Through-composed music

In the theory of musical form, through-composed music is a continuous, non-sectional, and non-repetitive piece of music. The term is typically used to describe songs, but can also apply to instrumental music.[1]

While most musical forms such as ternary form (ABA), rondo form (ABACABA), and sonata form (ABA') rely on repetition, through-composed music does not re-use material (ABCD). This constant introduction of new material is most noticeable in musical settings of poems, in contrast to the often used strophic form (AAA). Through-composed songs have different music for each stanza of the lyrics. The German word durchkomponiert is also used to indicate this concept.[2]

  1. ^ Randel, Don Michael (1999). The Harvard Concise Dictionary of Music. United States of America: Belknap Press. p. 670. ISBN 0-674-00084-6.
  2. ^ Rumbold, Ian (2001), "Through-composed", Oxford Music Online, Oxford University Press, doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.27904, ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0, retrieved 10 September 2022