Episode 34 describes the different types of sections of music that you will need to be able to identify in multiple choice questions for the exam.
Episode 34 describes the different types of sections of music that you will need to be able to identify in multiple choice questions for the exam (1:03). Hear examples of these common formal sections in “Ubi Caritas” (3:42) and an APsolutely unique song parody (5:01).
Question of the day: What does al segno mean? (10:47)
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Hi and welcome to the APsolute Recap: Music Theory Edition. Today’s episode will recap Common Formal Sections
Lets Zoom out:
We’re in Unit 8 Modes and Forms
Topic 8.3
Our Big idea is form
Common formal sections are labels we place on different movements of music. These can include an introduction, interlude, bridge, verse, chorus,refrain, coda and codetta. Some of these terms will be labeled with a symbol, or musical navigation marker. On the AP Music Theory exam, you will not be asked to label these common formal sections on your own. The terms will likely appear in multiple choice questions with a musical excerpt.
Lets Zoom in:
An introduction, or the initial measures of music, can be instrumental, vocal or both. It can have music that is borrowed from the melodic passages from the remainder of the piece, or completely different. Music does not have to have an introduction.
Interludes are varying musical motives that happen between other formal sections. They typically are instrumental and are closely related to the function of a bridge in music.
Bridges are sections of music that link other sections like a chorus or verse. They will be related, but also have new motives. Oftentimes bridges will include vocals.
Verses are vocal lines that will repeat a melody with new lyrics with each new verse. Verses typically follow an introduction and precede either a second verse or a chorus.
A chorus will be a section that repeats in melody, harmony and lyrics almost identically each time it appears in a song. It is the part you all want to sing along with and is stuck in your head.
Choruses typically come after verses.
Refrains are similar to a chorus, and are typically a shorter segment than a chorus. Refrains sometimes come at the beginning of a song, followed by verses in a pattern. This is often found in church music.
Codas are the endcaps to music. They will be labeled with a circle with an overlapping cross. Codas will have extra direction to it, like: D.C. al Coda. This means da capo al coda, play from the head or the top until the coda. Then you’d follow the coda symbol to the identical one seen at the end of the piece. Codettas are simply small codas, and function in the same way.
Time for some examples:
“Ubi Caritas” is one of the oldest hymns dating back to the early 8th century. This example shows the refrain: (0:02-0:11) then it goes into the first verse (0:20-1:15). It immediately follows with the refrain, and then the second verse and so on.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-LQve92U1o
Here is the introduction to my next set of examples: (instrument playing)
Verse 1 (I close my eyes and I can see a verse that’s sheeped out nice for me ba ba ba ba ba…)
Pre-chorus (They can say, they can say AP tests are crazy. They can say they can say we’ve lost our minds, I don’t care, I don’t care if my mind becomes a little hazy, we can live in a world where studying can happen online)
Chorus (‘cause every night I lie in bed, binging the best podcast ever said, a million FRQs are keeping me awake, I think of what the score could be, a vision of the one i’d like to see, i’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake, I’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake)
interlude (instrument playing)
Verse 2 (ba ba ba..)
Pre-chorus (They can say, they can say AP tests are crazy. They can say they can say we’ve lost our minds, I don’t care, I don’t care if my mind becomes a little hazy, we can live in a world where studying can happen online)
chorus (‘cause every night I lie in bed, binging the best podcast ever said, a million FRQs are keeping me awake, I think of what the score could be, a vision of the one I’d like to see, I’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake, oh I’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake)
Bridge (However big, however small, let me sight-sing it all. ba ba ba...You may be right, you may be wrong, ba ba ba…)
Chorus, slightly altered for the ending (‘cause every night I lie in bed, binging the best podcast ever said, a million FRQs are keeping me awake, A million FRQs, A million FRQs
I think of what the score could be, a vision of the one I’d like to see, I’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake, oh I’ve got to practice more dictations for goodness sake)
Did you notice that I ended with a Coda or Codetta?
To recap……
Common formal sections in music include, but are not limited to: introduction, interlude, bridge, verse, chorus, refrain, coda, and codetta.
Coming up next on the Apsolute RecAP Music Theory Edition: Modes and Form Listening Identification Quiz
Today’s Question of the day is about musical navigation markers.
Question: What does al segno mean?