The Elements of Music Melody Rhythm Harmony Texture

The Elements of Music Melody Rhythm Harmony Texture Form 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; strongweak; traditionally associated with marches – Triple - three beats per measure; strongweak-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