Purpose/meaning of different piece forms

[clair_de_lune]

Can anyone describe or point me to a link that describes the form/purposes of different musical pieces? I know some of them but not all. For example:

- an Etude is a study/musical means to practice certain technique;
- a Waltz is always in 3/4 time, was often used for ballroom dancing;
- a Prelude is a piece that comes "before" another piece, like a Fugue;
- a Nocturne is a piece to be listened to at night, or evokes nighttime imagery;

(feel free to correct me if I'm wrong)

But I have questions about other forms: Rondos, Mazurkas, Fantasies, etc.

Thanks in advance.

[clair_de_lune]

I answered my own question and just thought I'd report back here - the easiest way was for me to go to Google and enter define:term, for example, define:mazurka brings up a list of definitions of the term mazurka, the first one being:

Polish country dance in triple time. It first became popular outside Poland in the 18th-century. The mazurka was brought into the concert repertoire by Chopin, who wrote 50 or so.

I also learned more about polonaises, rondos, fantasies, etc.

Google is a great tool. 

[bernhard]

Yeah! Google!

Or you may have a look here:

https://pianoforum.net/smf/index.php/topic,4302.msg39982.html#msg39982


Best wishes,
Bernhard.