GENERAL KNOWLEDGE MUSIC

Air with variation

It is a method of composition originated in the 16 th century when a number of
sets of variation on well known tune were produced. The air or theme was
usually in binary form.
There are two classes of variation
VARIATION

HARMONIC VARIATION

Harmonic variation involves

changes in the harmony where
composers may vary the style on
the accompaniment to a tune.

MELODIC VARIATION
Melodic variation involves the
embellishment of the melody line
modified in whatever the composer
may choose to do.

Air with variation may happen either harmonically or melodically or both

together. It will then end with a coda which the original tune will not appear.
Samples of air and variation of the baroque period.
1. BACH GOLDBERG FOR HARPSICHORD.
2. HANDELS THE HARMONIOUS BLACKSMITH
Haydn and Mozart tend to be of the melodic variation of course variation on
the accompaniment as well and the embellishment of the melody usually
becomes more and more complex. And usually TONIC MINOR or vice
versa.

Minuet and Trio

Minuet and trio is made up of usually 3 sets of binary forms. Thus the plan
of a Minuet and trio may look like:
[A1] First Minuet, which is a complete binary itself.
[B] Second Minute, which is also binary in itself.

Also called as TRIO

[A2] Repetition of first minute, binary form.

In other words, there are three binary forms in overall ternary. This is called
Minute and Trio form.
The second minuet usually called as TRIO, where different thematic material
from the first may be used. It might be in a new key or in the same key.
Examples of Minuet and Trio
1. Bachs Brandenburg Concerto Minuet written for full orchestra
where trio only for oboes and bassoons.
2. Haydns Londons Symphony Minuet is D Major and Trio in Bb
Major.

Musical form that developed from the minute and trio is SCHERZO.
The scherzo is literally a joke. It is not because of the humor in the sense of
fun but rather its bright and playful style of composition.
Examples of scherzo include:
1. Haydns string quartet Op.33 where he speed up the minuet that it
lost its original character of a stately dance, causing a bustling effects to
the piece.

Scherzo have often been written as detached pieces by far in the romantic
period. Where they are all extended ternary form with long codas, moving at
high speed and at times quite difficult in technique.
Brahms wrote scherzo for the F.A.E Violin Sonatas. In which section A
(minute) is robust and speedy, when reaching the TRIO (section B) it actually
changes its time from 6/8 to 2/4 becoming a rather tranquil and generally
slower in nature. Then moving back to an exact repetition of the section A
ending with a coda.
RECITATIVE
What is recitative?
Its basic idea is to reproduce vocal line nearly as possible to the natural
rhythm of the spoken words. There are two types of recitative
RECITATIVE
Recitativo Secco

Recitativo Accompagnato

Unaccompanied Recitative
dry recitative

Accompanied Recitative
Arioso

The accompaniment was of the

scantiest nature where vocal lines
occasionally supported by sustained
chords.
In
many
cases,
accompaniment are written in
figured bass.

It is midway between recitativo

secco and the aria proper. It has a
properly organized accompaniment
and
dispensing
with
words
repetition. In other words, it is a
more dramatic recitative where its
accompaniment are fully written out.
It is usually accompanied by an
orchestra.

Examples:
Mostly found in the 17 18th
century oratorio, such as Bachs
Passion where the whole of the Examples:actual story is told in recitativo Bachs Christmas oratorio.
secco
with
figured
bass

accompaniment.