Exploring the Elements of Music Theory

1. The Elements of Music Melody Rhythm Harmony Texture Form Tempo and Dynamics

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. Structure of Melody • Combination of phrases with several inconclusive and one final cadence make up most music; like sentences in a paragraph

7. 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

8. 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.

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Function of Harmony • Harmony implies movement and progression in music • progression achieved by movement from one chord to another

17. Function of Harmony • Melody and Harmony are interdependent • melody implies the harmony to accompany • each constantly influences the other

18. 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

19. Components of Tonality • The particular scale chosen as the basis of a piece of music determines the tonic and tonality of the music

20. 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.

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. Contrapunctal Devices • Augmentation - melody is presented in longer time values than original • Diminution - melody is presented in shorter time values than original

29. 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

30. 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

31. 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

32. 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

33. Building Blocks of Form • Theme - most basic element of form which provides unity and from which the idea develops

34. 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

35. 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

36. 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

37. 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

38. Examples of Tempo Indicators • Grave……………….. Solemn • Largo……………….. Broad • Adagio……………… Slow • Andante…………….. Walking Pace • Moderato…………… Moderate • Allegro……………… Fast • Vivace……………… Lively • Presto………………. Very Fast

39. Tempo Modifiers • Molto……………….. Very • Meno……………….. Less • Poco………………… A Little • Non Troppo………… Not Too Much

40. Changes of Tempo • Accelerando………… Getting Faster • Ritardando………….. Getting Slower • A Tempo……………. Original Tempo

41. 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

42. Changes of Dynamics • Crescendo………….. Getting Louder • Decrescendo……….. Getting Softer • Sforzando………….. Sudden Stress