WHAT SECTIONS CAN A SONG HAVE?
Songs can have numerous types of sections. Swing music usually has a limited and well defined number that are then combined and repeated. The most common sections in swing music are:
Introduction
The introduction is a unique section, at the beginning of the piece, and its purpose is to create an interest in listening to the rest of the composition. It tells us about the characteristics and style the piece will have.
From the dancer's point of view, the introduction helps us get an idea of the tempo and colour of the song while we are looking for a partner and, in a closed position, we are connecting with and tuning in to each other (music-leader-follower). Often, the introduction in swing music includes some of the most characteristic elements of the song and this will help us anticipate accents or even breaks.
Verse
The verse is a section that is repeated several times during the song with the same music but, usually, with different lyrics (if it is a sung song). In the event that this part has lyrics this is the one that explains the details of the story. As it exposes an idea, with beginning and end, the verse is considered a phrase.
Refrain
The refrain usually includes the main idea, the subject (teaser) of the song, as well as the title. It is repeated throughout the piece and, in the refrain, the melody and the letter rarely change. Usually it has a musical and emotional intensity greater than the verse and it is usually the part of a song that people more easily remember. As it exposes an idea, with beginning and end, the refrain is also considered a phrase.
It can also be called chorus. But we prefer to use the term refrain as chorus can create some confusion because, musically, we also call chorus each of the complete musical ideas. In an AABA structure song, each AABA is called a chorus. If you wish, you can find more information on basic terminology.
Bridge or Middle Eight
In general, it is usually considered that a bridge is a part of the song that leads to another. In popular and swing music it doesn't completely have this connection function, but it is rather a contrast to the verse, to break up the repetitiveness. The bridge changes the melody and the lyrics and, harmonically, has a higher musical tension. As the bridge exposes an idea, with beginning and end, we also consider it a phrase.
In the music that you dance to there are usually one or two verses followed by a bridge, as a contrast. The verses, being the first phrase we find, will be called A and the bridges, being the second phrase that appears, will receive the letter B. Thus, in the AABA structure, what we will have is verse-verse-bridge-verse. In ABAB structure we will have verse-bridge-verse-bridge. We call each of these complete musical ideas (whether it is AABA, ABAB, or any other form) a chorus.
Interlude
This part unites or connects the verses with the chorus. It can also be a few, rather odd, means of separating different parts of a song. In the following video we can see a very good example, one quite common in swing music. In this case the interlude is between the introduction and the first chorus (which in this case has AB structure) and between each of the other choruses and in this case acts a a rest, relaxation, or separation.
Outro
It is the last section of the song, its function is to take it to the end. Sometimes the outro is very short and in other cases very elaborate. It can be a section with a completely new content, but the most common outros use or modify the content of any of the previous sections.
In the field of jazz music, structures can also be seen from another perspective, depending on whether what is being played is the original arrangement or an improvisation. Thus we can have:
Head
It is that a chorus in which the musicians play the original content of the song, with the melody of the version created by the composer.
After a set of improvisations when Jazz musicians they want to return to the original arrangement, they use the word head. This tells them that the improvisations have ended and everyone has to play the song again as it was written.
Solo (or musical break)
A solo is the section designed to highlight some of the musicians. In jazz music, the soloist improvises what he plays. This means that he creates the melody as he plays it; it is not written by the composer of the piece. The rest of the musicians play the base, which follows the same structure and harmony as the head.
An example of how a swing composition could be organized would be:
- Introduction
- Head (an AABA chorus)
- Clarinet solo (an AABA chorus)
- Piano solo (an AABA chorus)
- Trumpet solo (an AABA chorus)
- Head (an AABA chorus)
- Finale (outro)
If you want to delve deeper into this topic now you can visit the page How the sections of a song are organised?