Seneca
Sign up

Structure & Melody

Music: Edexcel GCSE, topic 2.1.2

Structure

The 3rd movement is written in ternary form (ABA), but also incorporates a fugue.

Ternary form

Ternary form

  • The 3rd movement is written in ternary form (ABA).
  • Within the overall ternary form the piece also incorporates a fugue.
  • The violin plays the main musical idea and the other parts repeat and imitate.
Variations

Variations

  • There are multiple variations of the main idea which can be played the same as it was originally heard or with some slight changes.
Stretto

Stretto

  • Stretto is where the subject is repeated on top of itself by different players.
  • This can make the piece sound more dramatic and exciting.
    • A Section – Bars 1 – 78.
    • B Section – Bars 79-232.
    • A Section – Bars 233 – 310.

Melody

Ornamentation makes the melody more exciting!

Ornamentation

Ornamentation

  • Ornamentation makes the melody more exciting! For example:
    • Trills.
    • Appoggiaturas (a grace note that takes time away from the note following it).
    • Acciaccaturas (a grace note that is played as quickly as possible).
Ornamentation cont.

Ornamentation cont.

  • Ornamentation makes the melody more exciting! For example:
    • Mordents (alternation between the notes surrounding the note that is written).
    • Scalic runs (moving up or down the scale).
  • These all feature within the set work.
Baroque period

Baroque period

  • Ornamentation is a key feature of the Baroque period in general.
Other melodic devices

Other melodic devices

  • Bach uses other melodic devices in order to shape the music, such as:
    • Sequences (b.137).
    • Pedal notes (b.90-95).
    • Stretto (where the subject is repeated on top of itself) (b.64-68).
    • Cadences (musical punctuation).
Basso continuo

Basso continuo

  • The basso continuo is a continuous bass line which plays through the entire piece.

Test yourself on Structure & Melody

  • What type of musical form is the 3rd movement of the Brandenburg Concerto No. 5 in D Major written in?

  • Which of the below is an example of ternary form?

  • What do we call alternation between the notes surrounding the note that is written?

  • Which of these bars in the 3rd movement of the Brandenburg Concerto feature pedal notes?

Practise this topic for free