Form types and procedures

In analysis we talk mostly about principles of form, structure and texture.

Of course there exist typical forms that have their origin in a relatively established pattern or procedure; we call them form types.

Examples are:

• song forms (binary and ternary)
• binary forms (Dualform)
• sonata form
• rondo form
• ...

Examples of forms that originate from a relatively established procedure are:

• passacaglia
• ricercare
• fugue
• ...

From an artistic and aesthetic point of view it is especially interesting how composers work with a certain concept and "play" with expectations of the listener. An obvious example is Joseph Haydn (with his musical "jokes"). On a more complex level one could think of Schubert and Brahms, and the way they work with the concept of sonata form.