ABA, Rondo, Narrative and Rhapsodic Composition

I 

Introduction

  • ABA is a three-part compositional form in which the second section contrasts with the first section. The third section is a restatement of the first section in a condensed, abbreviated, or extended form.
  • The rondo (ABACADA)is a musical form that contains a principal theme (sometimes called the "refrain") which alternates with one or more contrasting themes. 
  •  A narrative, story, or tale is any account of a series of related events or experiences, whether nonfictional or fictional. Narratives can be presented through a sequence of written or spoken words, through still or moving images, or through any combination of these.
  • Rhapsodies on the other hand express pure feelings. We can thank the Greeks for the idea of the Rhapsody, though their rhapsodies were rather more word-based – poetry to be exact. Poetic rhapsodies were a kind of recital of all the best bits of poems, brought together in one colorful epic. And that’s really what a musical Rhapsody is, a piece of music of indeterminate length and with no formal structure, comprised of a number of different musical ideas. A Rhapsody is all about dynamics: light and shade, high and low, loud and soft, happy and sad… It's a story, a journey. 

     

    II

     

    Learning Objectives 

     

  • Understand the ABA, rondo, narrative and rhapsodic forms
  • Explain the rondo form
  • Gain an awareness of the appeal of these forms
  • Experience the creation of movement phrases using these forms

 

 III

 

Warm Up

Stretching

Posture

 

IV

 Main Lesson


1

ABA

 

Form & Structure

Once the choreographer has conceived key movement phrases, he or she can combine, manipulate and organize them into longer sequences, paying attention to form and structure.

Question 1

Based on what we have studied so far, which elements of dance would you be able to combine, manipulate and organize into longer sequences?  

 

2

Three basic dance forms are:

  • ABA 
  • Rondo
  • Theme and Variation.

ABA

ABA form begins with an opening theme, leads into a contrasting theme that complements the first, and concludes with a return to the opening theme. 

This conclusion is recognizable but somehow changed in order to bring the piece to its resolution. 

There is a cyclic feel, a sense of continuity, order and inevitability.

 Question 2

What is appealing about the ABA form?

----------------

 

2

Rondo Phrase 

ABACADA

 


RONDO PHRASE

 The rondo (ABACADA) is an expansion of ABA form. It uses a recurring theme (like a musical chorus or refrain) to which the choreographer returns, interspersed with contrasting themes, all building to a conclusion.

Source:

http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/make/toolbox/formstructure.asp 

 

Question 3

Based on what we have studied so far, which elements of the ABA form are present in the rondo form?

 

 Question 4

What is appealing about the rondo compared to the ABA form? 

 

----------------------


3


 Narrative/Rhapsodic:

1. Narratives follow a story-line, and may convey specific meaning or concepts through that story. Example: Retelling a fairy tale, a classic, or following a story from your life.  

 

Question 5

Mention an example of a narrative from childhood. Explain why is it important. 

 


 
Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini - Op 43
 
 https://youtu.be/HvKTPDg0IW0
 
 
 
 
 
Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen
 
https://youtu.be/sBspSJWRT2E 


2. Dances that express pure feeling are “rhapsodies”—emotion is the tie that holds the composition together. Example: Conveying a sense of sadness or loss through movement. 
 
Question 6
 
Compare a musical rhapsody with a movement/dance rhapsody. 


V 

 A Note to Remember

The form of a dance determines the way it is organized. This is similar to the way musical forms like the suite, symphony or concerto shape their overall contour or identity. 

 

VI 

Case Studies

 

 ABA

 Maine Arts Leadership Initiative (MALI, established 2010), a program of the Maine Arts Commission provides this resource as part of the Resource Bank. This project was facilitated by Catherine Ring during the 2014-15 school year. For more information on MALI go to or contact John Morris.

 

 

-----------------

 

Rondo

 


 -------------
 

Narrative


 Narrative— Jose Limon's Moor's Pavane

  

 

Question 7

What aspects of this dance piece make it a narrative?

 -------------

 Rhapsodic

 1. Rhapsodic— Dispute with God by Harald Kreutzberg 

2. Lamentation by Martha Graham


LINK:  Dispute with God, Kreutzberg, Harald

 

Question 8

 Why is Dispute with God a rhapsodic composition?


Lamentation, Martha Graham
 
Question 9
 
 What aspects of Graham's Lamentation accentuate its rhapsodic character?
 
 

VII

Activities 


 ABA Task

Students review their ensemble and solo dance. Using the ABA form, students identify the opening theme, the  contrasting theme and return to the opening theme (8 moves for A, 8 moves for B, 8 moves for A).

 

Rondo Task

 

Create a new group phrase using the rondo form and add it to your group dance (use one of your previous moves as A, one as B, and back to A) plus one of your previous moves as C, back to A, one of your previous moves as D and back to A.

 

Narrative Task 

Apply the concept of narrative to your ensemble piece.
 
 
Rhapsody Task
 
 Apply the concept of rhapsody to your solo piece.
 

 

VIII

Journaling

 

IX

Glossary

Music

Music suite:  a set of instrumental compositions, originally in dance style, to be played in succession.

Music symphony: an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements, at least one of which is traditionally in sonata form. The first movement is brisk and lively; the second is slower and more lyrical; the third is an energetic minuet (dance) or a boisterous scherzo (“joke”); and the fourth is a rollicking finale.

Music concerto: a concerto is, from the late Baroque era, mostly understood as an instrumental composition, written for one or more soloists accompanied by an orchestra or other ensemble. The typical three-movement structure, a slow movement preceded and followed by fast movements, became a standard from the early 18th century.

Dance

Dance suite: suite, in music is a group of self-contained instrumental movements of varying character, usually in the same key. During the 17th and 18th centuries, the period of its greatest importance, the suite consisted principally of dance movements.

Dance symphony: rooted in a Greek word meaning “to dance,” orchestra originally referred to the semicircular area in front of a stage where the chorus danced in theater performances. English adopted the world in the 16th century, though it took on its “large group of musicians” sense in the 1700s.

Concert dance (also known as performance dance or theater dance in the UK is dance performed for an audience. It is frequently performed in a theater setting, though this is not a requirement, and it is usually choreographed and performed to set music.

Question 3

Based on the vocabulary above, compare and contrast the same terms when they refer to music versus when they refer to dance.

---------------------

X

Sources

http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/make/toolbox/formstructure.asp

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