Transcript elements of music

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
There are several key elements of music. When
combined and used correctly they express emotion
and provide us with “singable”, enjoyable pieces that
can represent time, place and even become what we
use to describe who we are and what we represent.
Rhythm

Definition: The patterns of long and short
sounds and silences in music.

To create a rhythm combine any variety of
notes and rests together (see your note and
rest value chart).

Rhythms can and are performed throughout
any piece of music by any instrument,
however, we can mostly recognize a rhythm
when it is performed on a percussion
instrument.
Beat

Definition: A steady pulse contained in
music.

Music is organized with time signatures
that indicate how many beats are found
within one measure of music.

2
4
The top number of the time signature
indicates how many beats will appear in
one measure/bar of music.
3
4
4
4
6
8
6 over 8 means 6 beats per bar
4 over 4 means 4 beats per bar

The bottom number of the time signature
indicates what type of note receives one
beat.
The 8 in 6/8 time means an eighth note receives one beat
2
4
3
4
4
4
6
8
The 4 in 4/4 time means a quarter notes receives one beat

The time signature appears at the
beginning of the music after the clef
(treble or bass).

It does not appear in any other measure
unless there is a time change throughout
the piece.
Tempo

Definition: The pace or speed at which a
piece of music is performed.

Tempo markings are traditionally given in
Italian and the words that refer to tempo
can be categorized in the following ways:
SLOW

Grave – extremely slow and solemn

Adagio – very slow

Lento – slow

Largo – slow and broad

Larghetto – less slow than largo
MEDIUM

Andante – rather slow, at a moderate
walking pace

Andantino – a little faster than andante

Moderato – at a moderate pace

Allegretto – fairly quick, slightly slower than
allegro
FAST

Con moto – with movement, or a certain quickness

Allegro – lively, rather quick

Vivace – quick and lively

Veloce – with velocity

Rapido – rapid

Presto – very quick

Prestissimo – as quick as possible
Other words that refer to Tempo

Accelerando – gradually getting quicker

Meno mosso – less movement, slower

Ritardando – gradually getting slower

Rallentando – gradually getting slower

Tempo rubato – robbed time
DYNAMICS

Definition: The volume of the sound, as well as
the style in which the performer plays the
instrument/music.

It is important to not confuse how loud or soft
something is on a recorded performance. It is
easy to turn up (or down) the volume using an
electronic device.
Dynamics

When dynamics are discussed in regards
to orchestration we are referring to how
loud or soft each instrument can perform
on its own, the stylistic elements that
support that sound and finally what
dynamics they can create when combining
and performing as an ensemble or
orchestra.
Italian Terminology
Italian
Terminology
SYMBOL
Translation
pianissimo
piano
pp (ppp)
P
As soft as possible
Soft
mezzo piano
mezzo forte
forte
mp
mf
f
Medium soft
Medium loud
Loud
fortissimo
ff (fff)
As loud as possible
Variations in Volume
Italian Terminology
SYMBOL
Translation
Crescendo
Gradually louder
Decrescendo
Gradually softer
Sforzando
sfz
Forte – piano
fp
or sf
Strongly accented
Loud, then immediately soft
Terminology referring to “style” of
playing
Italian Terminology
brilliante or con brio
Translation
With brilliance or vivacity
cantabile
dolce
legato
In a singing style
Sweetly
Smoothly
scherzando
staccato
tenuto
Playfully
Detached
Held
vivace
Lively
TIMBRE

Definition: The unique quality or qualities
inherent in sounds that allow us to
distinguish between them.

Timber (TAMBOUR – as in
“tambourine”) has also been referred to
as the tone colouring of an instrument.

The distinct tone quality of an instrument
can be represented by the colour that
matches the sound.

Let us consider the Flute.
What colour(s) would you think best
represents the sound quality of this
instrument?

It is also important to consider how the
instrument is being played.

Quickly review in your notes some of the
Italian terminology that is used to
describe the styles of how one can
perform on their instrument...

At this point, depending on the style in
which the instrument is being played,
specific colours and/or descriptive words
could be used to best interpret the
sounds you hear!

There are major differences between the
families of instruments and how they
sound.

There are also differences that occur
within each family. For example Flute vs.
Bassoon (both Woodwind), however very
different tone qualities.
PITCH

Definition: The degree of highness or
lowness of a sound.
The Staff

Music is written on a STAFF of five lines
and the four spaces between
5
4
3
2
1
It is important to remember to count from the bottom
up!
Music Notation

Music notes are oval shaped symbols that
are placed on the lines and in the spaces.
They represent musical sounds, called
PITCHES.

If the notes appear higher on the staff
they sound higher in pitch.

If the notes appear lower on the staff they
sound lower in pitch.
Organizing Musical Sounds

Musical notes are named after the first
seven letters of the alphabet:

A B C D E F G A B C D E F G A B C ...
they keep repeating over and over and by
their position on the staff they can
represent the entire range of musical
sound.
Clefs in Music Notation

Clef signs help to organize the staff so
notes can easily be read.
Treble Clef

The treble clef is used for notes in the
higher pitch ranges. The treble clef (or G
clef) has evolved from a stylized letter G
into the present:

The curl of the treble clef circles the line
on which the note G is placed. This G is
above middle C (The C nearest the
middle of the keyboard).
Note naming patterns – drawing
and naming notes!

Take out a pencil and on a new sheet of
paper create the following – a blank staff:

Use a ruler if you have one to ensure they
are straight and even!

Now draw the treble clef and create 5
notes, one on each line (leave some space
between each note so that they do not
stack on top of each other). Somewhat
like this...

Do not colour them in and only draw
them on the five lines!

Now let’s name the five line notes that
appear in the treble clef...
Note naming patterns
In the treble staff the names of the line
notes from bottom to top are:
EGBDF
 This order can be memorized with the
saying:
Every, Good, Boy, Deserves, Fudge

Or...

Now recreate a new staff (including the
treble clef) and fill in the four spaces using
whole notes...

Get ready to name them...

The names of notes in the spaces spell
the word:
FA C E
The Bass Clef

The Bass clef (pronounced “base”) is used
for notes in the lower pitch ranges. The
bass clef (or F clef) has evolved from the
stylized letter f into:

The two dots of the bass clef surround
the fourth line, the line on which the note
F is played.

For a third time create a staff on your
paper only this time practice drawing the
bass clef – try to place the two dots
directly in the 3rd and 4th space
surrounding that fourth line.

It is very important to indicate the dots in
those exact spaces or you are not
drawing the symbol correctly!

Now draw on the 5 line notes leaving
room in between (no “snowman” or
stacking!)

Let’s name these notes...
In the bass staff the names of the notes
on the lines from bottom to top are:
G B D FA
 The phrase that can help you memorize
this order is:
Good, Boys, Do, Fine, Always

Or...

Finally, one last time create a staff
(including the bass clef) and draw on the
four space notes

Unfortunately the space note names do
not combine to make a word.

Do you know a phrase that can be used
as a way to identify the notes of the bass
clef?

The space notes appear from bottom to
top as:
ACEG

The phrase that can help you memorize
this order is:
All, Cows, Eat, Grass
Or...
MELODY

Definition: A series of pitches that move
forward (the sing-able part) within a piece
of music.
Types of Melody

There are two types of Melody.
CONJUNCT

A conjunct melody is a melody that
moves in stepwise motion.
DISJUNCT

A Disjunct melody is one that moves with
more leaps (jumps) than steps.
HARMONY

Definition: Combinations of pitches
sounding simultaneously.

Consider two performers presenting a
piece to an audience. If one instrument is
performing on whole notes while the
other is playing the main melody there
will be harmony.

Instruments that have strings (violin, harp)
or tuned percussion (piano, xylophone)
can play harmony on their own.

However, instruments like Flute, Clarinet,
or Trumpet, need to have other
performers playing with them for the
harmony to occur.
FORM

Definition: The structure of a piece of
music, the way a piece of music is
organized.

There are many forms in music, but the
main elements you need to consider
when defining a piece of music is the
repetition and contrast that occurs in the
melody.

Forms have been categorized based on
letter names, for example A B form is
known as BINARY Form

ABA form is known as TERNARY Form
where there is a repeat of an entire
section – the A section of the melody.
In Modern or 20th Century music
sections or musical ideas have been
categorized using the terms “Chorus” (or
Refrain) and “Verse”.
 There may even be a “Bridge” which is
sometimes a completely different idea
within the melody that often occurs near
the end of the song.


Example:
Verse1 Chorus Verse2 Chorus Bridge Chorus Chorus

The text of most Modern music can easily
organize the sections of the melody as we
can (almost always) understand the
language and therefore identify where the
repetition of the melody occurs.
TEXTURE

Definition: The fabric or layering of sound
created by melody, harmony and tone
colouring (timbre).

Consider all of the instrumentation that
can be combined to create a single piece
of music.

Each instrument is responsible for a
melodic and/or rhythmic line.

When each instrument combines
together with the ensemble (orchestra)
the texture is specific to what and how
they are performing.
Different Textures

Homophonic:
A soloist performing a melody.

Monophonic:
A soloist performing a melody with
accompaniment (for example Flute with
Piano).

Polyphonic:
Many musicians performing/combining
rhythmic and melodic patterns together.
Resources for images:

world-of-songwriting.com