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Why is the form important?
Well, for me it's important if I want to memorize music - it helps to know up front what is repeated, what is partially repeated and what is completely different.
Most music has parts designated with letters - starting with A, B, C, etc...
⬅ Common Forms
1 Phrase = 1 Part, so AABB = 'A' phrase, 'A' phrase repeated, 'B' phrase, 'B' phrase repeated.
BUT, when breaking music down into parts, I'm afraid I might be seeing phrases as smaller bits than others* - so how much is too much?
*Keep in mind, unless I note otherwise - these are what I'm hearing:
From what I read at Music Theory Academy, early 'Classical' waltzes had an AB structure which later became much more complex with long intro, coda & more, but what about other genres?
I think many waltzes are just AABB, but I've been learning another handful of Celtic CRITTER tunes, including The Unicorn Waltz - which caught my attention not only because it's in E minor, but it's got an unusual waltz form that's interesting - AAB1B2C1C2DD, or maybe it would be considered just AABCDD? ...btw, the sheet music at thesession.org is VERY accurate for this tune!
McDonnell's Traditional Irish Music Slow Session site talks about the waltz rhythm, but not the structure - yet shows the example of The South Wind, AAB1B2 (B2 has last 3 measures different than the B1 part). Would some people consider this just AABB?
I'm wondering because Kevin Burke teaches Stella's Waltz at FIDDLEVIDEO.com & I hear more phrases than just AABB (which he says it is)!
...so, NOW I have to question if what I'm hearing is not right, or does he just likes to simplify things (?)
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Anyway, this last one is MUCH more complex than what I'm used to! My brain's about ready to explode, so if anyone can help me make sense of THIS waltz - it would help me tremendously to understand it's form!!!
- Emily
For more info:
What Is Form In Music? A Complete Guide - Hello Music Theory
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Folk songs & Rock ballads, that I heard on the radio growing up, still give me joy today - and I've posted many songs throughout the forum (in different genres) that have fabulous melodies to play on our bowed string instruments.
I really should learn more about different song structures. In post 7, "Ideas about making original music Thread", ABitRusty posted a good video from Jameson Nathan Jones. The <a style="color: #0000ff" href="
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