Melody“It is the melody which is the charm of music, and it is that which is most difficult to produce. The invention of a fine melody is a work of genius.” – Joseph Haydn

Defining Melody:

Range – the distance between the lowest and highest notes•Narrow (as in a children’s song that is easy to sing)•Medium•Wide (as in some melodies played on an instrument)

Defining Melody:

Contour – the overall shape as the melody turns upward, downward, or remains static. The contour can be visualized as a line graph. •Ascending•Descending•Arch•Wave

Defining Melody:

Interval – the distance between any two pitches.

Melodies that move principally by small intervals in a joined, connected manner are called conjunct. Melodies that move in larger, disconnected intervals are described as disjunct.

Examples

Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 Range: narrow

5 notes Contour: wavelike Interval: conjunct

Joy to the World Range: medium

8 notes Contour: descending Interval: conjunct

Star-Spangled Banner Range: Wide

10 notes Contour: wavelike Interval: disjunct

Structure of Melody:

Phrase – a unit of meaning within a larger structure, like a sentence.

Structure of Melody:

Cadence – the end of a musical phrase, a resting place.• Incomplete• Complete

Structure of Melody:

Rhyme Scheme – describes the similarity in sound of the last syllables in each line of text.

Structure of Melody:

Climax – the high point in a melodic line, which usually represents a peak in intensity as well as in range.

Structure of Melody:

Countermelody – More complex music can feature several simultaneous melodies. Sometimes the relative importance of one melody over the other is clear, and the added tune is called a countermelody (literally “against a melody”)

Example: Trio section of Stars and Stripes

Music History

I. Medieval Period (450 - 1450) II. The Renaissance (1450-1600) III. The Baroque Period (1600-1750) IV. The Classical Period (1750-1820) V. The Romantic Period (1820-1900) VI. The Twentieth Century (1900 - )