Bill Troxler
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Three-Part Melodies

3 Part Melodies
Traditional musicians often speak about "crooked tunes".  This name can mean an odd structure or an irregular pattern of beats.  Here's a good explanation of Crooked Tunes: 
http://www.fiddlingaround.co.uk/crooked%20tunes.html

Classic rag time music was often composed as multi-part melodies.  Three or more sections were written.  Very often rag time pieces were in the form of a medieval rondo.   The form calls for a principal theme (Part A) to alternate with one or more contrasting themes (Part B). 
 
A common form is A B A C A.  Usually the C part is written in a different key. 
 
It is likely that you know Jean-Joseph Mouret ‘s 1729 composition Fanfare and Rondo.  Listen to it and follow the ABACA structure.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZukLuZQeNHo
 
Listen to a piano roll recording of Scott Joplin playing his Maple Leaf Rag.  The structure is an extended rondo form. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pMAtL7n_-rc

​
A Modern 3-Part Melody
 We Hide and Seek by ​Jerry Douglas  From his album Slide Rule
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_5_8xJ410Bg

This multi-part melody has dramatic contrast between the  A, B and C parts.  Part A is lyrical.  Part B is an extension of Part A and permits each member of the band to solo.  Part C is distinctive as a highly traditional bluegrass instrumental.
Introduction with a driving ostinato
Part A
Part B - repeated in various voices  with improv on the original theme.  Each pass is a new motivic development of the initial theme.  
Part C – a conventional bluegrass instrumental.  This is the “chorus” of the instrumental piece.  It never changes much.
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