Art Appreciation

CHAPTER 7
MUSIC
Introduction
Music as form of art or entertainment

Music is composed and performed for many purposes, ranging from aesthetic pleasure,
religious or ceremonial purposes, or as an entertainment product for the marketplace. When
music was only available through sheet music scores, such as during the Classical and
Romantic eras, music lovers would buy the sheet music of their favorite pieces and songs so
that they could perform them at home on the piano. With the advent of the phonograph, records
of popular songs, rather than sheet music became the dominant way that music lovers would
enjoy their favorite songs. With the advent of home tape recorders in the 1980s and digital
music in the 1990s, music lovers could make tapes or playlists of their favorite songs and take
them with them on a portable cassette player or MP3 player. Some music lovers create mix
tapes of their favorite songs, which serve as a "self-portrait, a gesture of friendship, prescription
for an ideal party... [and] an environment consisting solely of what is most ardently loved." [7]
Amateur musicians can compose or perform music for their own pleasure, and derive
their income elsewhere. Professional musicians are employed by a range of institutions and
organizations, including armed forces (in marching bands, concert bands and popular music
groups), churches and synagogues, symphony orchestras, broadcasting or film
production companies, and music schools. Professional musicians sometimes work as
freelancers or session musicians, seeking contracts and engagements in a variety of settings.
There are often many links between amateur and professional musicians. Beginning amateur
musicians take lessons with professional musicians. In community settings, advanced amateur
musicians perform with professional musicians in a variety of ensembles such as
community concert bands and community orchestras.
A distinction is often made between music performed for a live audience and music that
is performed in a studio so that it can be recorded and distributed through the music retail system
or the broadcasting system. However, there are also many cases where a live performance in
front of an audience is also recorded and distributed. Live concert recordings are popular in both
classical music and in popular music forms such as rock, where illegally taped live concerts are
prized by music lovers. In the jam band scene, live, improvised jam sessions are preferred to
studio recordings.

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Learning Outcomes:
After successfully completing this module, you should be able to:
1. Classified the elements, kinds and mediums of music
2. Performed a task performance as a group.
Content
Music is an art form, and cultural activity, whose medium is sound. General definitions of
music include common elements such as pitch (which
governs melody and harmony), rhythm (and its associated concepts tempo, meter,
and articulation), dynamics (loudness and softness), and the sonic qualities
of timbre and texture (which are sometimes termed the "color" of a musical sound).
Different styles or types of music may emphasize, de-emphasize or omit some of these
elements. Music is performed with a vast range of instruments and vocal techniques ranging
from singing to rapping; there are solely instrumental pieces, solely vocal pieces (such as songs
without instrumental accompaniment) and pieces that combine singing and instruments. The
word derives from Greek (mousike, "art of the Muses").
In its most general form, the activities describing music as an art form or cultural activity
include the creation of works of music (songs, tunes, symphonies, and so on), the criticism of
music, the study of the history of music, and the aesthetic examination of music. Ancient
Greek and Indian philosophers defined music in two parts: melodies, as tones ordered
horizontally, and harmonies as tones ordered vertically. Common sayings such as "the harmony
of the spheres" and "it is music to my ears" point to the notion that music is often ordered and
pleasant to listen to. However, 20th-century composer John Cage thought that any sound can
be music, saying, for example, "There is no noise, only sound."

ELEMENTS

Similar to the visual arts, the audio-visual arts have their respective elements. Music has
its own set of elements; dance has another set; and drama has still another set. However, there
are some elements common in these three genres. Music has for its elements the following:

✓ Pitch.
Pitch is the relative highness or lowness of a tone. Pitch can be determined only in sounds that
have a frequency that is clear and stable enough to distinguish from noise. Pitch is a
major auditory attribute of musical tones, along with duration, loudness, and timbre
Pitch may be quantified as a frequency, but pitch is not a purely objective physical property; it is
a subjective psych acoustical attribute of sound. Historically, the study of pitch and pitch
perception has been a central problem in psychoacoustics, and has been instrumental in forming
and testing theories of sound representation, processing, and perception in the auditory system.
✓ Volume or Intensity
Volume is the loudness or softness of a sound. It ranges from very soft (pianissimo) and soft
(piano) to very loud (fortissimo) and loud (forte). The volume is louder when a singer belts out
compared to the volume when he simply whispers.
✓ Tempo or Rate
It is the speed of a composition or any of its sections. Ballads have slow tempo, whereas dance
songs have a fast rate. Terms such as allegro (fast), vivace (lively), moderato (moderate speed),
andante (moderately slow), adagio (slower than andante), lento (slow), and largo (very slow)
are related to tempo.

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✓ Duration
Duration is the length of time during which a sound is produced. Some sounds are longer than
the others.

✓ Timbre or Tone Color

Timbre is the quality of sound that makes it distinct from other sounds. Thus, a listener can
distinguish the voices of Regine Velasquez, Jaya, Janno Gibbs, and Ogie Alcasid; likewise, he
can recognize the sounds of a flute, a guitar, a drum, and piano.

Ogie Alcasid, a Filipino Tenor Singer.

✓ Rhythm
Rhythm is the consistent pattern or succession of identical or similar sounds. This is illustrated
by the succession of similar sounds in a song, as follows: introduction, stanza one, chorus,
refrain stanza two, chorus, refrain, coda, and conclusion.

Introduction. In music, it is a passage or section which opens a movement or a separate piece,

preceding the theme or lyrics. In popular music, this is often known as the song intro or just
the intro. The introduction establishes melodic, harmonic or rhythmic material related to the
main body of a piece.

Stanza. In music, a stanza, or verse, is a poem set to music with a recurring pattern of both
rhyme and meter. A "strophic" song (as opposed to a "through-composed" song) has
several stanzas or verses set to music that remains the same or similar with each stanza.

Chorus. It is the big payoff and climax of the song. It's also where the verse and pre-chorus have
been reduced to a simple repeated sentiment. For example, in the song “Let it Be” by the
Beatles, it is the part where the words “let it be” are repeated over and over.

Coda. In musical composition, a concluding section (typically at the end of a sonata movement)
that is based, as a general rule, on extensions or elaborations of thematic material previously
heard.

Conclusion. It is the ending of a composition and may take the form of a coda or outro.

✓ Melody
Melody is the series of consecutive tones that vary in pitch and duration but form a line of
individual significance and expressive value. It is an orderly succession of tones or musical
sounds. It is the one remembered by a listener or the one he whistles or hums, especially so
when he does not know the lyrics.

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✓ Harmony
Harmony is the simultaneous sounding of two or more tones. When three or more tones are
sounded simultaneously, there exists a chord.

✓ Texture
Texture is the number of tones expected to be apprehended simultaneously. It is either
monophonic (sounding of a single melodic line without an accompaniment), polyphonic
(simultaneous sounding of two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest), or homophonic
(sounding of one main melody supported by a subordinate one, as in the performance of a folk
singer with accompaniment).

✓ Form
Form is the overall organization of the composition. It is associated with shape, structure, and
coherence. All the musical elements are put together to come up with the cohesive whole called
form. Jose Palma’s lyrics of the Philippine National Anthem entitled “Lupang Hinirang” were
arranged into a march by Julian Felipe. All the notes and all the other components of the song
constitute its form.

Julian Felipe, composer of the Philippine National Anthem

KINDS
According to Boethius, the most eloquent music writer of the Middle Ages, there are three
types of music. These are musica mundane, musica humana, and musica intrumentalis. Musica
mundane is created by the orderly relationships found among the planets and the changing
seasons of the world. Musica humana is music created by human beings, by the unity of the
body and the soul. Musica instrumentalis is created by musical instruments (Lamucho et al.,
2003). Moreover, music is classified into vocal music, instrumental music, and a combination of
the two.

✓ Vocal Music
Vocal music is produced by the voices of singers. The singing is done without the
accompaniment of musical instruments. Vocal music is rendered a capella.

✓ Instrumental Music
Instrumental music is music produced by musical instruments. It is exemplified by an orchestra
performing without a soloist or a group of singers.

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✓ Mixed Music or Mixed Ensemble
Mixed music is a combination of vocal music and instrumental music. Mixed ensembles usually
perform in Mass, Requiem Mass, opera, oratorio, and cantata. Even a symphony orchestra may
employ a vocal soloist or a chorus.

Ensemble
Ensemble music is music rendered by a group of performers- singers and/or players of musical
instruments. Based on the number of performers and the types of musical instruments used,
ensembles are classified into the following (Sanchez, Abad, and Jao, 2002).

✓ Orchestra. An orchestra is the most spectacular of the ensembles because of its large
size. Usually performing under the direction of a conductor, the musicians playing several
instruments of the same kind are given part. It is divided into four sections: the string, the
woodwind, the brass, and the percussion.

Structure of the Orchestra

✓ Symphony Orchestra. A symphony orchestra is a large ensemble composed of about
100 players. It includes all the principal instrumental types divided into four sections, each
of which has a least one instrument which falls under each of the four basic ranges:
soprano, alto, tenor, and bass.

✓ Concerto. The concerto is a form written for an orchestra in which one solo instruments,
for example, a piano or a violin, is given prominence.

✓ Band. A band is an instrumental ensemble having the size of an orchestra but consisting
mainly or exclusively of wind and percussion instruments. It usually performs in concert
hall and outdoor events such as parades, funerals, football games, and the like.
Nowadays, a band is used to mean a small group of performers, consisting of a soloist,
drummer, guitarist/s, and keyboardist, or a small group of singers (for example, boy band
such as A-1, Backstreet Boys, N Sync, Boys to Men, Take Five, and Show Boys).

Buglusan 2019 March Band Competetion, Negros Oriental

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A-1, a boyband
✓ Rondalla. A rondalla is a band usually composed stringed instruments (banduria, laud,
octavina, piccolo, guitarra, and bajo). It is the best-known instrumental group in the
Philippines today.

✓ Chamber Orchestra. A chamber orchestra is an ensemble larger than a chamber

ensemble and smaller than a full orchestra.

✓ Chamber Ensemble. A chamber ensemble is a small group of instrumental players. The

number of musical instruments ranges from one to nine. Chamber music written for only
one instrument (violin, cello, flute, oboe, horn, etc.) is called solo sonata; for two, duo; for
three, trio, for four, quartet (for example, a piano quartet or a string quartet); for five,
quintet; for six, sextet; for seven, septet; for eight, octet; and for nine, nonet.

✓ Special Ensemble
A special ensemble a grouping other than the ones earlier mentioned. Examples of this are
family ensembles (Tajanlangit and Figueroa families) which are composed of family members
and ensembles who use electronic media instead of the traditional musical instruments. The
Pangkat Kawayan or Bandang Kawayan whose members paly instruments made of bamboo is
also considered a special ensemble.

MEDIUMS
The mediums of music are classified into vocal (voices) and instrumental (musical instruments)

❖ Vocal Media
Vocal Media, as the term suggest, pertain to male and female voices.

✓ Male Voices
Male voices have three registers: alto (lowest), baritone (middle), and tenor (highest). The lowest
of the male vocal registers is the basso profundo.

✓ Female Voices

Female voices also have three registers: alto (lowest), mezzo soprano (middle), and soprano
(highest). The highest of the female vocal registers is the coloratura soprano.

❖ Instrumental Media

Instrumental media pertain to the different instruments played by musicians. Most of these
instruments form part of the orchestra. Based on how their sounds are produced, they are
classified into string or stringed, wind, percussion, and keyboard instruments.

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✓ String/Stringed Instruments

String or stringed instruments, as their name suggest, have strings which are either plucked or
bowed. The plucked strings are guitars, ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, harps, and the erstwhile
lyres. The bowed strings are violins, violas, violincellos or cellos, and double basses or
contrabasses.

Stringed Instruments

✓ Wind Instruments

Wind instruments, as their name suggest, require wind to produce sound so they are blown.
Based on the materials that are used to create the, they are classified into woodwind instruments
and brass instruments. The piccolos, flutes, oboes, English horns, clarinets, bass clarinets,
bassoons, and contrabassoons are the woodwind instruments. The brass instruments consist
of the saxophone, trumpets, French horns, trombones, tubas, and cornets.

Wind Instruments

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✓ Percussion Instruments

Percussion instruments are beaten or struck. They come in a variety of forms. The drums (kettle
dums, snare drums, side drums, etc.), glockenspiels, xylophones, marimbas, gongs, cymbals,
triangles, and chimes belong to this group.

Percussion Instruments

✓ Keyboard Instruments

Keyboard instruments, as their name suggest, have keys which are pressed to produce the
desired sounds. They include the piano, the organ, the celesta, the piano accordion, and the
harmonium.

Keyboard Instruments

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