You've probably heard of the phrase shape and from? Well this is exactly what it relates to. In "artistic notion" form is the shape of something that isn't a shape. Like when you look at a picture, you see shapes regularly, but if there are lines, such as curves, or an image that isn't categorized as a shape, that is form. So form is form or shape like state objects etc. have in an art peice.
The most basic definition of musical form is how music is structured. But "Form" is a very... very broad subject, and in the study of Music Theory one of the hardest topics. Form separates the "men from the boys" so to speak.
Music is very similar to matter with the study of atoms, molecules, particles, etc. Music can be broken down to smaller and smaller elements just as matter can. When you put these elements together you get Musical Form.
In order of size:
Note- A single pitch
Motif- Two Three or Four notes put together in a small "musical idea" EXAMPLE: The first 4 notes of Beethoven's 5th symphony are a motif.
Phrase- A group of motifs placed together in one "musical sentence"
Period- A group of phrases put together in a larger "musical paragraph"
Periods can then be grouped together into Binary or Ternary groups which then make up movements and sections of music.
Form is the order of the parts of music. You can analyze several different layers of music and label form for all parts.
For Example:
A double phrase
A three phrase period
A repeated parallel period
Binary Form
Sonata Form
Song Form
All of the above are examples of Musical Form
So the best answer: There really isn't one sole best definition of Form. Depending on how deep into music theory you are the definition is simple or very complex. =]
The word 'form' is both a verb and a noun.
The noun 'form' is a word for:
The noun forms of the verb to form are former (one who forms) and the gerund, forming.
form
The overall structure of a poem in terms of its rhyme scheme, meter, and number of lines.
fmr:james
The overall structure of a poem...
The noun form for the adjective horrible is horribleness.
Implication is the noun form of "imply."
ability is the noun form of the adjective able;conversation is the noun form of the verb to converse;dependence is the noun form of the verb to depend;departure is the noun form of the verb to depart;dwelling is the noun form of the verb to dwell;favorite is the noun form of the verb to favor;happiness is the noun form of the adjective happy;information is the noun form of the verb to inform;rarity is the noun form of the adjective rare;weakness is the noun form of the adjective weak;writer is the noun form of the verb to write;writing is also a noun form of the verb to write.
The noun form for the verb 'to live' is the gerund (verbal noun) living.The noun form for the adjective 'live' is liveliness.A related noun form is life.
The noun form for the verb to equip is equipper, one who equips. Another noun form is equipment.
The noun form for the adjective horrible is horribleness.
The noun form of the adjective 'prosperous' is prosperousness.A related noun form is prosperity.
The noun form for the adjective glaring is glaringness. Another noun form is glare.
Implication is the noun form of "imply."
ability is the noun form of the adjective able;conversation is the noun form of the verb to converse;dependence is the noun form of the verb to depend;departure is the noun form of the verb to depart;dwelling is the noun form of the verb to dwell;favorite is the noun form of the verb to favor;happiness is the noun form of the adjective happy;information is the noun form of the verb to inform;rarity is the noun form of the adjective rare;weakness is the noun form of the adjective weak;writer is the noun form of the verb to write;writing is also a noun form of the verb to write.
The noun form of the adjective obedient is obedience.
The noun form for the adjective defensive is defensiveness.Another noun form is defense.
The noun form of orthodox is orthodoxy.
The noun form for the verb 'to live' is the gerund (verbal noun) living.The noun form for the adjective 'live' is liveliness.A related noun form is life.
The noun form for the verb to equip is equipper, one who equips. Another noun form is equipment.
The noun form for the verb absent is the gerund, absenting.The noun form for the adjective absent is absenteeism.A related noun form is absence.
The noun form for the adjective humorous is humorousness. Humor is another noun form.