MELODY

 It is defined as a series of succession of usually related

consecutive tones varying in pitch and duration.

Properties of Melody
There are 5 properties of melody that gives it infinitive variety. An understanding
of these properties will help the students listen perceptively to this element.

1. Rhythm
2. Dimension
3. Register
4. Direction
5. Progression
1. Rhythm
“Rhythm can exist without a melody but melody cannot exist without
rhythm”

2. Dimension Melody has two dimensions

1. Length - it maybe long or short depending on the composer. It may last only in seconds or minutes.
2. Range – this is the pitch distance from its lowest to highest tone .

Example of Range

Narrow Wide
3. Register
The relative highness or lowness of the aggregate tones of a melody. A melody may occupy high, medium,
or low register. High registered melodies are usually sung by sopranos or tenors, while low-registered
tunes are sung by baritones, basses and altos

4. Direction
Melody has directions of pitch (a) upwards- pitches getting higher, (b) downwards- pitches going
lower. The directions are always present in a melody and either may predominate in a melody.
5. Progression
Refers to the intervals (pitch distance) between the tones as a melody moves from one tone to another.
- Often contains conjunct and disjunct progression

A. Conjunct progression-
A melody may move mostly stepwise- that is, progressing only to adjacent notes like
do-re-mi-fa-so la-ti-do etc.

B. Disjunct progression-
contains numerous skips like do-mi-so-do etc
Example:
CONJUCT PROGRESSION

Example:
DISJUCT PROGRESSION
 FUNCTION OF MELODY
The melody is usually thought of as the basis of musical composition. It is the musical idea around which the/a composition is constructed . It is the most appealing and attractive to the
listener.
It lies on the surface of the music . The high point of a melodic line is considered as the climax of a melody. It may appear at the beginning , middle or end of a melodic line or contour;
nor sometimes, it may even be indefinite . The melodic idea or basic tune of composition is called a theme. The theme is the paramount importance to a composition , and it provides
one of the most important approaches to intelligent listening.