Glossary of Some Musical Forms

Concerto - composition for solo instrument and orchestra, usually in three movements with a fast - slow - fast pattern; in a concerto of classic form, both the soloist and the orchestra must state each theme in turn in each movement.

Etude - a study or exercise in technique, typically used by a composer for experimentation in style or sound quality or to provide a show piece for an accomplished soloist

Fantasia - a composition type in which a more improvisational style is used, usually in a single movement

Fugue - contrapuntal ("counterpoint") composition in which two or more voices ("polyphony") are interwoven by the various parts at different intervals of pitch; the voices are often played by a single soloist. The name is a Germanicized form of the Latin word for "fleeing" or "running"

Impromptu - as the name implies, a composition of an improvisational character without fixed form but linked by the use of themes

Invention - an exercise in two or three part counterpoint

Minuet - a moderate tempo dance type commonly found in works from the Baroque period; often found in Classical period works in the minuet and trio form.. Usually in 3/4 time and light in feel.

Movement - a distinct division of a composition with its own key, themes, rhythm, and character. In classical music performances one usually reserves applause until the completion of all the movements which make up the work being performed.

Nocturne - a romantic character piece written with an expressive melody over a broken chord accompaniment

Prelude - an introductory movement complete in itself; often used to describe piano compositions written in a single movement

Rondo - a composition where the first and third musical ideas are the same, with the second idea being different material. This form is often used in the last movement of sonatas or concertos.

Sonata - an instrumental composition usually in three movements in related keys with different forms and character; short for Sonata allegro. In a classic sonata form, the first movement is usually an allegro, followed by an adagio, then a rondo or minuet, ending with another allegro.

Sonatina - a shorter version of the sonata, the movements are usually shorter and simpler, originally written as teaching pieces

Symphony - a sonata for orchestra, usually in four movements; the movement structure usually follows Sonata allegro form although there can be fewer than four movements