"The Elements of Music"

An Introduction

The Elements of Music

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time

• Melody = pitch line + rhythm

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time

• Melody = pitch line + rhythm• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding

of pitches

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time

• Melody = pitch line + rhythm• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding

of pitches• Form = the architecture or structure of

a piece of music

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time

• Melody = pitch line + rhythm• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding

of pitches• Form = the architecture or structure of

a piece of music• Timbre = the color or quality of sound

in music

The Elements of Music

• Rhythm = the relationship of sounds in time• Melody = pitch line + rhythm• Harmony = the simultaneous sounding of

pitches• Form = the architecture or structure of a piece

of music• Timbre = the color or quality of sound in music• Dynamics = the gradations of loudness and

softness in music

Rhythm

• The relationship of sounds in time

Rhythm - Tempo

• The pace (speed) of music

Rhythm - Meter

• Organization of rhythm into beats, groups of beats, and divisions of beats.

• Meters may be duple, triple, quadruple, mixed, or odd.

• Each of these may be simple (two divisions per beat) or compound (three divisions per beat).

Rhythm - Meter Signature

• 2/4 duple-simple• 3/4 triple-simple• 4/4 quadruple-simple• 4/4 6/8 mixed meter• 6/8 duple-compound• 9/8 triple-compound• 12/8 quadruple-compound• 5/4 odd meter

Rhythm - Syncopation

• The emphasis of off-beats or of beats that are not usually accented.

• (Off-beats occur not at the beginning of a beat, but on a division of the beat.)

Melody

• Pitch line and rhythm

Melody

• Pitch line = the sequence of pitches in a melody. Combined with a specific rhythm, the pitch line forms the melody.

• Contour = the shape of a melody, as determined by aspects of ascending/descending motion, conjunct/disjunct motion, and melodic climax.

Melody

• Motivic development = taking a small idea (motive) and working with it to create an integrated melody.

• Range = the distance (interval) from the lowest note to the highest note of a melody.

Melody

• Melodic climax = the highest note of the melody.

• Scale content = the scales or modes used to create a melody (for example, major, melodic minor, pentatonic).

Melody

• Scale tones = the notes of a scale, identified as root, second, third, etc.

• Consonance/dissonance = the balance of notes in a melody that create moments of relative tension and resolution.

Harmony

• The simultaneous sounding of pitches

Harmony

• Interval = the relationship between two pitches, as defined by quality (for example, major, diminished) and quantity (for example, third, fifth).

• Chord = three or more different pitches sounded together.

Harmony

• Triad = a three-note chord, containing a root, third, and fifth.

• Seventh chord = a four note chord, containing a root, third, fifth, and seventh.

Harmony

• Functional harmony = the system by which different chords relate to each other in a particular key. Chords in a key are defined by Roman numeral (for example, I, ii, iii).

• Chord progression = the movement of chords as they change during a piece of music.

Form

• The architecture or structure of a piece of music

• Form is rhythm at its largest level

Form

• Repetition/contrast = the alternation of elements that are familiar versus new (for example, melodic themes).

• Phrase = a short part of a piece of music, usually equivalent to what a person can sing or play in one breath.

Form

• Section = two or more phrases that combine to make a musical statement. – In classical music, this may be

referred to as a period. – In pop music, this may be referred to

as a verse, a chorus, or a bridge.

Form

• Form model = any of the standard forms used to define the overall architectural structure of a piece of music. – In classical music, these include

rondo and sonata-allegro form. – In pop music, these include AB and

AABA.

Timbre

• The tone color or quality of sound in music

Timbre

• Vibration = the back-and-forth movement of anything that produces sound.

• Frequency = the rate (speed) of vibration.

Timbre

• Fundamental = the basic, lowest frequency in a musical sound, which defines the pitch.

• Overtones = the frequencies above the fundamental that determine the color (timbre) of a sound.

Timbre

• Instrumentation (a.k.a. orchestration) = the specific combination of instruments and/or voices used in a piece of music.

• Texture = the interrelationship of the different parts in a piece of music, in terms of melody, accompaniment, bass line, etc.

Dynamics

• The gradations of loudness and softness in music

Dynamics

• piano = soft• forte = loud• mezzo = medium• crescendo = getting louder• decrescendo (diminuendo) =

getting softer