SESSION 2: HORIZONTAL MELODIC ANALYSIS

Melodic Analysis – Horizontal Concepts

Motif (M)- The smallest self contained unit that has recognisable shape, or contour. Not always relevant in some pieces.

Question Phrase (QP)- A musical statement – Often 2 or 4 bars long – that usually requires completion.

Answer Phrase (AP) - The 2nd phrase of the ‘Sentence’. Although not a ‘rule’, often sounds like it is resolving. Sometimes called the ‘answer’.

Sentence (s)- When the ‘Question Phrase’ and ‘Answering Phrase’ are connected they become a ‘Sentence’. Often 4 or 8 bars long.

Section (S)- Sentences are grouped together to form ‘Sections’. The most obvious examples being the A or B (Verse or Chorus) of a standard song. Often 8 or 16 bars long. Repetition in Macro form.

Structural Form (SF)- IE ABA, AB, AABA. ‘Popular Song Form’ is often 32 bars long.

Compositional Form (CF) Enables us to analyse how repetition is

used and how interest is forged in the song.

Example: Hey JudeUsing ‘Variations Audio Timeliner’

How do we differentiate between Answer – Question, Phrases Sentences and Sections?

The Lyric The Harmony Texture (Between Sections) Melodic Contour/Shape Rhythmic Variations and Repetitions

between Question – Answer etc

How do we Discuss/Analyse This?

When examining a piece diachronically (through time), there is a need to compare these factors, to ascertain how they develop and interrelate.

For example – How does the ‘Answer Phrase 1’ compare to the

‘Question Phrase 1’? How does ‘Answer Phase 2’ relate to ‘Question Phase

2’? How does Question Phrase 1 compare to Question

Phrase 2 How does ‘Sentence 1’ compare to ‘Sentence 2’? How Does Section 1 compare to Section 2, etc. Techniques could include:

Rhythmic Sequence (RS)

Where the melody is different but the rhythm is the same. This can be between question – answer phrases or sentences. For Example

‘Good Stuff’ Donald Fagen Black Chandelier: Buffy Clyro Whitney Houston ‘Run to You’ (Chorus) 1:00 Note: Sometimes these repetitions are not

exact – if not you can label ‘near’ before the name. IE ‘Near Rhythmic Sequence’.

Tonal Sequence (TS)

The rhythm and melody between question -answer phrases or sentences are identical to earlier material, but up or down a predetermined pitch.

Example: This occurs at the level of the Sentence in – Mozart: Theme from 40th Symphony! The Kinks ‘You Really Got Me’ Antonio Carlos Jobim ‘Girl From Ipanema’

(Chorus) 0:38 Elbow ‘One Day Like This’

Direct Repetition

When the melody and rhythm of an answer phrase is identical to the ‘question’, or between sentences.

For example the first two phrases of the Blues

‘Lotus Flower’ Radiohead. (‘Near’ – in verse) 0:50

‘My Man Called Me’ Big Mamma Thornton ‘Off The Wall’ Lee Ranaldo

Rhythmic Displacement

What the answering phrase is identical to the question, but commences on a different beat.

This is a more advanced technique and is not particularly common in popular music

See examples below - Cannonball Adderly ‘Straight No Chaser’

and ‘Fascinating Rhythm’

Compare this….

To this

Or This To This

Contextual Placement (CP)

When the melody is identical but the harmony changes.

For example: The First 8 bars of most blues songs –

‘Hound Dog’ Big Mamma Thornton Antonio Carlos Jobim: ‘One Note Samba’ Antonia Carlos Jobim: ‘Girl From Ipanema’

(Verse) The Police ‘Every Breath You Take’ Thin Lizzy ‘Whisky in the Jar’

New Material

Where the answering phrase consists of entirely new material

The Beatles: ‘Hey Jude’ Bobby Vinton: ‘Blue Velvet’ Suzanne Vega ‘Luka’ Take That ‘A Million Love Songs’ No Audio – but also - Joe Cocker ‘With a Little Help From My Friends’ Patsy Cline ‘Crazy’ Feist ‘The Water’ Whitney Houston ‘Run to You’ (Verse) Sting ‘Dead Man’s Boots’

How to Label/Discuss Repetition

First Half of Hey JudeQP1-AP1:New Material: Sentence 1QP2 – AP2: New Material: Sentence 2 (Section 1/Verse1)QP3-AP3:New Material: Sentence 3QP4 – AP2: New Material: Sentence 4 (Section 2/Verse2)QP5-AP5:New Material: Sentence 5QP6 – AP6: New Material: Sentence 6 (Section 3/Bridge)QP7-AP7:New Material: Sentence 7QP8 – AP8: New Material: Sentence 8 (Section 4/Verse3)QP9-AP9:New Material: Sentence 9QP10 – AP10: New Material: Sentence 10 (Section 5/Verse4)QP11-AP11:New Material: Sentence 11

QP12 – AP12: New Material: Sentence 12 (Section 3/Bridge)

QP1---------------------------

AP1-----------------------------s1----------------------------------------------------------------------------

QP2---------------------------

AP2------------------------------s2--------------------------------------------------------------------

------

S1

QP3---------------------------

AP3----------------------------------------------

QP4-------------------------------------------------

S2

A

B

Compositional Form????

Homework

Present examples on my web site of indicative techniques I have suggested (One Song Only)

Can you suggest any others Techniques that I have not considered?

Download music software from http://variations.sourceforge.net/vat/

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