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?

Phrases, Periods and Motives

A musical work can be divided into sections. The organization of these sections define the musical form of the piece. But each section can be also divided in phrases, periods and motives as we will see.