Paru-parong Bukid is an example of Unitary Form of music

Paru-parong Bukid is an example of Unitary Form of music. True or False. By the way, thanks to those who answered my questions 🙂

The Correct Answer and Explanation is:

Answer: False.

Explanation

The statement “Paru-parong Bukid is an example of Unitary Form of music” is false because Paru-parong Bukid is actually an example of Strophic Form, not Unitary Form.

In music, Unitary Form (also known as AAA form) means that the entire composition consists of only one section that is repeated exactly throughout the piece, without any change in melody, harmony, or lyrics. There is no contrasting section — the same musical idea is presented over and over again.

On the other hand, Strophic Form also involves repetition of music, but with different lyrics in each stanza. This is a very common form in folk songs and traditional music. Each verse (or stanza) has the same melody but different words, allowing the song to tell a story or express various ideas while maintaining musical familiarity.

Paru-parong Bukid, a traditional Filipino folk song, follows this strophic form. The melody remains the same for each stanza, but the lyrics change as the song progresses. For example:

Paru-parong bukid na lilipad-lipad,
Sa gitna ng daan papaga-pagaspas…

Then, the next stanzas follow the same melody but introduce new lyrics, thus fitting the definition of Strophic Form. This structure is common in folk music because it’s easy to sing and remember, especially for communal or cultural performances.

Understanding the difference between musical forms helps in better appreciating how songs are constructed and how they communicate emotions and stories. In summary, since Paru-parong Bukid uses the same melody for each verse with different lyrics, it is strophic, not unitary, making the given statement false.

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