music theory 101

Two Part Interventions

Is a polyphonic piece with two voices utilizing imitation at the octave

Subject (in a piece)

The subject is stated at the beginning of an invention in one voice and is immediately imitated by the other voice. The subject may be played many times throughout the peace. It may be transposed, inverted or have rhythmic or intervallic variations.

Counter subject

The counter subject is a contrasting melody that is stated in the first voice immediately after the subject, the counter subject occurs as a second voice imitates the subject. The counter subject can be played many times throughout the peace.

Motive

A motive is a short melodic pattern, and it appears throughout a composition as a unifying element. It is distinguished from a subject by being much shorter and is often a fragment of the subject.

Imitation

Imitation is the immediate restatement of a subject or motive in another voice

Sequence

A sequence occurs when a subject or motive is repeated in the same voice at a higher or lower pitch

Inversion

A subject or motive is inverted when ascending intervals and changed into a corresponding descending intervals and vice versa

Polyphonic texture and homophonic texture

Polyphonic texture is music with two or more independent parts or voices melodies

homophonic texture is music with melody and in a compliment so no two voices it’s single like a Pringle!