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Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #1: Songs, Phrases, and Leitmotifs, Oh My!
Do you want to know how song structure, musical phrases, musical structures and forms work? Musical structures and forms in instrumental music works differently than popular song structure. However, motifs and musical phrases works pretty much the same in either type of writing. In this post, we’ll talk about all that plus the difference between motifs and leitmotifs. Read more to get music structure examples for both songwriting and instrumental music.
This article uses musical terms. For definitions, see the Glossary at the end of the post.
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #2: What Does *That* Word Mean?
First, let’s define some words we’ll need.
What’s a motif?
- A motif is a small melodic idea. We build musical phrases using motifs.
- Motifs are related to leitmotifs but they’re not the same thing.
- We’ll discuss leitmotifs later in the post.
In addition to motifs and leitmotifs, you can also have rhythmic motifs:
What’s a measure?
- A measure marks the time in the score.
- It’ll usually contain 2, 3, 4, or 6 beats.
- Normally, phrases will be 2, 4, or 8 measures long.
For more information on notation:
What’s a musical phrase?
- A phrase is a musical “thought.”
- Question phrases have restless endings, and answer phrases have a sense of completion.
- The musical phrases will usually line up with the phrases in the lyrics, which means you’ll take breaths at the punctuation marks.
What is song structure?
- Songwriting structure is the overall songwriting form, such as your verses, choruses, and bridges.
- Unlike instrumental musical structures and forms, song structure revolves around the sections in your lyrics.
- Conversely, instrumental forms (such as the sonata allegro form) will be all about the music.
For more song structure examples:
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #3: How Do Musical Phrases Work in a Song?
Video: Carry on My Wayward Son
For our first music structure example, we have Carry on My Wayward Son:
- Its song structure is less formulaic than you’ll find in most pop songs, so I thought it’d be fun to look at.
- In this section, we’ll look at how the motifs and musical phrases work within the song’s chorus.
- In the next section, we’ll deal with the songwriting structure.
Below are the lyrics for the chorus:
- The numbers are the video timestamp.
- The letters represent the melody notes.
- The lines are the bar lines, which mark off the measures.
To use a virtual keyboard: click here.
Mobile users: for best results reading the lyrics and notes, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
(0:01)
E G G C B G G A G F
| Car – ry on my way – | – ward son. |
(0:05)
E G G C B G E D
| There’ll be peace when you | are done. |
(0:09)
E G G C B G G A G F
| Lay your wear – y head | to rest. |
(0:13)
E D E D C C
| Don’t you cry no | more. |
The letters in red show you the notes of the motif that the phrases are built upon:
- Notice that the first three musical phrases have the motif at the beginning. However, they have different endings and the last phrase doesn’t contain the motif at all. This creates contrast within the musical phrases.
- The first and third phrases end on notes that leave you with a sense of incompleteness.
- Conversely, the second and third phrases feel more complete, particularly the last musical phrase.
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #4: Do You Want a Song Structure Example?
All the other sections within the song structure will likewise contain phrases and motifs:
- In other words, your musical phrases will be nestled within your larger song structure, and your motifs will be nestled within your musical phrases.
- However, each songwriting structure section will have a distinct melody and chord progression.
- Also, each section of a song serves a function withing the song. To learn more: click here.
Music structure example:
- Chorus (0:01)
- Main riff (0:17)
- Interlude (0:28)
- Main riff (0:43)
- Interlude and transition (0:55)
- Verse (1:08)
- Chorus (1:40)
- Main riff (1:53)
- Verse (2:04)
- Chorus (2:43)
- Instrumental break (2:48)
- Main riff (3:33)
- Vocal bridge (3:45)
- Verse (partial) (3:53)
- Chorus (4:00)
- Interlude, guitar solos, and transition to end. (4:14)
Song structure analysis:
- This song is unusual because it contains two hooks.
- First, you have an a cappella version of the chorus to catch your attention.
- Then, the main riff pulls you further into the song.
- The section after that is a short instrumental interlude, which is followed by guitar solos over the main riff then another interlude followed by a transition into the verse.
- Next, you have a couple of verses and choruses with the main riff stuck in the middle.
- The instrumental break alternates with the guitar solos. It functions like an instrumental bridge, creating contrast. However, Kerry Livgren decided to have a vocal bridge as well. Normally, songs have one or the other, but not both.
- Finally, you get a mix of familiar sections until the song ends.
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #5: Motifs vs Leitmotifs?
Video: Star Wars Main Theme
We’ll use the main theme from Star Wars to explain instrumental musical phrases and leitmotifs as well as the sonata allegro form.
Mobile users: for best results reading the example, tilt your screen 90o to the right.
(0:08)
F F F | Bb F Eb D C | Bb F Eb D C |
(low) (low) (high) (high) (high)
| Bb F Eb D Eb | C |
(high) (high)
(0:18)
F F F | Bb F Eb D C | Bb F Eb D C |
(low) (low) (high) (high) (high)
| Bb F Eb D Eb | C |
(high) (high)
The Star Wars main theme motif contains the notes: Bb F Eb D C.
- You can see that this motif fills the two phrases.
- It appears six times in various forms.
- However, unlike Carry on My Wayward Son, it also functions as a leitmotif.
What’s a leitmotif?
- Like a motif, a leitmotif is a small melodic idea.
- However, a leitmotif goes beyond this to represent an idea, object, or a character in an opera, ballet, musical, or film.
- The Star War main theme not only opens each movie in the saga, but it also doubles as Luke Skywalker’s theme.
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #6: How Does the Sonata Allegro Form Work?
One of the most common musical structures and forms used in classical music is the sonata allegro form.
However, it can also be found in the music for film, TV, and musical theatre. I chose Star Wars because:
- It’s well known.
- Its musical structure is based on the sonata allegro form.
- And it contains a leitmotif.
Music structure example: (See the video above)
- Introduction (0:00)
- First theme (0:08)
- Second theme (0:26)
- Development (0:41)
- First theme (0:50)
- Then, a transition into the rest of the movie score where a coda would be in a classical sonata allegro form. (1:07)
Analysis of musical structure and form:
- The introduction starts with a huge Bb major chord. The intro in sonata allegro form is optional, but John Williams decided to include one here.
- Next, we have the first theme (i.e., the first melody). The first and second themes together make the exposition.
- In traditional sonata allegro form, the second theme would be transposed to a different key. However, Star Wars keeps the second theme in the original key.
- In classical music, the development section gives the composer a free hand. In Star Wars, Williams uses a descending parallel minor scale.
- Then, we return to the first theme. At this point, the traditional sonata allegro form would have a return of the second theme, but it would be in the original key. However, Williams skips the second theme’s reprise entirely.
- The repetition of the first and second themes is called the recapitulation.
- The last section in sonata allegro form is a coda, which is a section that ends a piece of music. Instead of a coda, Williams has the music transition to the dramatic portion of the score.
Song Structure, Musical Phrases, Musical Structures and Forms #7: Final Thoughts
To summarize:
- Both song structures and instrumental musical structures and forms organize the music.
- Song structure revolves around the structure of the lyrics, and instrumental musical structures and forms focus on the music.
- However, both use motifs and musical phrases to organize the melodies.
Related Posts
- How Can I Learn the Basics of Music Theory?
- D’you Want Some Music Tips and Tricks I’ve Learned Over the Years?
- Can Someone Explain Roman Numeral Analysis in Layman’s Terms for Me? (Part 1)
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