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Lesson 1 Definition of Music & Elements of Music

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24 views2 pages

Lesson 1 Definition of Music & Elements of Music

Uploaded by

kasangadaniel62
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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MUSIC

Definition: Music is the combination of organised sounds in a specific time pattern which
sounds pleasant to the human ear. Music is a tool through which man expresses his feelings,
emotions and ideas through vocal or instrumental means. In other words it is the combination of
sounds and silences which are pleasant to the human ear.

ELEMENTS OF MUSIC
Music can be analysed by considering a variety of its elements, or parts (aspects, characteristics,
features), individually or together. A commonly used list of the main elements includes pitch,
timbre, texture, volume, duration and form.

1. Rhythm

Rhythm may be defined as the pattern or placement of sounds in time and beats in music. Roger
Kamien in his book "Music: An Appreciation" defines rhythm as "the particular arrangement of
note lengths in a piece of music." Rhythm is shaped by meter; it has certain elements such as
beat and tempo.

2. Melody
Melody is the overarching tune created by playing a succession or series of notes, and it is
affected by pitch and rhythm. A composition may have a single melody that runs through once,
or there may be multiple melodies arranged in a verse-chorus form. In classical music, the
melody is usually repeated as a recurring musical theme that varies as the composition
progresses.

3. Pitch
In music the pitch of a note means how high or low a note is. Pitch can be determined only in sounds
that have a frequency that is clear and stable enough to distinguish from noise. The pitch of a sound is
based on the frequency of vibration and the size of the vibrating object. The slower the vibration
and the bigger the vibrating object, the lower the pitch; the faster the vibration and the smaller
the vibrating object, the higher the pitch. For example, the pitch of a double bass is lower than
that of the violin because the double bass has longer strings.

4. Harmony
Harmony is what you hear when two or more notes or chords are played at the same time.
Harmony supports the melody and gives it texture. Harmonic chords may be described as major,
minor, augmented, or diminished, depending on the notes being played together.
5. Form
Musical form is the structure of a musical composition. The term is regularly used in two senses:
to denote a standard type, or genre, and to denote the procedures in a specific work. Musical
forms offer a great range of complexity. Most listeners will quickly grasp the form of a short and
simple piece, or of one built from many short repetitions. It is also easier to recognize familiar
musical forms. Understanding the form of a piece helps a musician put together a more credible
performance of it.

6. Texture
Musical texture refers to the number and type of layers used in a composition and how these
layers are related. A texture may be monophonic (single melodic line), polyphonic (two or more
melodic lines) and homophonic (the main melody accompanied by chords).

7. Timbre
Also known as tone color, timbre refers to the quality of sound that distinguishes one voice or
instrument from another. It may range from dull to lush and from dark to bright, depending on
technique. For example, a clarinet playing an up-tempo melody in the mid to upper register could
be described as having a bright timbre. That same instrument slowly playing a monotone in its
lowest register could be described as having a dull timbre.

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