The Music Theory of Concluding Pieces

9 thoughts
last posted April 2, 2021, 2:18 p.m.

2 earlier thoughts

0

Here's my brother's first stab:

The piece in question may have a sense of development or "completeness" to its themes and structure that denote a finished arc, without actually taking us through one. Similarly, "Beginning" pieces may set up certain motifs without maturing them to satisfaction.

It's a subtle miss to the question, though; "finished arc" and "matured motifs" have no definite meaning in music theory; the phrases used ultimately describe impressions and not specific musical constructs. So it's basically saying nothing more than that 'Concluding' pieces feel concluded.

6 later thoughts