III. THE MACRO-LEVEL OF MUSICAL ORGANIZATION: RHYTHM, MELODY AND HARMONY ORGANIZED OVER LONG SPANS OF TIME

A. Phrase structure

1. Regular phrases: two-, four-, or eight-measure phrases

2. Irregular phrase lengths

B. Formal Techniques and Devices

1. Chord progression: repeating sequence of chords (e.g. I-IV-V)

2. Ostinato: short repeating pattern (rhythmic or melodic)

3. Cadence: the way phrases end.

C. Performance structures

1. solo-chorus: "call and response"

2. antiphony: balanced forces alternate (two soloists or two choruses)

3. hocket or interlocking: musical phrase divided up among

different performers or groups of performers

D. Formal organization: the way phrases are put into patterns

1. Linear form (musical phrases constitute a linear path of development)

a. Binary (2-part) form

A / B

b. Ternary (3-part) form

A / B / A

c. Rondo (returning to main theme)

A B A C A etc.

d. Through-composed (non-repeating)

A B C D E F etc.

2. Cyclic form (one basic idea is repeated – common in improvised music)

A A A A A A A A A etc.

A A’ A’’ A’’’ A’’’’ etc.