Classical Uncovered with Graham Abbott: What is form?

Melbourne Recital Centre Podcasts

Welcome to Classical Uncovered – a podcast designed to demystify corners of the classical music world. All areas of human endeavor have their special terms which are normal and natural to those in the know. But for those unfamiliar with that language, it can appear strange or even alienating. Classical music is no different. Over 10 episodes, classical music expert Graham Abbott breaks down the concepts and terms used in classical music, with the aim of helping you better understand and enjoy your music experiences. Now don’t let the word “form” put you off. It’s just another way of talking about how composers structure their ideas and organise their music, and in a lot of European music of the past few centuries, there are a few forms, or musical templates, which have been used a great deal. Of course, we could spend hours on each one, but what follows is a summary which we hope will give you enough information to explore further on your own. Let’s see what we can discover.