Music Theory (Metres, Measures, Subdivisions, etc.)

[timnoble]

Hello,

I am currently taking a music class where we are examining the structure of certain musical pieces.  My teacher wants us to listen to a song and determine what the meter, subdivision and forms (A, AB, ABA, etc.) are.  I`m having major difficulties understanding this because when I listen to a piece I get a different answer than my teacher.  For example, according to my teacher, Beethoven`s Symphony No.2 Movement 3 Scherzo:Allegro is a duple metre with three subdivisions and the form ABA (which is further broken down into A-ABAB & B-ABAB & A-ABAB which I also don`t understand).  I would have said the meter is quadruple.  I don`t know what instrument I`m supposed to listen to to get this information.  I also don`t understand how he breaks down the pieces (ex. ABA into A-ABAB, etc.) 

Two other pieces that he mentioned that I`m also having troubles with are Bach`s Gavotte and Schumann`s Von Fremden Landern und Menschen.

He also discussed measures (which I thought were meters but according to some websites this is not the case) and pulses (which I believe are beats).

I really appreciate any help I can get and I thank you for taking the time to look at this.

Tim Noble

[quantum]

First off.  An analysis should be considered an interpretation as opposed to a fact.  Two people may analyze a piece differently, but what is more important is how well they justify their observations.  This is similar to how two performers can interpret a piece differently.

It sounds like the analyses you are doing are based on recordings.  In such cases ignore the score and any written time signature and go with what the music sounds like.

Measures are a visual method of organization in a score.  The organization of beats in a measure does not always equate to the meter of a piece.  Meter is heard, measures are seen.  To that I should also add: meter is heard, time signatures are seen.  

"Pulse" can be interpreted slightly differently depending on the theoretician.  I would describe it as beats without a defined organized system of accents.  

Form is a way of summarizing the structure of a piece.  You need to observe that many elements of music are repeated, often very much so.  Unlike in language where we often try to find synonyms and avoid repetition of words, music thrives and can be reinforced by repetition.  The letters in a form analysis represent sections of the music that are similar.  Eg: All "A" sections would have something in common with each other.  Look for natural cadence points in the music, these often define a section, especially when the following material is either some sort of repetition or contrast.  

One can analyze form at many different levels, and depending on the verbosity desired can have many nested levels (much like brackets in math).  You need to decide on the type of material you are defining as a section - something that can be labeled by a single letter or number.  You should also be on the same page when comparing a form analysis with other people, as they may be defining the contents of a package differently to you.  

[timnoble]

Thank you very much for this information.  It was of great help!