Unit 1-3: Phrase Structure

Objectives

By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:

Demonstrate proficiency in identifying and defining: musical sentences, parallel periods, and contrasting periods, compound periods, antecedents, consequents, basic ideas, and continuations.
Diagram phrase structures using lowercase letters (e.g. a, a', b, b').
Demonstrate further proficiency in spelling and identifying triads, 7th chords, Roman numerals, and key signatures.

Preparation for Class

Read:

Review the following (as needed)

"Sentence and Periods" (Mount, Fundamentals, Function, and Form). Don't worry about the distinction between modulating and non-modulating periods.
Phrases and Periods (Timothy Rolls)

Watch

Sentences & Periods
Seth Monahan (23 mins)

See also these videos for an alternative explanation:

The Period (Anna Gawboy, 13 mins)
The Sentence (Anna Gawboy, 8 mins)

Phrase Structure II: The Sentence
Dr. Kati Meyer (10 mins)

Study Aids

Sentence Structure Diagram and Musical Example
Image Sources: Top Image: Elliott Hauser, "The Sentence." Bottom image: Forest & Santa, "A Taxonomy of Sentence Structures"

Period Structure Diagram and Musical Example
Images: Top Image: "Diagram of a Typical Period," Bottom Image: Two parallel periods in Greensleeves. Both from "Period (Music)" in Wikipedia.

In-Class Activities

Discussion

Definitions: What are the defining characteristics of parallel periods, contrasting periods, and sentences? Compare and contrast each and describe the component parts (e.g. antecedent, basic idea, continuation, etc.). Create a pictorial diagram for each structure that labels each of these components and where cadences occur.
- - Think through some folk songs and other songs you're currently playing or listening to. Try to come up with one example for each category.

Activities

Online Practice Worksheets:
- - ID & diagram the phrase structure. (PDF | Solution) Examples by Luise Adolpha Le Beau, Ignatius Sancho, Anna Bon and Marianne D'Auenbrug. (From Diverse Music Theory Examples)
  - for Practice drawing phrase diagrams, completing sentences and periods, and analysis. See the worksheet here. (From Fundamentals, Function, and Form)
Composing Sentences & Periods: Work as a class or in groups. The instructor or a member of your group selects an example of a parallel period, contrasting period, or a sentence from the anthology examples at Expanding the Canon (click the links to navigate to each section of the site). Your group leader then announces the type of phrase structure and reveals only the first phrase if the example is a period, and only the basic idea if it is a sentence. Your task is to try to complete the sentence or period, getting as close to the original composition as possible. When you're done, compare and play your solutions alongside the original.
Continued Practice: Continue work on Triads, 7th chords, Key Signatures, and Roman numerals from Lessons 1-1 and 1-2, as needed.

Repertoire for Practice

Phrase Structure Analysis: Flip through the examples in the anthology and identify each as a sentence, parallel period, or contrasting period. Then analyze each phrase:
- - Identify the key and the cadences by type where they occur. Add Roman numerals for the cadential chord(s).
  - Label the component parts of the phrase structure. If it's an example of a period, label the antecedent and the consequent. If it's a sentence, label the basic idea, the repetition, and the continuation and cadence.
  - For examples that incorporate more than one phrase, create a phrase diagram that shows the relationship between the phrases using lowercase letters (i.e. a, a', b, b').
  - How is the motivic material developed or varied?
For additional examples, see the Repository of Periods and Sentences here.

Go to Anthology

Assignment

Assignment 1-3

NEXT STEP

Next Unit: Phrase Model

Want to learn more?

Read about how phrasing is used in popular music in these readings:

Mark Richards, "Film Music Themes: Analysis and Corpus Study," Music Theory Online 22, no. 1 (2015).
- - This article explores the development of phrase structure in film music from the early 1930's to now, with examples and audio for listening and comparing
Robin Attas, "Sarah Setting the Terms: Defining Phrase in Popular Music," Music Theory Online 17, no. 3 (2011).
- - This article by Robin Attas that digs into some of the differences and idiosyncrasies of phrasing in popular music, using Sarah McLachlan's music as an example
Everett, Walter. "Forms: Phrases and Sections." In The Foundations of Rock: From 'Blue Suede Shoes' to 'Suite: Judy Blue Eyes.' Oxford University Press, 2008.

Additional Practice

Musition:
- Cadences (Lvl 1a–2b)
- Form & Phrase: Levels 2a, 2b

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