Jump to content

Phrase Types In Classical Music


mmf1

Recommended Posts

I know about period being a special kind of musical phrase.Does their exist anymore classified types of phrase in music?Also if they do what is the basic principals to write such phrases in a tonality?

How does rhythmic symmetry works in musical phrases and harmonic balance too.It will be very helpful if someone can answer them in detail.Thanks.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Actually, a period is a higher level of organization than a phrase, not a special kind of phrase.

Levels are: Section, period, phrase, semi-phrase, motif. In some pieces, section and period might merge, or phrases can't be divided clearly into semi-phrases...

Types of phrase: Mostly two, defined by the cadences (inconclusive phrases, acting as questions, and conclusive ones, or answers). Cadences are what you need in order to write phrases in a tonality.

Balance is a matter of the particular style. A classical period would be made up of two phrases, highly symmetrical (say, four bars). First phrase, inconclusive, with slow or static harmonic motion (few chord changes), and second phrase conclusive with active harmonic rhythm (lots of chord changes). Baroque and Romantic phrases and periods can have their own particularities. Of course, phrases do not need to be 4 bars long, and periods do not need to have two equal lenght, symmetrical phrases; also they can have more phrases than just two.

As per rhythm, question and answer might share similar motives (both rhythmic and melodic); the most extreme case would be when they are identical except for the ending, or they can be contrasting.

A link with some explanations examples. Very basic stuff, but it might help:

http://www.teoria.com/tutorials/forms/phrases-periods.php

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 7 years later...

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...