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Music Fundamentals

Discover the core elements of music - from pitch and frequency to texture and form. Learn about volume, duration, timbre, and scales, and dive into the world of monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic textures. Explore traditional and free forms in music composition.

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Music Fundamentals

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  1. Music Fundamentals

  2. Pitch • Frequency = number of times a vibrational pattern repeats itself per unit of time • Measured in cycles per second or “Hertz” (abbreviated Hz) [c. 20 – c. 20,000 Hz] • The faster the repetition of the pattern, the “higher” the frequency/pitch • Western standard of “A-440” • Overtones/partials = 2:1, 3:2, 3:4, 5:4, 6:5 etc.

  3. Volume • Amplitude = amount of displacement of air molecules produced by vibrating string, air column or percussive surface • Measured in “decibels” (dB = ratio) • The greater the displacement, the “higher/louder” the amplitude/displacment

  4. Duration • Conceptualized by patterns of meter and rhythm • Meter = recurring patterns of strong and weak beats/pulses • “symmetrical” = duple / triple / compound • “non-symmetrical” • Rhythm = arrangements of durations within a meter

  5. Timbre • Sounds of the same pitch, amplitude, and duration but produced by different media can be distinguished on the basis of timbre or “tone color” • Different sounding media cause different pitches in the harmonic series (“overtones”) to be suppressed or amplified.

  6. Scale • Organization of pitches within an octave (1:2 ratio of pitches) • Pentatonic • Diatonic • Chromatic • Microtonal • Scales generate both melodies (pitches considered diachronically) and harmonies (pitches considered synchronically)

  7. Texture • Monophonic = all sounding media produce the same sequence of pitches with the same durations • Heterophonic = different sounding media produce simultaneous variations of the sequence of pitches and durations • Polyphonic = different sounding media produce different sequences of pitches and durations exhibiting common interest • Homophonic/harmonic = different sounding media produce different sequences of pitches and durations exhibiting unequal interest (melody/accompaniment)

  8. Form • Structural intelligibility of a particular musical event unfolding over time • Exact repetition (same pitch/volume/duration/timbre) • Variation (vary one or more of pitch/volume/duration/timbre) • Development (elaborate one or more of pitch/volume/duration/timbre) • Contrast (introduce new material)

  9. “Free” forms: no regular patterns of repetition and contrast (e.g., fantasia, rhapsody) • “Fixed” forms: regular patterns of repetition and contrast • Binary (AB: AAB/AABB/AA’BB’, etc.) • Ternary (ABA: ABA’/ABACA/ABACABA, etc.) • Mixed, e.g., sonata-allegro: Exposition / Development / Recapitulation / Coda

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