Mclod

yCSEC CXC Music Class

Whut is
Mclody?
Whut is Mclody?

Melody is a series of notes (pitches) over a period of time.

The melody of a piece of music is usually the most striking. It is the upwards and
downwards motion of music over time.
Phrusc
s
Whut is u Phrusc?

Phrases divide melodies into musical sentences. Similar to punctuation marks, they show
where a musical thought stops, and another begin.
Phrusc Murks

Phrases marks indicate where performers may breathe, or musically regroup for a new idea.
Phrusc lcngths

Phrase lengths of four (4) and eight (8) bars are most common in music, and melodies
are often composed of several consecutive phrases put together.

Regardless of the length, a phrase has meaningful structure, with a beginning, a period
of
forward motion, and a definite stopping point (cadence).
Phrusc Endings

Phrase endings are logical places for musicians to break or pause in their playing,
signaling to listeners that what follows begins a new musical thought. Musical notation
may include symbols directing musicians when to pause.
Typcs of
Phruscs
 Ǫucstion und Answcr

A question phrase doesn’t

sound complete on its
own. Question phrases end
on a more unstable note
degree of the scale
(usually 2, 4, 5, or 7).
Question phrases are
normally followed by
answer phrases usually
ending on the 1st degree of
the scale.
Cull und Rcsponsc

Call-and-response phrases have been used as communication in various cultures, including

many in Africa, India and the Caribbean. In these, one player might play or sing a message
(the “call”) and another performer would reply musically (the “response”).
 Antcccdcnt und
Conscqucnt
When an antecedent and consequent phrase are connected, the entire thing is called a period.
Ante is Latin for “before,” and consequent is Latin for “following.” Antecedent phrases almost
always end on a note that is part of the V chord.
Pcrformuncc
Dircctions:
ORNAMENTS
Whut urc Ornumcnts?

Ornaments serve to decorate/colour/embellish the main notes of the melody. They may be
notated using special signs, or notes written much smaller on the staff.
Grucc Notcs

A grace note is a simple ornament, which merely decorates the melody. It is notated in
smaller type and is placed immediately before the note it ornaments. Attached to the
main melodic tone with a small slur, it either has a diagonal line across its stem, or no
diagonal line, and can be performed in several different ways.

There are two (2) types of ‘Grace Notes’, Acciaccatura and Appoggiatura.
Acciuccuturu

This grace note is played as fast as possible, on, or just before, the beat, producing a
“crushed” effect. The aural emphasis is on the main melody note.
Appoggiuturu

Appoggiatura grace notes are half the value of the main melody note. This gives them a
higher importance in the melody
 Tur
n
A turn is a quick, smooth ornament. First the note itself is played, then the note above, back to
the main note, followed by the note below, and lastly the main note again. It may be performed
as five equal tones, or fitted in quickly and rhythmically at the end of the melody note’s value.
 Trill

A trill calls for a rapid alternation between the main melody note and the note immediately above
it in the scale of the piece. It can be notated with either the tr marking, the wavy line, or both.
Often the trill concludes with a turn, or a quick use of the note below the main melody note.
Mordcnt

Mordents are like trills with just one shake, or repetition, of the ornamental note. The first
mordent symbol means to play the main note with a single rapid alternation with the note
above, or below. The second mordent symbol means to play the note below and then
return to the main note.
 Uppcr Mordcnt

A smooth, fast alternation—performed on the beat—between the main note and its upper neighbor.
 Lowcr Mordcnt

The vertical line through the mordent indicates the lower neighbor of the main note should be played.
Pcrformuncc
Dircctions:
DYNAMICS
Whut urc Dynumics?

Dynamics are the varying of loudness and softness at which music is played or sung.

Therefore, Dynamics relates to the Volume of the music.

Volumcs
Chungc in Volumc
Pcrformuncc
Dircctions:
ARTICULATION
Whut is Articulution?

Articulation is the manner in which the notes are played.

Acccnts

Musical tones may be played with a varying degree of emphasis, or force. Accents are
executed by vocalists and wind players with stronger air; string and keyboard performers
use heavier arm or hand motions to produce a weightier tone. Here are the various
symbols for different types of accented notes.
Murcuto

Marcato, or “accent mark,” means that performers should emphasize the note more than
the surrounding tones through extra volume or weight.
Murtclluto

This is a hammered, short, and fierce note. It is produced on a string instrument by

holding and striking the bow against the string with force.
Tcnuto

A straight line over or under the notehead implies that performers should take care to hold
the note for its full value.
Sforzundo

This indicates that the performer should strike the note hard with a sudden force, and back
away quickly.
Stuccuto

Staccato notes are marked by a dot beneath or above

the note head (depends on which direction the stem is
pointing). The tones should be short and distinct with a
space between each tone.
Lcguto

Legato is a curved line over or under the notes that indicates that the notes should be
played smoothly, without breaks in the sound (with one air stream, bow stroke, or
hand motion).
Pcrformuncc
Dircctions:
TEMPO
Whut is
Tcmpo?
Tempo indicates how fast or slow a piece of music is played. It also deals with the ‘rate of
change’ of the speed as well.

As a result, Tempo deals with the Speed of the music.

Vurious Tcmpi
Chungc in Tcmpo
Pcrformuncc
Dircctions: OTHER
EXAMPLES
Fcrmutu (Puusc)

A Fermata calls for the performer to hold a note longer than its specified value (usually
twice the original value). It is often used to create a sound of finality at the end of a section.
Cucsuru (Cut)

A caesura is a brief pause of an undefined amount and is open to interpretation.

Octuvc

Ottava

The marking 8va stands for the Italian word “octave,” and
when printed above the staff it means to play a note one
octave (8 notes) higher than it is written.

Ottava Bassa

The marking 8vb means “ottava bassa”, and indicates to

perform notes one octave (8 notes) lower than is written.
Ottuvu

Here, the sounding pitches look awkward in ledger lines; notating them on the staff with
the 8va marking is a clearer direction.
Ottuvu
Bussu
The pitches to be played on the bass clef are not easy to read below the staff. It is better to
place them on the staff and indicate 8vb.
Writing
Mclodics
 Mclodic Contours

The contour (shape) of a melody - the way it curves along, rising and falling in pitch - is very
important. When analysing Melodic Contours, various questions must be asked:

1. What shape does it have— in terms of notes moving upward or downward, or ascending or
descending?
2. What is the overall range, from the lowest note to the highest note?
3. Does the melody change the pitch direction frequently, or very little?
4. Where is the melody static with repeated notes?
5. Are there any unexpected leaps or changes?
 Stcps und Lcups

Most melodies have a mixture of steps and leaps. Moving from one note to another that is a
whole note or half note away is known as a step. A leap is when you jump from one note to
another that is further away. Scales have steps, and arpeggios have leaps. The mixture of steps
and leaps helps to give a melody its shape, or contour.
Rcpctition of Phruscs

If you are setting lyrics to music, they will determine the mood, rhythm, and phrasing.
But even a melody without lyrics needs a satisfying shape, with balancing phrases and
resting points. Phrasing can be regular, like the example shown below, or irregular, but
either way it should help the melody to feel well shaped.
Gruphic
Notution
Whut is Gruphic Notution?

Graphic notation is a non-traditional style of writing/scoring music. This may consist of

symbols, drawings, shapes, lines, patterns, and so on, visually indicating the composer’s
intention to the performer. Normally notated notes and traditional signs and symbols may
or may not be included. There is almost always a key to explain the graphics, and
sometimes also written instructions.
Exumplcs of Gruphic
Notution 1
Exumplcs of Gruphic
Notution 2