binary form

The standard structure of Baroque dance movements: two repeated sections, the first moving from tonic to dominant, the second returning to the tonic. All of Handel's suite dances use this form.

In binary form, the first section's move to the dominant creates a tension that the second section resolves. Shape each section as a single large gesture: the first moving away from home, the second returning. The repeat of each section is not merely structural — it is an opportunity for varied ornamentation and touch. On the harpsichord, registration can change for the repeat; on the piano, dynamic variation and ornamental additions are the equivalent.