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; 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