Editing Binary form (section)

===Sectional vs. continuous===
[[File:Greensleeves sectional binary form.png|thumb|400px|"Greensleeves": sectional binary form (first phrase ends with the tonic).<ref>Kostka and Payne (1995) p. 336.</ref>[[File:Greensleeves sectional binary form.mid]]Note: the example here is in minor mode rather than the more historically accurate Dorian mode.]]

If the ''A'' section ends with an authentic (or perfect) [[cadence]] in the original [[tonic (music)|tonic]] key of the piece, the design is referred to as a '''sectional binary'''. This refers to the fact that the piece is in different tonal sections, each beginning in their own respective keys.

If the ''A'' section ends with any other kind of cadence, the design is referred to as a '''continuous binary'''. This refers to the fact that the ''B'' section will "continue on" with the new key established by the cadence at the end of ''A''.