Download Theory 9-26 - Introduction to Music Theory

Monday, September 26, 2011
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Music Sharing: Jack (XHS)
Review: Perfect and major intervals
Review: Minor intervals
Introduce: Augmented & diminished intervals
Aural Skills: Identifying intervals
Introduce: Solfège & Transposition
ET9
Homework: L37 & L38
Homework: Print out Noteflight compositions as they
are currently (dynamics, articulation markings, etc.)
An interval is the distance between two pitches.
The interval is counted from the lower note to
the higher note, with the lower note counted as
1 (count every line and space going up the staff).
 Intervals are names by the number of the upper
note (2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th) with two
exceptions:
 The interval that is between notes that are
identical is called a UNISON (unis.) (or a prime).
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An interval of an 8th is called an octave (8va).
Melodic intervals are sounded separately.
Harmonic intervals are sounded together.
Even numbered intervals (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8va)
are written from line to space or space to line.
Odd numbered intervals (unis., 3rd, 5th, 7th) are
written from line to line or space to space.
Two note combinations are also known as
dyads.
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Perfect Intervals:
 Unison
 4th
 5th
 Octave
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Major Intervals:
 2nd
 3rd
 6th
 7th
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When the tonic and the upper note of an
interval are from the same major scale, it is
called a diatonic interval.
All diatonic intervals in the major scale are
either perfect (P) or major (M).
This is true for ALL major scales.
P1 = perfect unison
P8 = perfect octave
P1, M2, M3, P4, P5, M6, M7, P8
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When the interval between the two notes of a
major interval (2nd, 3rd, 6th, or 7th) is decreased
by a HALF step, it becomes a minor interval.
A small letter “m” is used to signify a minor
interval.
Only major intervals can be made into minor
intervals; perfect intervals cannot.
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Augmented = to be made larger
When a perfect or major interval is made
larger by a HALF step, it becomes an
augmented interval.
To raise a sharp note by a half step, use a
double sharp.
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Diminished = to be made smaller
With the exception of a perfect unison, any
perfect or minor interval that is made smaller
by a HALF step becomes a diminished interval.
To lower a flat note by a half step, use a double
flat.
Since lowering either note of a perfect unison
would actually increase its size, the perfect
unison cannot be diminished; only augmented.
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Perfect: Unison (unis.), 4th, 5th, octave (8va)
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Major: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th
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Minor: 2nd, 3rd, 6th, 7th
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Augmented: unis., 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8va
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Diminished: 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, 8va
When the tonic and the upper note of an
interval are NOT from the same major scale,
it is called a chromatic interval.
 Minor, augmented, and diminished intervals
are always chromatic intervals in all major
keys.
 Chromatic intervals are the “opposite” of
diatonic intervals.
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Solfège is a system of note reading that assigns
a different syllable to each scale degree in a
major scale.
 1 = Do
 2 = Re
 3 = Mi
 4 = Fa
 5 = Sol
 6 = La
 7 = Ti
 8 = Do
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MOVEABLE DO = the syllables apply to the
same scale degrees, regardless of what key
you are in.
When a melody is rewritten into another key
with the exact same sequence of notes and
intervals, it is called TRANSPOSITION. This
raises or lowers the notes to make a melody
easier to sing or play, or so it can be played by
an instrument in a different key.
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The easiest way to transpose is by interval.
In the eleventh century, the music theorist,
Guido of Arezzo, developed a six–note
ascending scale that went: ut, re, mi, fa, sol, and
la. A seventh note, “si” was added shortly after.
The names were taken from the first verse of the
Latin hymn, Ut queant laxis,where the syllables
fall on their corresponding scale degree.
Ut queant laxis resonāre fibris
Mira gestorum famuli tuorum,
Solve polluti labii reatum,
Sancte Iohannes.