Phrase
A complete musical thought, analogous to a sentence in spoken language.
Category
form
Origin
Greek
Length
179 words · 1 min read
About Phrase
A phrase is a unit of musical form — a self-contained passage that expresses a coherent idea and typically ends with a cadence or a moment of repose. Phrases are the building blocks of larger formal structures: two phrases often combine to form a period (antecedent and consequent), and periods group into sections and movements.
More form terms
Ostinato
View all formterms →A persistently repeated musical pattern or phrase.
SinfoniaA symphony or orchestral introduction — a large-scale work for full orchestra in multiple movements
RecitativoA vocal style imitating natural speech rhythms.
RondoA form in which a principal theme alternates with contrasting episodes
Sonata FormA large-scale musical structure based on exposition, development, and recapitulation
Synonyms
See Also
Compare with similar terms
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