Skip to main content

What Is Ternary Form in Music?

Loosely defined, a ternary form has three sections that serve to form the overall structure of the piece. A few types of ternary form exist to help further distinguish one type of ternary from the next. The clarification between different types of ternary form has to do with the way in which sections repeat and the manner in which the music moves through different keys.

Simple Ternary

Simple ternary form consists of three sections that do not necessarily link together through chord progressions. Each section may be a completely different idea. This type of ternary form usually follows the pattern: A B A, where each letter represents a different section and musical idea. Simple ternary has a tendency to be very simple and easy to follow due to the limited changing nature of the thematic material. Music needs a certain amount of repetition to create musical connections, and simple ternary makes this possible. Some popular songs consist of simple ternary constructions, such as "Some Day My Prince Will Come."

Compound Ternary

Compound ternary form also consists of a large three-part structure. The difference comes with the presentation of each section to the audience. Compound ternary consists of three sections, each with a simple ternary form or binary form within the section. Binary forms have only two parts, instead of three. For example, the first section of a compound ternary form with an internal ternary form would have an A B A first section; the second section would be C D C and then a return to the original A-B-A section. If the internal structure were binary, then the form would be A-B, followed by C-D, and then a return to A-B.

Expanded Ternary Form

An expanded ternary form occurs when any section repeats. This form does not include any new material; rather, it simply repeats a previous section. Sonata form uses expanded ternary form to repeat the opening section of the sonata. The A section, usually a binary form, repeats to help establish the tonic of the key. Composers in the classical period would do this to establish the thematic and harmonic implications of the opening section. Most commonly, a repeat sign appears at the end of the A section, instructing the performer to return to the beginning and play the section again.

Other Uses

Ternary form also occurs often in dances, such as waltzes and polkas. The marches of John Philip Sousa almost exclusively contain ternary form structures. Baroque arias often will present an idea, drift off into a new B section and then return to the original theme. The scherzo that appears in many symphonies uses a ternary form, as well as the third movement of most classical symphonies, string ensemble works, and sonatas. All of these forms have a basic three-part construction that uses ternary form.
Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Similarities of Classical and Baroque Music

Music has evolved through the centuries and undergone drastic changes. One of the most significant transitions was from the Baroque to the Classical period of music. In this paragraph, I will compare and contrast some of the main features of these two styles, such as ensembles, instrumentation, and counterpoint study. The Baroque and Classical periods of music have many similarities. While the style of music changed drastically, certain key elements remained the same between the two styles. Composers in the Classical period sought to simplify music and create clearly audible musical lines. In contrast, composers from the Baroque period were interested in creating complex and highly ornamented musical lines. The Baroque period occurs from approximately 1600 to 1750, and the Classical period extends from 1750 to 1820. Ensembles Ensembles are groups of musicians that perform together. Both the Baroque and the Classical period had similar types of ensembles, such as operas, orchestras, str...
Post a Comment
Read more

List of Musical Techniques and Their Meanings

Musical techniques are the building blocks of any basic music training. These techniques allow performers to improve their coordination and develop accuracy through repetitive daily exercises. Musical techniques progressively build upon previously learned techniques. Scales Scales form the basis for other musical techniques. Student may study major and minor scales as well as modern scales, such as the whole-tone and octatonic scales. A scale consists of patterns of half steps and whole steps. These whole steps and half-step arrangements will be different for each scale. Scales are musical techniques that can help a performer to play faster and more accurately, and make learning new pieces easier. Chords Chords require knowledge of major and minor scales. Chords come in several different forms that affect the sound. Triads consist of three notes spaced a third apart and classified as major, minor, augmented and diminished chords. Seventh chords build on triads and have an additional no...
Post a Comment
Read more

Why Claude Debussy Never Cared About Music Theory

  Claude Debussy was born on August 22, 1862. So, I felt writing a blog post to celebrate would be appropriate. Debussy was a revolutionary composer who challenged the conventions of Western music. He was influenced by the impressionist painters, the exotic sounds of gamelan music, and the symbolist poets. He created a musical language that was expressive, colorful, and atmospheric. One of the most remarkable aspects of Debussy's music is his use of harmony. He did not follow the rules of tonality and functional harmony that dominated the music of his time. Instead, he used modes, scales, chords, and parallel movements that created a sense of ambiguity and fluidity. He also experimented with timbre, texture, rhythm, and form to create musical images that evoked moods and emotions. Debussy's music can inspire us to think outside the box and explore new possibilities in our own compositions. We can learn from his innovative techniques and his artistic vision. We can also apprecia...
Post a Comment
Read more