Big basics

The Elements of Music

MelodyRhythm

HarmonyTextureForm

Tempo and Dynamics

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

Changes of Dynamics

• Crescendo………….. Getting Louder• Decrescendo……….. Getting Softer• Sforzando………….. Sudden Stress