ELEMENTS OF MUSICELEMENTS 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.

RhythmRhythmDefinition: 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.

BeatBeat

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.

The top number of the time signature indicates how many beats will appear in one measure/bar of music.

2 3 4 6 6 over 8 means 6 beats per bar

4 4 4 8 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 3 4 64 4 4 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.

TempoTempoDefinition: 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:

SLOWSLOWGrave – extremely slow and

solemn

Adagio – very slow

Lento – slow

Largo – slow and broad

Larghetto – less slow than largo

MEDIUMMEDIUMAndante – 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

FASTFAST 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 Other words that refer to TempoTempoAccelerando – gradually getting quicker

Meno mosso – less movement, slower

Ritardando – gradually getting slower

Rallentando – gradually getting slower

Tempo rubato – robbed time

DYNAMICSDYNAMICS

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.

DynamicsDynamics

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 TerminologyItalian Terminology

Italian Terminology

SYMBOL Translation

pianissimo pp (ppp) As soft as possible

piano P Soft

mezzo piano mp Medium soft

mezzo forte mf Medium loud

forte f Loud

fortissimo ff (fff) As loud as possible

Variations in VolumeVariations in VolumeItalian Terminology

SYMBOL Translation

Crescendo Gradually louder

Decrescendo Gradually softer

Sforzando sfz or sf Strongly accented

Forte – piano fp Loud, then immediately soft

Terminology referring to “style” Terminology referring to “style” of playingof playing

Italian Terminology

Translation

brilliante or con brio

With brilliance or vivacity

cantabile In a singing style

dolce Sweetly

legato Smoothly

scherzando Playfully

staccato Detached

tenuto Held

vivace Lively

TIMBRETIMBRE

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.

PITCHPITCHDefinition: The degree of

highness or lowness of a sound.

The StaffThe Staff

Music is written on a STAFF of five lines and the four spaces between

54321

It is important to remember to count from the bottom

up!

Music NotationMusic 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 Organizing Musical SoundsSoundsMusical 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 NotationClefs in Music Notation

Clef signs help to organize the staff so notes can easily be read.

Treble ClefTreble ClefThe 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 – Note naming patterns – drawing and naming notes!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 patternsNote naming patterns

In the treble staff the names of the line notes from bottom to top are:

E G B D F 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:

F A C E

The Bass ClefThe 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 F AThe 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:

A C E G

The phrase that can help you memorize this order is:

All, Cows, Eat, Grass

Or...

MELODYMELODYDefinition: A series of pitches

that move forward (the sing-able part) within a piece of music.

Types of MelodyTypes of MelodyThere are two types of Melody.

CONJUNCTCONJUNCTA conjunct melody is a melody

that moves in stepwise motion.

DISJUNCTDISJUNCTA Disjunct melody is one that

moves with more leaps (jumps) than steps.

HARMONYHARMONYDefinition: 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.

FORMFORMDefinition: 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.

TEXTURETEXTUREDefinition: 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 TexturesDifferent TexturesHomophonic: 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:Resources for images:world-of-songwriting.com