABA) form.