Download Basic Elements of Music

Audrey 7.2 - Music Theory
Basic Elements of Music
Music Elements
1. Dynamics
!
Dynamics is symbol that expresses the degree of loudness in a music piece. The dynamic
markings also indicate if there is a change in the volume.
examples of dynamics symbols/markings:
Term
Abbrevia
Definition
tion
Piano
p
Soft volume
Pianissim pp
o
Pianississi ppp
Very soft volume
mo
Pianississi pppp
ssimo
Pianississi ppppp
Extremely soft volume
ssissimo
Pianississi pppppp As soft as possible
ssississim
o
Mezzo
mf
Medium loud volume
forte
Mezzo
mp
Medium soft volume
piano
Fortississi ffff
As loud as possible
ssimo
Fortississi fff
Extremely loud volume
mo
Fortissimo ff
Very loud volume
Forte
f
Loud volume
Forzando fz or ffz Begin the note loudly with a very strong accent
or Forzato
Sforzando sf or sff or
sfff
Sforzato sfz or sffz
or sfffz
Combine Abbrevia
d
tion
Markings
Pianoforte pf
Fortepian fp
o
Fortissimo ffp
piano
Mezzofort mfp
e piano
Sforzando sfp
piano
Loud and accented
Loud and accented
Definition
Soft then immediately loud
Loud and accented then immediately soft
Begin the note very loudly, instantly diminishing to
a much softer volume.
Begin the note moderately loudly, instantly
diminishing to a much softer volume.
Begin the note loudly, with a marked and sudden
emphasis, instantly diminishing to a much softer
volume.
Dynamic Abbrevia
Definition
Transitio
tion
ns
Crescendo cresc.
Gradually increase volume
or
Decrescen decr. or
do or
decresc.
Gradually decrease volume
Diminuen dim.
do or
Gradually decrease volume
2. Harmony
!
Harmony is depicted as 2 or more notes played at the same time and refers to how
the chords are made and how it follows each other in time. Consonance and dissonance
are also included the harmony music element category. Consonance is a tone combination
that is stable and a dissonance is a tone combination that is unstable. Dissonant chords
are are active and move music forward and it has a resolution when moved to a
consonance. A triad is the most simplest and basic chord that consists of three tones.
Broken chords, or arpeggios, appear when individual tones of a chord are sounded on
after another. They may also appear in the melody or accompaniment.
3. Rhythm
!
Rhythm is the flow of music through time/sonic action in time and also the length of
notes and rests in a music. Rhythms are shaped by meters. Meters are rhythmic patterns
that are produced by grouping strong and weak beats together. Meters can be in duple (2
beats in a measure), triple (3 beats in a measure), and quadruple (4 beats in a measure)
and so on. A rhythm has certain elements like beat and tempo. Beats are a regular
rhythmic pattern. It divides music into equal units of time. A tempo is the basic speed of the
music and the speed of the beat. Tempo indications are usually given at the start of the
music piece.
largo! !
grave! !
adagio!
andante!
moderato!
allegretto!
allegro!
vivace!!
presto!!
prestissimo!
very slow, broad
very slow, solemn
slow
moderately slow, a walking pace
moderate
moderately fast
fast
lively
very fast
as fast as possible
When a tempo starts to become faster, it is written as accelerando; when it becomes
slower it is written as ritardando.
4. Melody
!
Melody is the tune of the song. It is the memorable tune created by playing a
succession or series of single tones. A melody moves by small intervals called steps or
large intervals called leaps. A step is for example from do to re, re to mi, and mi to fa and
so on. A larger interval or leap is for example like from do to mi, do to sol, and so on. There
is a variety of effects on how and when the melody tones are performed. They are called
legato when they are played in a smooth and connected style and called staccato when
played in a short and detached manner. Short parts in lots of melodies are called phrases
and a cadence is the resting place at the end of a phrase. There are two types of
cadences, which is the incomplete cadence, where it sets up expectations and then the
second phrase ends with a complete cadence because it gives an answer and a sense of
finality.
5. Tone Colour
!
Also known as timbre; it refers to the quality of sound that distinguishes one voice
or instrument from another. Some examples of tone colours are like bright, dark, brilliant,
mellow, and rich as well as lush and dull. Changes in tone colour create sorts of varieties
and contrasts. The choir voices are also an example of tone colours:
SOPRANO - female; high voice
ALTO - female; low voice
TENOR - male; high voice
BASS - male, low voice
The tone colours of instruments help create or fit into a mood; for example a violin’s
soothing tone colour could create a calm and relaxing mood, meanwhile a trumpet’s
brilliant sound is fit for a heroic or upbeat melody.
6. Texture
!
There are three types of texture, and those are: polyphonic texture, homophonic
texture and monophonic texture.
Polyphonic Texture: when two or more melodic lines perform together and it also has many
sounds.
Homophonic Texture: when one main melody is accompanied by chords.
Monophonic Texture: when one main melody is not accompanied at all (without
accompaniment)
7. Instruments
!
Musical instruments are like the “colours” of music. The instruments are divided into
4 families:
String Family (string instruments):
bowed: violin, cello, doublebass | plucked: guitar, harp
Woodwind Family (woodwind instruments):
flute, saxophone, clarinet, oboe, recorder
Brasswind Family (brass instruments)
trumpet, tuba, trombone
Percussion Family (percussion instruments)
cymbals, triangle, drum, maracas, castanets
bibliography:
http://historyofmusic.tripod.com/id6.html
http://www.slideshare.net/jansonke/elements-of-music-2500243
http://trumpet.sdsu.edu/M345/Elements_of_Music5.html
http://www.music.vt.edu/musicdictionary/appendix/dynamics/dynamics.html
http://courses.washington.edu/matlab1/homework/Twinkle_Twinkle_Little_Star.png