The Elements of Music

THE ELEMENTS OF MUSIC

The Elements of Music

Melody

Rhythm

Harmony

Texture

Form

MELODY

Melody

A coherent succession of single pitches

Melodies are linear (“a line of music”)

Pitches, or tones, are heard in relation to each other

Distances between pitches called intervals

Melody is affected by cultural origins

Melodic Structure

Melodies can be divided into phrases

Phrases are independent units within the larger melodic structure

The end of a phrase is called a cadence

RHYTHM

Rhythm

Rhythm deals with musical movement through timeThe basic rhythmic pulse of music is the beatBeats can be accented or made stronger than other beatsBeats can be grouped into patterns called meters

Metrical Patterns

Most music is in two, three, or four beat patterns Duple meter

Triple meter

Quadruple meter

In written music these grouped patterns are called measures

The first beat in each measure, the downbeat, is the strongest (most accented)

HARMONY

Harmony

Harmony refers to the simultaneous sounding of pitches or tonesHarmony is vertical (“a stack of pitches”)Three or more tones sounding together makes a chordMost common chord in Western music is the triadTriads are based on major and minor scales

Scales

A scale is a collection of pitches arranged in ascending or descending orderMajor and minor scales divide the octave into seven pitches in a recognizable pattern

An octave is created by two pitches with a 2:1 frequency ratio

Triads are built using alternating scale degrees (1-3-5, 2-4-6, 3-5-7, etc.)

More Harmonic Terms

The first degree (or pitch) of a scale is the tonic and is more important than the others

The principle of organizing music around the tonic is called tonality (tonal music)

Melodies & harmonies that are limited to the tones of a particular scale are diatonic

Melodies & harmonies that are not limited to the tones of a particular scale are chromatic

More Harmonic Terms

Harmonic progressions built on principle of tension and resolutionDissonance, combinations of tones that sound discordant or unstable, provides tensionConsonance, combination of tones that sound agreeable or stable, provides resolution

TEXTURE

Texture

Texture refers to the way in which the melodic and harmonic elements of music are woven together

We will deal primarily with four textures:Monophony

Polyphony

Homorhythm

Homophony

Monophony

Literally means “one voice”

Refers to music with one part or one line

This is the simplest musical texture

Polyphony

Literally means “many voices”

Refers to music with multiple parts or lines

Each line is an independent melody

Counterpoint is the system by which these independent lines fit together

Homorhythm

Literally means “same rhythm”

Refers to music with multiple parts or lines that are rhythmically connected

Each line moves in the same rhythm – note to note

Homophony

Literally means “same voice,” though “compatible voice” is better for our purpose

Refers to music with a single melodic line to which the rest of the parts are subordinate

While polyphonic textures are built on counterpoint, homophonic texture is built on harmony

Counterpoint

Music based on counterpoint is called contrapuntal from Latin “punctus contra punctus” (point against point)Imitation is a contrapuntal technique that gives unity to a compositionIn imitation, a melodic idea is presented in one voice and then restated in the other(s)Very strict imitation is called canon

FORM

Form

Form is the structure or design of music

Three principles of formRepetition

Contrast

Variation

Three Principles of Form

Repetition is the return of musical ideas that we have already heard in a piece of musicContrast is the introduction of new musical ideas into a piece of musicThe interaction of the familiar and the new stimulates our interest in the musicVariation is a kind of repetition in which familiar music returns but with changes

Basic Formal Structures

To analyze form we divide a piece of music into sections labeled with a letter

Binary form (A-B) features two sections that are different (contrast, no repetition)

Ternary form (A-B-A) features three sections, the last being same as the first (contrast and repetition)

Building Blocks of Form

A melodic idea that serves as a foundation for a piece of music is a theme

Thematic development is the manipulation, expansion, and exploration of a theme

A melodic idea restated several times at different pitch levels forms a sequence

The short melodic/rhythmic fragments that make up a theme are called motives

Other Formal Elements

Call and response music features a soloist who is imitated by a chorusCall and response music is also known as responsorialA short musical pattern that is repeated continually is called an ostinatoSeparate sections of a larger work are called movements – comparable to chapters