Scribd
Upload
111 views67 pages

7 Elements of Music

ok

Uploaded by

Leonida Candelasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
111 views67 pages

7 Elements of Music

ok

Uploaded by

Leonida Candelasa
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 67

Harmony

CHORD

refers to the
simultaneous sounding
of pitches or tones. It
is vertical (“a stack of SCALES
pitches”).
Chord
Dissonance
Three or more tones sounding together
makes a chord.

Most common chord in Western music


is the triad which is based on major
and minor scales.
Consonance
Harmonic progressions built on
principle of tension and resolution.
Dissonance
Combinations of
tones that sound
discordant or
unstable, provides
tension.
Consonance
Combinations of
tones that sound
agreeable or stable,
provides resolution.
More

Scales Harmonic
Terms

A scale is a collection of pitches


arranged in ascending or descending
order.
Diatonic
Major and minor scales divide the
octave (created by two pitches with a
2:1 frequency ratio) into seven pitches
in a recognizable pattern.

Triads are built using alternating


Chromatic
scale degrees (1-3-5, 2-4-6, 3-5-7, etc.)
More Harmonic
Terms
The first degree (or pitch) of a
scale is the tonic and is more
important than the others

The principle of organizing music


around the tonic is called tonality
(tonal music)
Diatonic
Melodies and
harmonies that are
limited to the tones
of a particular scale.
Chromatic
Melodies and
harmonies that are
not limited to the
tones of a particular
scale.
Texture
Monophony

Refers to the way in


which the melodic Polyphony

and harmonic
elements of music
are woven together. Homophony
Monophony
Literally means “one
voice”

Refers to music with one


part or one line

This is the simplest


musical texture
Polyphony
Literally means “many voices”

Refers to music with multiple parts


or lines Counterpoint

Each line is an independent


melody

Counterpoint is the system by


which these independent lines fit
together.
Counterpoint
Music based on counterpoint is called
contrapuntal from Latin “punctus contra
punctus” (point against point)

Imitation is a contrapuntal technique


that gives unity to a composition

In imitation, a melodic idea is presented


in one voice and then restated in the
other/s

Very strict imitation is called canon.


Homophony
Literally means “same voice,”
though “compatible voice” is better
for our purpose

Refers to music with a single


melodic line to which the rest of
the parts are subordinate

While polyphonic textures are built


on counterpoint, homophonic
texture is built on harmony
Principles

Basic
Formal
Structures Form
Building
It is the structure
Blocks
or design of music

Elements
Principles
Repetition is the return of musical
ideas that we have already heard in
a piece of music

Contrast is the introduction of new


musical ideas into a piece of music

The interaction of the familiar and


the new stimulates our interest in
the music

Variation is a kind of repetition in


which familiar music returns but
with changes
To analyze form, we divide a
piece of music into sections
labeled with a letter.

Binary form (A-B) features two


sections that are different
(contrast, no repetition)

Ternary form (A-B-A) features


three sections, the last being
same as the first (contrast and
repetition)
Building Blocks
A melodic idea that serves as a
foundation for a piece of music is a
theme.

Thematic development is the


manipulation, expansion, and
exploration of a theme.

A melodic idea restated several


times at different pitch levels forms
a sequence

The short melodic/rhythmic


fragments that make up a theme
are called motives
Elements
Call and Response music features
a soloist who is imitated by a
chorus

Call and response music is also


known as responsorial

A short musical pattern that is


repeated continually is called an
ostinato

Separate sections of a larger


work are called movements –
comparable to chapters
Material of

Timbre
Instrument

The character of a sound


distinct from its pitch, length,
Attack/
Articulation
or intensity; tone color.

If two or more voices or


instruments are performing the
exact same melody, how do you
tell them apart? By their
Sustained timbre/tone color.
Pitch
Material of
Instrument
Wood, metal, animal skin, plastic,
vocal cords, other materials. How
hollow or solid, thin or thick, how
large or small? The materials
play the biggest factor in timbre.
Attack/
Articulation
What does the beginning of
the note sound like? What is
the instrument struck or
played with? Is the attack
soft or hard?
Sustained
Pitch
What does the note sound
like after the attack?
Intensity or sound? Is there
the presence of VIBRATO (a
rapid variation of pitch
adding richness to a sound)?
Dynamics
Italian
Words The aspect of music
relating to degrees
of loudness.
Italian Words
FORTISSIMO (ff) – very loud
FORTE (f) – loud
MEZZO FORTE (mf) – medium
loud
MEZZO PIANO - (medium soft)
PIANO (p) – soft
PIANISSIMO (pp) – very soft
CRESCENDO (cresc.) - (gradually
loudening
DIMINUNDO (dim.) – gradually
softening

You might also like