the elements of music melody rhythm harmony texture form tempo and dynamics
TRANSCRIPT
Melody: Musical Line
• The Nature of Melody– Melody is a succession of single tones
perceived by the mind as a unity
– melody is the element with the widest and most appeal
Characteristics of Melody
• Range– distance between highest and lowest notes– classified as wide, medium or narrow
• Shape– determined by upward or downward direction
of melody– graphed as ascending/descending line, arch or
wave
Characteristics of Melody
• Type of Movement– determined by whether melody moves by step
or leap– conjunct - melody moves by step– disjunct - melody moves by leap
Structure of Melody
• Melodic structure is analyzed much like a sentence– phrase - unit of meaning within a larger
structure
– cadence - end or resting place; may be inconclusive or final; like a comma or period
Structure of Melody
• Combination of phrases with several inconclusive and one final cadence make up most music; like sentences in a paragraph
Rhythm: Musical Time
• The Nature of Rhythm – Rhythm refers to the controlled
movement of music in time
– is the quality which causes people to move in response
– automatically imposes a pattern to a series of noises, which are arranged as strong and weak beats
Meter
• Meter is the fixed time patterns within which musical events take place– Rhythm is the overall movement of
music in time while meter involves the actual measurement of time.
Meter
• Characteristics of meter:– Beat - the basic unit of length; some beats
are strong (accented) and some are weak (unaccented)
– Measure - groups containing fixed beats with the first beat being the strongest
Metrical Patterns
• Simple Meter - beat is subdivided into two beats– Duple - two beats per measure; strong-
weak; traditionally associated with marches
– Triple - three beats per measure; strong-weak-weak; associated with waltz (dance) form
Metrical Patterns
• Simple Meter - beat is subdivided into two beats– Quadruple - four beats per measure;
primary accent on one and secondary accent on three; has broader feel than duple; also called Common Time
Metrical Patterns
• Compound Meter - beat is subdivided into three beats– Sextuple - Two beats per measure (six
when subdivided); gentle and flowing when slow; rollicking feel when fast
• Syncopation - deliberate upsetting of rhythm by temporary shifting of accent to weak beat or subdivided beat
Harmony: Musical Space
• Harmony is the movement and relationship of intervals and chords, and implies movement and progression in music
• Harmony gives perspective to music– melody is horizontal aspect and harmony
is vertical aspect
Components of Harmony
• Interval - distance and relationship between two tones
• Scale - series of tones arranged in ascending or descending consecutive order– Octave - distance from highest to lowest
tones in scale
Components of Harmony
• Chord - combination of two or more tones that constitute a single block of harmony– Triad - combination of three tones
utilizing every other tone of a scale; this is the basic formation of harmony
Function of Harmony
• Harmony implies movement and progression in music– progression achieved by movement from
one chord to another
Function of Harmony
• Melody and Harmony are interdependent– melody implies the harmony to
accompany
– each constantly influences the other
Tonality
• Harmony requires a system of procedures for organizing tones into intelligible relationships
• Tonality - the principle of organization around a central tone, called tonic– tonic - first note of a scale which serves
as base around which other tones revolve and to which they ultimately gravitate
Components of Tonality
• The particular scale chosen as the basis of a piece of music determines the tonic and tonality of the music
Components of Tonality
• Two types of scales are found in Western music between 1650 and 1900, and each is characterized in intervals on which they are based
– Major - has brighter sound; used for triumphal marches and grand finales, etc.
– Minor - has darker sound; used for dirges, laments, etc.
Components of Tonality
• Diatonic vs. Chromatic– Diatonic - music based on one of the 12
major or minor scales
– Chromatic - not based on a scale, but using all notes of the octave freely
Consonance and Dissonance
• Consonance – a concordant or agreeable combination of
tones that provides a sense of fulfillment in music
– consonance is the resolution of dissonance
Consonance and Dissonance
• Dissonance– a combination of tones that sounds
discordant, unstable and in need of resolution
– introduces a necessary tension in music
• In general, music has grown more dissonant through the ages
Musical Texture• Types of Texture
– Monophonic - single-voice texture; is a melody without accompaniment in the form of harmony
– Polyphonic - combination of two or more melodic lines• Counterpoint - basis of polyphonic music;
the technique of writing polyphony
Musical Texture• Types of Texture
– Homophony - single melody with chordal accompaniment; sound is based on harmony
– Heterophony - combination of two melodic lines based on improvisation; each line is the same melody, but at least one is improvised
Contrapunctal Devices
• Imitation - subject or motive is presented in one voice and restated in another
• Canon - imitation lasting for an entire work– Round - simplest form of canon; each
voice enters in succession with the same melody
Contrapunctal Devices
• Inversion - melody turned upside down; same intervals in opposite direction
• Retrograde - restatement of melody backward; start at end and proceed to beginning– Retrograde Inversion - combination of
techniques resulting in upside down and backward at the same time
Contrapunctal Devices
• Augmentation - melody is presented in longer time values than original
• Diminution - melody is presented in shorter time values than original
Musical Form
• What is Form?– That quality in a work which presents to
the mind of the listener an impression of conscious choice and arrangement
– relationship of the parts to the whole
Structure and Design in Music
• Repetition - fixes material in the mind; familiarity
• Contrast - sustains interest by introducing change
• Interaction of repetition and contrast is basic element of form
Structure and Design in Music
• Variation - falls between repetition and contrast where aspects are altered but recognizable– Alterations generally focus on one
element at a time
Types of Form
• Binary Form - two part or A-B form; based on statement and departure without return to opening section
• Ternary Form - three part or A-B-A form; based on statement, departure, and restatement of material
• Both binary and ternary forms are common in short pieces such as songs and dances
Building Blocks of Form
• Theme - most basic element of form which provides unity and from which the idea develops
Building Blocks of Form
• Thematic Development - techniques for developing a theme– sequence - restatement of theme at new
pitch level
– repetition - exact of varied restatement of melody
Building Blocks of Form
• Thematic Development - techniques for developing a theme– motive - smallest fragment of melody
that forms rhythmic/melodic unit
– movement - several separate pieces within a large scale work
Tempo and Dynamics
• Tempo - speed at which beats occur within meter; close connection between tempo and mood
• Dynamics - degree of loudness or softness at which music is played
Tempo and Dynamics
• Markings for tempo and dynamics contribute to the expressive content of music
• Early music had few markings, and usage has steadily increased throughout time
Examples of Tempo Indicators
• Grave……………….. Solemn
• Largo……………….. Broad
• Adagio……………… Slow
• Andante…………….. Walking Pace
• Moderato…………… Moderate
• Allegro……………… Fast
• Vivace……………… Lively
• Presto………………. Very Fast
Tempo Modifiers
• Molto……………….. Very
• Meno……………….. Less
• Poco………………… A Little
• Non Troppo………… Not Too Much
Changes of Tempo
• Accelerando………… Getting Faster
• Ritardando………….. Getting Slower
• A Tempo……………. Original Tempo
Principal Dynamic Indicators• Pianissimo…….. Very Soft
• Piano…………... Soft
• Mezzo Piano … Moderately Soft
• Mezzo Forte…… Moderately Loud
• Forte…………… Loud
• Fortissimo……… Very Loud
• Use of dynamics is relative to size of ensemble