FORM IN NIGERIAN ART MUSIC: A CONTEMPORARY APPROACH

Abstract

Form is an important aspect of any musical composition that tells the composer where to go and how to get there. The plan of a building is an outline drawing of a building or structure, showing the position and size of the various parts in relation to each other. A building plan is to a house what form is to music. The form of any particular music helps the composer to stay focused in the course of the composition since he is prevented from unnecessary rigmarole. In fact, form serves as a guide to any musical composition. Just as a house without a building plan is bound to have a problem so also is music without a form. The importance of form to musical composition cannot be overemphasized. When the elements of music are organized into a musical composition, the overall design of the entire composition is called its form. An understanding of the concept of form helps in no small way in music appreciation. In other words form directs or organizes the music. The paper looked at some Contemporary Art musicians in Nigeria highlighting the forms they used in their various musical compositions.