Music (Greek μουσική, adjective from Greek μούσα - muse) is an art for which the means of embodying artistic images are sound and silence, organized in a special way in time. Musical works can be divided into genres, movements and styles. The criteria for such a division can be rhythm, instruments used, techniques and other parameters.

· Folk music (English folk music) - the musical and poetic creativity of the people, an integral part of folk art (folklore), existing, as a rule, in oral (unwritten) form, passed on from generation to generation.

· Sacred music - musical works associated with texts of a religious nature, intended for performance during church services or in everyday life.

· Classical music – this is often called “academic” music, which is in relation to continuity primarily with the musical genres and forms that emerged in Europe in the 17th-19th centuries (opera, symphony, sonata, etc.).

· Latin American music is a generalized name for the musical styles and genres of Latin American countries, as well as the music of people from these countries.

· Blues - “work song”, shouts in the rituals of African religious cults (English (ring) shout), spirituals (Christian chants in a special manner), shants and ballads (short poetic stories). In many ways he influenced modern popular music, especially such genres as “pop”, “jazz”, “rock and roll”, “soul”.

· Jazz is a form of musical art that arose in the late 19th - early 20th centuries in the USA as a result of the synthesis of African and European cultures and subsequently became widespread. The characteristic features of the musical language of jazz initially were improvisation, polyrhythm and a unique set of techniques for performing rhythmic texture - swing.

· Country is the most widespread type of North American folk music, and is not inferior in popularity to pop music in the United States.

· Chanson, romance, art song - a song genre that arose in the middle of the 20th century in different countries. Its distinctive features are the combination of the author of the music, the text and the performer in one person, guitar accompaniment, the priority of the significance of the text over the music, and the focus on collective singing by non-professionals.

· Electronic music is a broad genre of music that refers to music created using electronic musical instruments and technologies (most often using special computer programs).

· Rock is a general name for a number of trends in popular music. The word “rock” - (translated from English as “pump, sway, sway”) - in this case indicates the rhythmic sensations characteristic of these directions associated with a certain form of movement, by analogy with “roll”, “twist”, “swing” ", "shake", etc.

You have found yourself in the music genres section, where we will get acquainted with each musical direction in more detail. We will describe what it is, why it is needed and what features it has. Also at the very end there will be articles in this section that will describe each direction in more detail.

What are music genres

Before discussing what genres of music are, the following should be mentioned. We need a certain coordinate system so that we can put all phenomena into it. The most serious and global level in this coordinate system is the concept of style or art-historical system.

There is a style from the Middle Ages, Renaissance, Baroque or Romanticism. Moreover, in each specific era, this concept covers all arts (literature, music, painting, and so on).

However, music has its own categories within each style. There is a system of genres, musical forms and means of expression.

What is a genre?

Each era gives musicians and listeners a certain set of stage venues. Moreover, each site has its own rules of the game. These sites may disappear over time or remain for some time.

New groups of listeners with new interests are emerging - new stages are emerging, new genres are emerging.

Let's say, in the era of the European Middle Ages, until approximately the end of the 11th century, the only such stage for professional musicians was the church. Time and place of worship.

This is where the genres of church music take shape. And the most important of them (mass and mathet) will go far into the future.

If we take the late Middle Ages, the era of the Crusades, then a new stage appears - a feudal castle, a feudal courtyard of an aristocrat, a court holiday or simply a place of leisure.

And here the genre of secular song arises.

For example, the 17th century literally explodes with fireworks of new musical genres. Here things arise that go far ahead of our time and will still remain after us.

For example, opera, oratorio or cantata. In instrumental music, this is an instrumental concerto. Even such a term as symphony appears. Although maybe it was built a little differently than it is now.

Genres of chamber music emerge. And underneath it all lies the emergence of new stage venues. For example, an opera house, a concert hall or a richly decorated salon of a city aristocratic house.

Before you start, be sure to start exploring different directions. This then translates very well in practice. It will be especially useful when creating something new!

Musical form

The next level is musical form. How many parts are there in the product? How is each part organized, how many sections does it have and how are they connected to each other? This is what we mean by the concept of musical form.

Let's say opera is a genre. But one opera can be in two acts, another in three, and there are operas in five acts.

Or a symphony.

Most familiar European symphonies are constructed in four movements. But let’s say that Berlioz’s symphony Fantastique has 5 movements.

Expressive means

The next level is a system of musical expressive means. Melody in its unity with rhythm.

Rhythm is the deep organizing force of all musical sound. It underlies the existence of music. Because through rhythm, human life is connected with reality, with the cosmos.

Many labor movements are rhythmic. Especially in agriculture. Much is rhythmic in the processing of stone and metals.

The rhythm itself appears, perhaps, before the melody. We can say that rhythm generalizes, and melody individualizes.

The feeling of rhythm, like some kind of magic, arises in the very early stages of civilization. And later, in the era of antiquity, such a feeling is recognized as an idea of ​​​​the universal connection of phenomena, which is rhythmic.

Rhythm is associated with number. And for the Greeks, number was an extremely important idea of ​​the world order. And this whole idea of ​​rhythm stuck for a very long time.

At the beginning of the 17th century, the German composer Michael Pritorius spoke of the early Italian experiments in opera (there was no ordered rhythm): “This music is without connections and measure. She is an affront to God’s established order!”

The nature of the movement is fast, brisk, moderate and calm. They also set the tone for any superstructure that is made on them. There is also a sense of universal connection here. 4 sides of movement character, 4 cardinal directions, 4 temperaments.

If we go into even more detail, then this is timbre or sound coloring. Or let's say how the melody is pronounced. Distinctly dissected or coherent.

Melody, rhythm and everything else appears as a direct emotional response to reality. And they take shape in those infinitely distant times in the primitive communal system, when a person has not yet realized his own self in comparison with other selves or with nature.

But as soon as class society appears, a distance arises between one’s self and other selves, between self and nature. And then music genres, musical forms, and styles begin to take shape.

Genres of chamber music

Before talking about the genres of chamber music, let's understand the direction. Chamber music is music performed by a small number of performers for a small number of listeners.

Previously, such music was very often performed at home. For example, with your family. This is where they came up with the name chamber. From Latin camera means room. That is, small, home or room music.

There is also such a thing as a chamber orchestra. This is a smaller version (usually no more than 10 people) of a regular orchestra. Well, there aren’t many listeners either. Usually these are relatives, acquaintances and friends.

folk song- the simplest and most widespread genre of chamber music. Previously, very often many grandparents sang various folk songs to their children and grandchildren. The same song could be sung with different words. As if adding something of your own.

However, the melody itself generally remained unchanged. Only the text of the folk song changed and improved.

Many people's favorite romances- This is also a genre of chamber music. Usually they performed a small vocal piece. It was usually accompanied by a guitar. That’s why we really love such lyrical songs with a guitar. Many people probably know about them and have already heard them more than once.

Ballad- this is a kind of narrative about various exploits or dramas. Ballads were often performed in taverns. As a rule, they praised the exploits of various heroes. Sometimes ballads were used before an upcoming battle to raise the morale of people.

Of course, in such songs certain moments were often embellished. But in essence, without additional imagination, the very significance of the ballad would decrease.

Requiem- This is a funeral mass. This kind of mourning choral singing is performed in Catholic churches. In our country, the requiem was usually used as a tribute to the memory of folk heroes.

- song without Words. Usually intended for one singer as a training exercise. For example, to develop a vocalist's voice.

Serenade- a genre of chamber music that was performed for a beloved. Usually men performed them under the windows of their beloved women and girls. As a rule, such songs praised the beauty of the fair sex.

Genres of instrumental and vocal music

Below you will find the main genres of instrumental and vocal music. For each direction I will give you short descriptions. Let's touch on the basic definition of each type of music a little more.

Genres of vocal music

There are several genres of vocal music. It is worth saying that the direction itself is the oldest in the history of the development of music. After all, it is the main key for the transition of literature into music. That is, literary words began to be used in musical form.

Of course, these words were given the main role. Due to this, such music began to be called vocal. A little later, instrumental music appeared.

In vocal music, in addition to vocals, various instruments can also be used. However, in this direction their role is relegated to the background.

Here is a list of the main genres of vocal music:

• Oratorio- a very large work for soloists, orchestra or choir. Typically, such works dealt with problems of a religious nature. A little later, secular oratorios appeared.
• Opera- a huge dramatic work that combines the genres of instrumental and vocal music, choreography and painting. A special role here is given to various solo numbers (aria, monologue, and so on).
• Chamber music- it was mentioned above.

Genres of instrumental music

Instrumental music- these are compositions that are performed without the participation of a vocalist. Hence the name instrumental. That is, it is performed only with the help of instruments.

Very often, many artists in their albums use instrumentals as bonus tracks in the album. That is, several of the most popular compositions can be selected and then their versions without vocals can be recorded.

Or they can select all the songs on the album. In this case, the album is released in two versions. This is usually done to increase the value of the product and raise its price.

There is a list for certain genres of instrumental music:

• Dance music- usually simple music for dancing
• Sonata– used as a solo or duet for chamber music
• Symphony- harmonious sound for symphony orchestra

Genres of Russian folk songs

Let's talk about the genres of Russian folk songs. They reflect all the charm of the soul of the Russian people. Typically, such musical works praise the nature of the native land, heroes and ordinary workers. The joys and troubles of the Russian people are also mentioned.

Here is a list of the main genres of Russian folk songs:

• Labor songs- chanted while working to facilitate a person’s work activity. That is, with such songs it was much easier for the workers to work. They set the rhythm of the work. Such musical works reflected the basic life of the working class people. Labor shouts were often used for work.
• Ditties- a very common genre of folk music. As a rule, this is a short quatrain with a repeating melody. Chatushki carried a great meaning of the Russian word. They expressed the basic mood of the people.
• Calendar songs- used on various calendar holidays. For example, on Christmas or New Year's Eve. This musical genre was also well used for fortune telling or during the changing seasons.
• Lullaby- gentle, simple and affectionate songs that mothers sang to their children. As a rule, in such songs mothers introduced their children to the world around them.
• Family songs- used at various family holidays. This genre reflected very well at weddings. It was also used at the birth of a child, when a son was sent to the army, and so on. It is worth saying that such songs were accompanied by a certain ritual. All this together helped protect against dark forces and various troubles.
• Lyrical compositions— in such works the difficult lot of the Russian people is mentioned. For example, the difficult life of women and the difficult life of ordinary peasants is very often mentioned.

Genres of modern music

Now let's talk about the genres of modern music. There are quite a lot of them. However, they all depart from the three main directions in modern music. So we'll talk a little about them.

Rock

Rock is popular today. It may not be the same as before, but in our time it has become firmly entrenched. Therefore, it is impossible not to mention it. And the direction itself gave impetus to the birth of many genres. Here are some of them:

• Folk rock- elements of folk songs are well used
• Pop rock- music for a very wide audience
• Hard rock- heavier music with a harsh sound

Pop

Popular music also covers many genres that are often used in modern music:

• House- electronic music performed on a synthesizer
• Trance- electronic music with a predominance of sad and cosmic melodies
• Disco– dance music with abundant rhythmic drum and bass sections

Rap

In recent years, rap has been gaining momentum quite well. In fact, this direction has practically no vocals. Basically they don’t sing here, but rather read. This is where the phrase rap came from. Here is a list of some genres:

• Rapcore- a mixture of rap and heavy music
• Alternative rap- a mixture of traditional rap with other genres
• Jazz rap- a mixture of rap and jazz

Electronic music genres

Let's look a little at the main genres of electronic music. Of course, we won’t touch on everything here. However, we will analyze some of them. Here is the list:

• House(house) - appeared in the 80s of the last century. It originates from the disco of the 70s. Appeared thanks to the experiments of DJs. Main features: repeating beat rhythm, 4x4 time signature and sampling.
• Deep house(deep house) - lighter, atmospheric music with a deep, dense sound. Includes elements of jazz and ambient. The production uses solo keyboards, electric organ, piano and female vocals (mostly). Developing since the late 80s. Vocals in this genre always take a secondary place. The first one contains melodies and sounds to depict the mood.
• Garage house(garage house) - the same as deep house, only vocals take the main role.
• New disco(nu disco) is a more modern musical genre based on the renewed interest in disco music. Nowadays it is very popular to return to the roots. Therefore, this genre is based on the music of the 70s and 80s. The genre itself appeared in the early 2000s. Synthesized sounds similar to the sounds of real instruments are used to create disco of the 70s and 80s.
• Soul full house(soulful house) - the basis is taken from house with a 4x4 rhythmic pattern, as well as vocals (full or in the form of samples). The vocals here are mostly soulful and very beautiful. Plus the use of a variety of musical instruments. Such a rich presence of instruments brings the music of this genre to life very well.

Rap genres

Let's move on to consider the main genres of rap. This direction is also actively developing. Therefore, it would be nice to touch on it too. Here is a small list of genres:

• Comedy Rap- intelligent and funny music for entertainment. Has a combination of real hip-hop and regular humor. Comedy rap emerged in the 80s.
• Dirty rap- dirty rap, characterized by a pronounced heavy bass. Basically this music is intended to excite the audience at various parties.
• gangsta rap- music with a very hard sound. The genre of music appeared in the late 80s. Elements from hardcore rap were taken as the parent basis of this trend.
• Hardcore rap— aggressive music with noisy samples and heavy beats. Appeared in the late 80s.

Genres of classical music

There are works divided into many genres of classical music. They became especially widespread in the 18th century. Here is a partial list of destinations:

• Overture- a short instrumental introduction to a performance, plays or works.
• Sonata- a work for chamber performers, which is used as a solo or duet. Consists of three parts connected to each other.
• Etude- a small instrumental piece designed to hone the technique of performing music.
• Scherzo- the beginning of music with a lively and rapid tempo. Mainly conveys to the listener humorous and unexpected moments in the work.
• Opera, symphony, oratorio- they were mentioned above.

Rock music genres

Now let's look at some genres of rock music other than those already mentioned above. Here is a short list with a description:

• Gothic rock- rock music with a gothic and gloomy direction. Appeared in the early 1980s.
• Grunge- music with a solid guitar sound and dark depressive lyrics. Appeared somewhere in the mid-1980s.
• Folk rock— was formed as a result of mixing rock with folk music. Appeared in the mid-1960s.
• Viking rock- punk rock with elements of folk music. Such works reveal the history of Scandinavia and the Vikings themselves.
• Trashcore- faster hardcore. The works are usually small.

Genres of sacred and secular music

Let's look at some genres of sacred and secular music. To begin with, let's define these two directions. You will find out what it is and what is the difference. After that, we'll go through several genres.

Spiritual music

Spiritual music is intended to heal the soul. Such works are used mainly for services in churches. That's why some people also call it church music. Here is a short list of her genres:

• Liturgy- Easter or Christmas service. Performed by a choir, and can also include additional soloists. As a rule, various scenes of events from the Holy Scriptures were inserted into the liturgical drama. Elements of theatricality were often used.
• Antiphon- repetitive music performed by alternating several choral groups. For example, the same verses can be performed alternately by two faces. There are several types of antiphons. For example, holidays (on holidays), sedate (Sundays), everyday, and so on.
• Rondel- was created to an original melody in the form of a special form with the next introduction of vocals to the same motive.
• Proprium- part of the Mass that varies depending on the church calendar.
• Ordinarium- an unaltered part of the mass.

Secular music

Secular music is recognized to show the national character of different cultures. Mainly the main image and life of a common man was described. This type of music was very common among traveling musicians in the Middle Ages.

Genre(fr. genre) is a general concept that surrounds the most essential properties and connections of phenomena in the world of art, a set of formal and substantive features of a work. All existing works reflect certain conditions, while participating in the creation of a definition of the concept of genre.

Arioso- a small aria with a melody of a melodious, declamatory or song nature.

Aria- a completed episode in an opera, operetta, oratorio or cantata, performed by a soloist accompanied by an orchestra.

Ballad- solo vocal compositions using the texts of poetic works and preserving their main features; instrumental compositions.

Ballet- a type of stage art, the content of which is revealed in dance and musical images.

Blues- a jazz song with sad, lyrical content.

Bylina- Russian folk epic song-legend.

Vaudeville- a fun theatrical play with musical numbers. 1) a type of sitcom with couplet songs, romances, dances; 2) the final verse song in a vaudeville play.

Hymn- a solemn song.

Jazz- a type of improvisational dance music.

Disco- a musical style with simplified melody and rigid rhythm.

Invention- a small musical piece in which some original discovery in the field of melodic development and form-building is essential.

Sideshow- a small piece of music performed between parts of a work.

Intermezzo- a small free-form play, as well as an independent episode in an opera or other musical work.

Cantata- a large vocal-instrumental work of a solemn nature, usually for soloists, choir and orchestra.

Cantilena- melodious, smooth melody.

chamber music - (literally “room”). chamber works are either pieces for solo instruments: songs without words, variations, sonatas, suites, preludes, impromptu, musical moments, nocturnes, or various instrumental ensembles: trio, quartet, quintet, etc., where respectively three, four, five instruments and all parts are equally important, requiring careful finishing from the performers and composer.

Capriccio- a virtuoso instrumental piece of an improvisational nature with an unexpected change of images and moods.

Concert- a work for one or (less often) several solo instruments and an orchestra, as well as public performance of musical works.

Madrigal- a small musical and poetic work of love and lyrical content in the 14th-16th centuries.

March- a piece of music with a measured tempo and clear rhythm, usually accompanying a collective procession.

Musical- a musical work that combines elements of opera and operetta; ballet, pop music.

Nocturne- in the 18th - early 19th centuries. a multi-part instrumental work, mostly for wind instruments, usually performed outdoors in the evening or at night, from the 19th century. a short lyrical instrumental piece.

Oh yeah- a solemn piece of music dedicated to some significant event or person.

Opera- a musical and dramatic work based on the synthesis of words, stage action and music.

Operetta- a musical and stage comedy work, including vocal and dance scenes, orchestral accompaniment and spoken episodes.

Oratorio- a work for soloists, choir and orchestra, intended for concert performance.

House is a style and movement in electronic music. House is a descendant of the dance styles of the early post-disco era (electro, high energy, soul, funk, etc.) The main difference between house music is the repeated rhythm beat, usually in 4/4 time, and sampling - working with sound inserts, which are repeated from time to time in music, partially coinciding with its rhythm. One of the most important modern substyles of house is progressive house.

Choir - a piece for a large singing group. choral works are divided into two large groups - with or without instrumental (or orchestral) accompaniment (a cappella).

Song- a poetic work intended for singing. its musical form is usually couplet or strophic.

Medley- a play composed of excerpts from several popular melodies.

Play- a completed musical work of small size.

Rhapsody- a musical (instrumental) work on the themes of folk songs and epic tales, as if reproducing the performance of a rhapsode.

Requiem- funeral choral work (funeral mass).

Romance- a lyrical work for voice with musical accompaniment.

R&B (Rhythm and Blues, English Rhythm & Blues) is a musical style of song and dance genre. originally, a generalized name for mass music based on blues and jazz styles of the 1930s and 1940s. Currently, the abbreviation rhythm and blues (English r&b) is used to refer to modern rhythm and blues.

Rondo- a piece of music in which the main part is repeated several times.

Serenade- a lyrical song to the accompaniment of a lute, mandolin or guitar, performed in honor of a beloved.

Symphony- a piece of music for orchestra, written in sonata cyclic form, the highest form of instrumental music.

Symphonic Music- unlike chamber music, it is performed in large rooms and is intended for a symphony orchestra. symphonic works are characterized by depth and versatility of content, often grand scale and at the same time accessibility of musical language.

Consonance- a combination of several sounds of different pitches sounding simultaneously.

Sonata- a piece of music consisting of three or four movements of varying tempo and character.

Sonatina- small sonata.

Suite- a work for one or two instruments from several dissimilar pieces connected by a common concept.

Symphonic Poem- a genre of symphonic music that expresses the romantic idea of ​​a synthesis of arts. A symphonic poem is a one-movement orchestral work that allows for various sources of program (literature and painting, less often - philosophy or history; paintings of nature).

Toccata- a virtuoso musical piece for a keyboard instrument in fast movement and a clear tempo.

Tone- a sound of a certain pitch.

Touche- a short musical greeting.

Overture is an orchestral piece designed to serve as an introduction to opera, ballet, and drama. in their imagery and form, many classical overtures are close to the first movements of symphonies.

Fantasy- a free-form musical piece.

Elegy- a musical piece of a sad nature.

Etude- a piece of music based on virtuosic passages.

The most general characteristic of genres, directly addressing their content, is given already in the names: lyrical, dramatic, epic music. This also includes program music.

For more specific genre characteristics, many special names have historically been developed. Sonata, symphony, overture, suite, concerto, poem, fantasy, ballad - all these are genre names of more or less large works.

Opera, cantata, oratorio, symphony - here we mean not only performing means, but also the essence of these genres.

A more specific genre characteristic is given by double titles. For example, lyrical-psychological, epic, opera or symphony; pastoral sonata or dramatic poem.

There are countless genre titles for works of a smaller scale. For example, songs without words by Mendelssohn; preludes, etudes, nocturnes, ballads by Chopin; Rhapsodies by Liszt; etudes-paintings by Rachmaninov, fairy tales by Medtner and Prokofiev.

Some of these titles are general in nature, while others are more genre specific. For example, French and English suites by Bach, “Norwegian Dances” by Grieg, “Italian Capriccio” by Tchaikovsky, “Aragonese Jota” by Glinka.

In the works of romantics there are a wide variety of software titles with a more individualized genre characteristic. Programmaticity is the most characteristic feature of the romantic era. The appeal to programming was caused by the desire of romantic composers to directly express a specific idea, image, character in the language of music, and to bring music closer to other arts, literature, and painting. The complexity of the reflected phenomena, the novelty of means and forms - all this required the author's instructions that would direct attention and help to correctly understand the meaning of the work. Composers have embodied this common desire in different ways. Berlioz himself wrote an extensive program for his symphonies, like an opera libretto. Liszt's works were inspired by images of world literature and took their names. For example, the symphonies “Faust” (each part has a name: “Faust”, “Gretchen”, “Mephistopheles”), “Dante” based on Dante’s “Divine Comedy”; symphonic poems “Orpheus” - ancient mythology, “Hamlet” according to Shakespeare, “Battle of the Huns” according to the fresco by the German artist Katzlbach. Schumann came up with a title characteristic of a given play, indicating a specific content, or expressed a general poetic idea or intention in the title. For example, the piano cycles “Butterflies”, “Flowers”. And sometimes, detailing the content, he gives each play in the cycle an individual title. This applies to the miniatures “Pierrot”, “Pleasant Meetings”, “Tender Confessions”, “Coquette”, etc., included in the piano cycle “Carnival”.

In non-programmed music, the names of dance genres are most defined. Chopin in his piano work limited himself to defining the genre of the work: nocturne, ballad, polonaise, mazurka, waltz.

Genre, as a generalization of musical and social practice, is an essential means of expressing the artistic image in musical literature. For example:

The march acquired great importance in the works of Beethoven and Schubert – a genre associated with the era of the French Revolution, the revolutionary movement of the masses, and the era of the Napoleonic wars;

Folk song and dance genres in the works of Russian composers of the 19th-20th centuries. For example: the Mazurka dance - as a means of creating national color - Glinka. Opera “Ivan Susanin”, Act II; ditties - as a means of musical characterization of the image in connection with the text in the song - Sviridov. Poem “In Memory of S. Yesenin”, part VII “Peasant Children”.

As the content of social thought changes, musical genres typical of a given time also change - some die out (for example, Gregorian chant, ricercar) and others appear (art song, rock opera).

A musical work, like a work of any other form of art, is unity of content and form.

Option I

Music content– display of reality in specific musical images. Artistic, etc. musical images appear in the creative imagination not on their own, but as a result perception reality. This perception does not automatically transfer the phenomena of reality into art (naturalism), but transforms them into artistic images through the creative processing of life impressions. Therefore, the artistic reflection of reality (even in the fine arts) is a reflection of the artist’s generalized attitude to reality, his worldview.

Musical images- the result of this kind of sensory generalization, which takes place in the spiritual world of man and creates the basis for both the creative imagination of the composer and the ethical perception of the listener. Music the image is born in musical form and is perceived as a phenomenon of a musical order. Therefore, musical images are not only a product of reality, but also a product of musical culture with all its historically developing musical expressive means that form a “musical language.”

Option II

Reality is reflected in art in form artistic images. The main features of an artistic image are usually given at the beginning of the work, but the artistic image is fully revealed in the process of developing the content. The initial presentation of an artistic image in music is called theme song(a construction that serves as the basis for a further development process).

Concept musical form has two meanings: broad, general aesthetic and narrow, technological.

In a broad sense– the form is a holistic, organized system of musical expressive means with the help of which the content of the work is embodied (a set of musical expressive means that reveal the ideological and figurative content of the work). The components of musical form in this meaning are not only the structure (type of composition) of the work as a whole and its parts, but also texture - the way of presenting musical material - (melody, harmony, rhythm - in their unity), timbre and register means, dynamic shades, tempo, methods of sound production, etc.

In a narrow sense- structure of the work (type of composition - the structure of a musical or other artistic work, arising on the basis of the relationship of its most important elements. The composition of the work is purposeful and helps to express the composer’s intention); construction of a musical work, the relationship of its parts.

Option I

Musical development in the work continuously. Continuity is maintained by internal dynamics, causing a constant expectation of further development, until its final completion.

At the same time, music is characterized articulation, dismemberment through cadences, stops at long durations, pauses. These musical punctuation marks, forming roundness and completeness of individual constructions, are called caesuras (the moment of division between any parts of the form).

Due to its similarity in this respect to verbal speech (chapters, paragraphs, phrases and even words), musical development is called musical speech(phrases, sentences, period).

The main signs of caesura:

Stopping on a long sound;

Repetition of melodic-rhythmic figures;

Changing dynamic shades, registers, etc.

The caesura is usually most clearly expressed in the main voice.

The part of the form delimited by caesurae is called construction(regardless of the duration - from a beat to hundreds of beats). Parts of the form, i.e. constructions separated from each other by caesuras are at the same time in unity, thanks to which they together form musical whole.

The division of a relatively complete musical thought into parts and their subordination to each other (unity) - musical syntax.

Option II

Syntax(Greek - composition) is an area in grammar devoted to the study of semantic connections in verbal speech, the study of phrases and sentences.

In music there are also connections between the individual sounds that form musical phrases, and between the phrases themselves. These connections arise on the basis of mode, meter rhythm, form of melodic movement, etc. - all this speaks about syntax of musical speech.

A musical work can be compared to a literary work. A story, a novel, has a plan, an idea and content, which becomes clear with gradual presentation. Moreover, each thought is expressed in complete sentences, which are separated from each other by dots. Parts of a sentence are separated by commas.

In a musical work, the content is also not presented in a continuous stream of sounds. Listening to music, we perceive in it moments of division - caesura. Caesura is the moment at which the separation of one construction from another occurs. Caesuras have characteristic features:

Change of registers, texture, melodic movement, tempo, timbre;

The emergence of new melodic material or its repetition;

A caesura between a construction and its literal or varied construction.

Just as in colloquial speech a thought is expressed in sentences that consist of individual words, so in melody sentences are divided into smaller structures - phrases And motives(component elements of musical forms, cells that form the basis of a melody).

Motive- the smallest part of the melody, an indivisible cell of musical speech, which has a certain expressive meaning and which can be recognized when it appears.

Mozart. Symphony No. 40, chapter;

Tchaikovsky “German Song” (d.a.);

Chaikovsky. May. “White Nights” (d.a.);

Haydn. Minuet;

Mozart. Minuet;

Purcell. Aria;

Mordasov. Old motive.

Sequences of 2-3 motives form a relatively closed structure - musical phrase. Phrases, in turn, are combined, and the sequence of 2 phrases constitutes an even larger construction, called offer. The sequence of 2 sentences forms a complete section, which is called period - a simple one-part form.

Many of the smaller pieces are period pieces. But for the most part, musical works consist of a chain of periods.

So the succession of two periods forms a simple two-part form (A+A 1, A+B). In vocal music this form is called verse.

- Chaikovsky. May. “White Nights” (d.a.) - A+B;

Maykapar. At kindergarten - A+B;

Schumann. March - A+B;

- Shulgin. March of the October - A+B;

- Handel. Minuet - A+A 1;

- Purcell. Aria - A+A 1 ;

- Bach. Aria - A+A 1

Tripartite form consists of three sections (most often three periods): the 1st and 3rd sections are the same; middle - either continues the development of the thematic material of the 1st part, or is built on new, often contrasting material (A+A 1 +A, A+B+A).

Chaikovsky. “March of the Wooden Soldiers” (d.a.) - A+A 1 +A;

Chaikovsky. “New doll” (d.a.) - A+A 1 +A;

Chaikovsky. "Lark" (d.a.) - A+A 1 +A;

- Mozart. Minuet - A+A 1 +A;

Chaikovsky. “Sweet Dream” (d.a.) - A+B+A;

- Rubinstein. "Melody" - A+B+A;

- Mussorgsky. “Baba Yaga”, “Ballet of the Unhatched Chicks” (“Pictures at an Exhibition”) – sl. 3-part with a contrasting middle;

Grieg. "Procession of Dwarves" - words 3-part with a contrasting middle;

- Prokofiev. Dance of the Knights - lyrics. 3-part with a contrasting middle;

- Mozart. Symphony No. 40, Part III - lyrics. 3-part with trio

Variations- a musical form consisting of a theme and several repetitions of it in a modified form ( A + A 1 + A 2 + A 3 ...).

- Handel. Passacaglia g moll – 2957 (basso ostinato);

Mozart. Variations on a French theme. Songs. – 572;

Grieg. In the Cave of the Mountain King – 3641 (soprano ostinato);

Ravel. Bolero – 3139 (double variations);

Glinka. Kamarinskaya - 3578 (double variations)

Shostakovich. Symphony No. 7, Part I, invasion episode – free variations on a constant theme

Rondo(French – round dance, walking in a circle) – a musical form consisting of repeated repetition of one theme – refrain(the topic is taught at least 3 times), with which sections of other content alternate - episodes. The rondo form begins and ends with a refrain, forming a kind of vicious circle (A+B+A+C+D+A).

Couperin. Chaconne “Beloved” - 2874;

Mozart. Arioso Figaro “Frisky Boy...”, I d. “The Marriage of Figaro” -

Glinka. Romance “Night Marshmallow” -

Glinka. Rondo Farlafa, II building “Ruslan and Lyudmila” –

Borodin. Lamentation of Yaroslavna, IV d. “Prince Igor” -

Prokofiev. "Juliet is a girl" -

Mussorgsky. "Pictures at an Exhibition" - rondo with suite features.

Large works consisting of separate parts united by a common concept are classified as cyclic forms.