Lesson Plan

 

1.  In our last lesson about Form we talked about Binary Form, which has two contrasting sections of music, A B, within the overall composition.

 

        

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

           A                                                                                           B

 

 

     We also discussed how most composers repeat each of these sections in some fashion, such as A B A B or A A' B B' etc., and that Binary Form

     will always alternate between the two Sections.

 

 

 

2.  Today we are going to talk about Ternary Form.

 

Definition:  Ternary Form is a three-part form that has two contrasting sections but always ends on an A section, A B A.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  A                                                               B                                                             A

 

     A major difference between Binary and Ternary Forms is the B Section.  In Binary Form, the B Section sounds very similar to the A Section,

     whereas the B Section in Ternary Form is often contrasting in some way (key, meter etc.).  However, just like Binary Form, Ternary Form often

     repeats the individual sections (A A B B A, A A B B A A or A A' B B' A' A'').

 

3.  Let's listen to some examples to hear what Ternary Form sounds like.  In the first example, For Your Love, the B Section has a different melody and

     rhythm than the A Section.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In the next example, The Humming Song by Robert Schumann, the B Section has roughly the same melody as the A Section; however, it is in a

     different key (sounds lower).  Furthermore, the final A Section is A'.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

     In the final example, Prelude from Carmen by Bizet, the B Section has a very different melody, rhythm, and texture.

 

 

 

 

 

 

4.  Extension:  The Chicken Dance is an excellent 'dance/movement' to reinforce Ternary Form.