Compositional Devices

Criterion 5 and 6

Call and Response

Consists of two distinct phrases, where the second phrase is heard as a response to the first phrase (call)

Ostinato

A short melodic phrase repeated throughout a piece of music

Rhythmic Ostinato

A short, constantly repeated rhythmic pattern

Ground Bass

A kind of ostinato used particularly in music of the Baroque era. It is a bassline that is continually repeated throughout a composition.

Riff

Riff is a kind of ostinato particularly used in jazz and rock music. It is short repeated rhythmic and/or melodic phrase

Syncopation

A temporary displacement of a regular metrical accent where the accent shifts from a strong to a weak beat

Polytonality

The use of more than one key simultaneously

Whole Tone Tonality

A piece using the whole tone scale

Modulation

A key change within a piece

Improvisation

Music that is created ‘on-the-spot’, without preparation

Chromaticism

The use of accidental notes outside the prevailing diatonic key

Imitation

The restatement in succession of identical musical material in two or more parts

Drone

A continuous unchanged note or set of notes that do not contribute to the harmonic development of the piece

Pedal Point

Sustained (often bass) note that supports the harmonic movement of the music by creating tension and resolution. Pedal notes can vary in length.

Ornamentation

Where the melody is embellished (or decorated) with ornaments; such as trills, mordents, turns, grace notes, glissandi, slide, pitch bends, drop notes, scoops, flams

Meter Change

Where the meter (time signature) changes within the piece

Polyrhythm

The simultaneous combination of contrasting rhythms, where the notes of one rhythm are not divisible by the notes of the other.

Irregular Time Signature

A time signature that does not conform to either a duple, triple, or quadruple meter. Examples include time signatures representing five or seven beats in the bar

Tempo Change

An ongoing change in the speed of a beat often occurs at the commencement of a new section of music.

Augmentation

The restatement of a theme where the notes are of a longer duration

Diminution

The restatement of a theme where the notes are of a shorter duration

Inversion

Where the intervals of an original musical motif are reversed

Sequence

The immediate restatement of a motif at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice

Retrograde

Where a musical theme (or motif) is played backwards