Binary

    A Binary Piece

    The Minuet

Ternary

    A Ternary Piece

Compound Ternary

    An Example

    The Minuets

Rondo

    A Rondo Example

Sonata

    A Sonata

Forms Summary

Phrases, Periods and Motives

    What is a Phrase?

    What is a Period?

    Parallel Period

    Contrasting Period

    Double Period

    Other Periods

    What is a Motive?

Binary Form

Pieces in binary form have two parts: A and B.

Most baroque dances were written using binary forms. Some examples of these dances are the sarabande, courante, gigue, minuet, bourrée and allemande among many others.