A musical form that does not return to previous motivic material is best described as what?

A musical form that does not return to previous motivic material is best described as through-composed. This form is characterized by continuous, non-repetitive music that develops themes without returning to earlier sections. In a through-composed structure, each section or idea progresses without revisiting previous material, which allows for greater narrative freedom and often leads to a more exploratory approach.

In contrast, sonata form typically involves a development section that revisits themes introduced earlier. Binary form consists of two related sections, often labeled A and B, where there is typically a return to the A section. Theme and variation involves presenting a theme followed by various alterations and embellishments of that theme, clearly returning to the original idea. Through-composed stands apart from these forms by focusing on a more linear and evolving musical narrative.