Download File

Introduction
to Music
Elements of Musical Composition
Various Ways of Producing and Notating Sound
 Sound
 Rhythm
 Melody
 Harmony
 Tonality
 Texture
Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Duration
Sound is produced by vibrations of various materials transmitted through the air, received by the
ear, and interpreted by the brain. These vibrations can be produced using many different kinds of
materials and instrumentation:

Chordophones: produce sound by bowing, plucking, or striking strings. Chordophones have the
ability of producing multiple pitches simultaneously. Pitch is determined by the length and
tension of the strings (Harps, Violins, Pianos).
Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Duration
Sound is produced by vibrations of various materials transmitted through the air, received by the
ear, and interpreted by the brain. These vibrations can be produced using many different kinds of
materials and instrumentation:

Chordophones: produce sound by bowing, plucking, or striking strings. Chordophones have the
ability of producing multiple pitches simultaneously. Pitch is determined by the length and
tension of the strings (Harps, Violins, Pianos).

Aerophones: produce sound by causing vibrations of air using reeds, lips, and valves. Pitch is
determined by manipulating the column of air passing through the instrument (Flute,
Saxophone, Trumpet, Pipe Organs).
Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Duration
Sound is produced by vibrations of various materials transmitted through the air, received by the
ear, and interpreted by the brain. These vibrations can be produced using many different kinds of
materials and instrumentation:

Chordophones: produce sound by bowing, plucking, or striking strings. Chordophones have the
ability of producing multiple pitches simultaneously. Pitch is determined by the length and
tension of the strings (Harps, Violins, Pianos).

Aerophones: produce sound by causing vibrations of air using reeds, lips, and valves. Pitch is
determined by manipulating the column of air passing through the instrument (Flute,
Saxophone, Trumpet, Pipe Organs).

Idiophones: are instruments whose bodies vibrate to produce sound upon being struck, shaken,
brushed or scraped and whose pitch are regulated by their size, material, and density (Triangle,
Vibraphone, Glass Harmonica, Gong).
Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Duration
Sound is produced by vibrations of various materials transmitted through the air, received by the
ear, and interpreted by the brain. These vibrations can be produced using many different kinds of
materials and instrumentation:

Chordophones: produce sound by bowing, plucking, or striking strings. Chordophones have the
ability of producing multiple pitches simultaneously. Pitch is determined by the length and
tension of the strings (Harps, Violins, Pianos).

Aerophones: produce sound by causing vibrations of air using reeds, lips, and valves. Pitch is
determined by manipulating the column of air passing through the instrument (Flute,
Saxophone, Trumpet, Pipe Organs).

Idiophones: are instruments whose bodies vibrate to produce sound upon being struck, shaken,
brushed or scraped and whose pitch are regulated by their size, material, and density (Triangle,
Vibraphone, Glass Harmonica, Gong).

Membranophones: produce sounds by a vibrating membrane that can be tuned (have its pitch
regulated) by manipulating the tension of the membrane (Tympani, Kettledrums). Other
instruments do not have a fixed pitch (Snare Drums, Bongos, etc).
Sound
Pitch, Dynamics, Timbre, Duration
Sound is produced by vibrations of various materials transmitted through the air, received by the
ear, and interpreted by the brain. These vibrations can be produced using many different kinds of
materials and instrumentation:

Chordophones: produce sound by bowing, plucking, or striking strings. Chordophones have the
ability of producing multiple pitches simultaneously. Pitch is determined by the length and
tension of the strings (Harps, Violins, Pianos).

Aerophones: produce sound by causing vibrations of air using reeds, lips, and valves. Pitch is
determined by manipulating the column of air passing through the instrument (Flute,
Saxophone, Trumpet, Pipe Organs).

Idiophones: are instruments whose bodies vibrate to produce sound upon being struck, shaken,
brushed or scraped and whose pitch are regulated by their size, material, and density (Triangle,
Vibraphone, Glass Harmonica, Gong).

Membranophones: produce sounds by a vibrating membrane that can be tuned (have its pitch
regulated) by manipulating the tension of the membrane (Tympani, Kettledrums). Other
instruments do not have a fixed pitch (Snare Drums, Bongos, etc).

Electrophones: either produce or amplify sounds electronically. Synthesizers produce sound
using oscillators that can produce sound waves of different shapes and combinations to mimic a
great number of sounds. Synthesizers may be analog or digital depending on how they
manipulate the sound waves.
Pitch
A sound’s pitch is its position within the complete range of sound. Sounds are higher or lower in pitch according to the
frequency of vibration of the sound waves producing them. High frequencies (more vibrations per second) produce higher
pitches while low frequencies (less vibrations per second) produce lower pitches.
Cultures around the world have grown accustomed to appreciating a great number of tones as musical—without everyone
being in agreement!
Han Ya Xi Shui
Muslim call to prayer
The Western Tradition has standard pitches that have been developed from twelve distinct pitches (or musical tones) that can
be played in various octaves.
Cultures In Western music, standard pitches have long been used to facilitate tuning among various performing groups. The
current standard pitch of a’ = 440 Hz was adopted in 1939.
C Major Scale
Sadjagrama: Indian Musical Scale
Ake Bono: Japanese Musical Scale
Rast: Arabian Musical Scale
Dynamics
In sound production, loudness or softness is produced by adjusting the amplitude (size of the vibration) produced. Large
amplitudes produced loud sounds while small amplitudes produce quieter sounds.
The Venetian Giovanni Gabrieli (1556?–?1612) introduced the words piano (soft) and forte (loud) into his scores; they
became the basis of a system running from pianissimo (pp) to fortissimo ( ff ):
pp
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
mp
mezzo piano
moderately soft
mƒ
mezzo forte
moderately loud
forte
very loudly
fortissimo
very loudly
crescendo
gradually become louder
decrescendo
gradually become softer
p
ƒ
ƒƒ
Timbre
In music timbre is the characteristic tone color of an instrument or voice.
Duration
The duration of a sound or silence is notated using notes and rests which tell the musician or singer how long
to produce a tone or to remain silent.
Rhythm
Beats, Meter, Tempo
Rhythm involves establishing a pattern in music by establishing the number of beats to be played
in a measure and the meter or pattern and number of stressed and unstressed beats.
Tempo controls how fast the rhythm is to be played. A moderate tempo is often assumed to be
the rate of a heartbeat (72 beats per minute). Tempo markings in musical notation include the
following:
Presto: Very fast (168-200 beats per minute)
Vivace: Lively and fast (140 beats per minute)
Allegro: Fast and bright, march tempo (120-168 beats per minute)
Andante: At a walking pace (76-108 beats per minute)
Adagio: Slow and stately, at ease (66-76 beats per minute)
Largo: Very slow (40-60 beats per minute)
Melody and Harmony
Melody: organized sounds and rhythms.
Maurice Ravel-Bolero
Melody and Harmony
Melody: organized sounds and rhythms.
Maurice Ravel-Bolero
Harmony: two or more sounds played simultaneously.
Consonance
Aaron Copland-Variations on a Shaker Hymn
Melody and Harmony
Melody: organized sounds and rhythms.
Maurice Ravel-Bolero
Harmony: two or more sounds played simultaneously.
Consonance
Aaron Copland-Variations on a Shaker Hymn
Dissonance
The Twilight Zone
Mark Snow-Threnody in X
Texture
How melodic lines are interwoven or separated in a musical work
Monophony: A simple melody, often long and flowing that may have more than one performer,
but all are singing the same musical line.
Homophony: Two melodies created together with the second produced in harmony with the first
by adopting a similar rhythm and using same chord progressions.
Polyphony: Complex melodic lines which are long and asymmetrical, often sung or played at
different tempos or in to different rhythms. Dissonance is often created for sharp
contrasts and unexpected effect for the listener.
Monophony, Homophony, Polyphony
This work is licensed by EKerby under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.