What are the two main types of musical forms?

The correct answer identifies strophic and through-composed as two main types of musical forms because they offer distinct structural approaches to organizing music.

Strophic form consists of repeating the same music for each stanza of lyrics, making it particularly effective for songs where the same melodic and harmonic content is used to convey different verses. This repeating structure creates familiarity and reinforces the thematic elements of the lyrics. Examples of strophic form can be found in folk music and hymns, where verses share a common tune.

Through-composed form, on the other hand, involves continuous, non-repetitive music that evolves throughout a piece. In this approach, new sections of music are created for each part of the text, allowing for greater emotional expression and narrative development. Compositions like art songs or narrative pieces often utilize this form to maintain a dynamic connection with the story being told, enhancing the overall impact.

While the other forms—like binary and ternary (which focus on the structure of sections) or verse-chorus (popular in modern songs)—are indeed significant in the broader context of music, strophic and through-composed represent foundational concepts of form that apply to many genres and styles, highlighting the contrasting philosophies in musical composition.