Elements of Music

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Elements
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Elements
Harmony
Melody
Texture
Rhythm
Tonality
Form
Tempo
Metre
Dynamics Timbre
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Rhythm
Denition: Notes of different durations organised into groups and placed in time often in relation to a pulse
Keywords: Pulse, Beat, Time Signature,
Metre, Bar, Barlines, Simple TIme, Compound
Time, Tempo
Syncopation: The use of accents on
weak beats or between beats, creating
tension between the accents of the pulse and
the accents of the rhythm.
Cross Rhythm: Cross rhythm A
rhythmic arrangement which contradicts
expected metrical accents by introducing
a different pattern of groupings.
Hemiola: A specic form of syncopation, often
used in Baroque music, particularly at important
cadences. The most usual form occurs when a
piece in triple time places accents on alternate
beats, giving a temporary duple feel to the music.
Anacrusis: An unaccented note or a group of
notes which precede the rst strong beat in a
phrase of music. music.
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Tonality
Denition: Scale(s) that the melody and harmony are derived from.
Blues Scale:
Minor Scale: Harmonic, Natural,
melodic
Major Scale
Modes: Aeolian, Dorian, Phrygian,
Lydian, Mixolydian, Ionian,
Pentatonic: A scale of 5 notes.
Chromatic Scale - A scale of
twelve notes
Whole tone scale - A scale
consisting of six whole tones. All
intervals are equal so there is no
feeling of a key note.
Modulation: Change of key within a
composition
Diatonic: Notes used a derived from a
particular scale
Atonal: Having no tonal
centre
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Melody
Denition: Melody is a sequence of single notes; the main, most prominent line or voice in a piece of music, the line that the listener
follows most closely. When accompanied, the melody is often the highest line in the piece and stands out. Melody is often the most
memorable aspect of a piece.
Phrasing: length of a melody,
normally related to a human
taking a breath.
Contour: Shape of
a melody, pointed,
smooth
Melisma: Ornamentation of a syllable
when singing.
Sequence: Repetition of a
phrase at a higher or lower
pitch. The rhythm amd
melodic pattern are the
same in each phrase
Range:Distance between the lowest
note and highest note.
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Texture
Denition: Texture is the relationships between the different lines (instruments) within a piece.
Monophonic: One solo line or
voice, may have multiple
instruments but all will be in
unison.
Homophonic:
Melody with
accompanying
chords (Harmony)
Polyphonic: Music with independent
lines playing simultaneously.
Adjectives:
Thick
Thin
Solo Vs Tutti
Scoring: Division of music between
instruments or how they are
arranged.
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Harmony
Denition: A series of chords or progression.
Triad: A three note Chord
Chord: Two or
more notes played
together.
Cadences: Perfect, plagal, Imperfect,
Interrupted
Pedal Note: A
sustained note,
normally in the
bass with the
harmony changing
above it
Harmonic Rhythm:
Speed at which the
chords change.
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Dynamics
Denition: Volume changes from soft to loud in Music.
Forte: Loud
Terraced Dynamics : Blocks
of loud and soft sound with
movement between. From
baroque music.
Crescendo - Get louder over time
Diminuendo - Get softer over time
Piano: Soft
Decrescendo - Get softer over time
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Timbre
Denition: A sound; normally an instrument. Also means all the different sounds an instrument can make
Tessitura: The area within a range
of a voice or instrument where a
piece mainly lies; A piece with a
high tessitura means its average
pitch towards the top of its range
Range: How high or low and
instrument can play.
Attack - Beginning of a Sound
Envelope - Entire sound
consisting of attack through to
decay
Technique: The skill used by a player
or singer performing.
Decay - Dying away os a Sound
Idiomatic: Refers to the capabilities of an instrument; Also
what sets it apart from other instruments: E.g a Trombone
can glissando because of how its made.
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Form
Denition: A sound; normally an instrument. Also means all the different sounds an instrument can make
Ternary: Three sections where the
third is a repeat of the rst. ABA
Binary: Two distinct
sections. normally each
section repeats AABB
Through Composed - Music where there are no repeats
and ideas change and develop from beginning to end.
Sonata Form: An expansion of binary form. A
first section (exposition) introduces two or more
themes, the first in the tonic, the second in the
dominant or a closely related key. The next section
(the development section) develops the themes in
new keys, and the final section (the recapitulation)
restates the themes, but ends in the original key.
Sonata form emerged in the Classical period, and
was often used for the first movement of solo
sonatas, symphonies, chamber music and concertos.
Rondo: Multiple sections with the
main section returning between
contrasting sections. ABACADA
Strophic: Song form; Verse/chorus/Verse/
Chorus/Bridge/Verse/Chorus/Chorus
12 Bar Blues: Chord
progressions follows
something similar to this
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