Nomenclature of Mark Richards’ theme types

richards-2016 introduces theme types that may be strange or unfamiliar to those coming from studying caplin-1998.

All possible theme types:


  • Developing means the first phrase is a development: A A2
  • Composite means the second phrase is a departure – so it starts with a brand new idea (a new letter)
  • Sentential means it starts with a presentation: A A(')
  • Periodic means it starts with an antecedent: A B
  • <X> Sentence (e.g. Periodic Sentence) means the second phrase utilizes acceleration