breaking up a subject into small segments, any one of which may form the basis for further development
Fragmentation
Related Dictionary Terms
Form
Shared keywords
the structure a pieces of music may have, for example, sonata form, rondo, …….
Fugue
Shared keywords
form in which a subject theme is introduced and then extended and developed through some number of successive imitations
String quartet
Shared keywords
a quartet formed of one first violinist, one second violinist, one violist and one cellist
Ternary form
Shared keywords
a three section form in which the first section A is repeated, often with some changes, after a middle section B, thus the fo…
Canon
Shared keywords
a musical form in which a (second, third, fourth, ….) line starting later than the one before it matches it note for note but…
Development
Shared keywords
a musical form during which thematic material, introduced earlier, is greatly extended
Open form
Shared keywords
a work in which the performer decides which order to play the material, where to start and where to stop
Opera
Shared keywords
Italian
an abbreviation of opera in musica; a drama sung to the accompaniment of instruments, which may involve one or more singers