MUTH II Chapter 11: Large-Scale Melodic Relationships

Large-scale tonal events

important melodic and/or harmonic relationships that do not occur in immediate succession but, rather, are separated by intervening material of lesser importance

Melodic prolongation

the extension of a tone’s dominance over a time span during which less important tones intervene

primary tones

the pitches toward, from, or around which the other pitches move; 1. longer and/or metrically stronger 2. more important by virtue of the position 3. supported by the underlying harmonic structure

embellishing tones

Normally the shortest in duration and they usually have a stepwise relationship to the more important tones

Secondary tones

Pitches that lie somewhere between primary tones and embellishing tones in the melodic hierarchy 1. usually members of the underlying harmonic structure 2. generally longer/stronger than embellishing tones 3. sometimes elaborated by an embellishing tone

melodic reduction

A representation of a melody using symbols; different levels is possible, each further approaching more closely the melody’s underlying structure

step progression

A sense of overall direction is imparted to a melody when there is a clear relationship between its more important pitches; used to describe large-scale stepwise motions

primary tones

Although step progressions do not always involve only _________ _____, these are usually the most clearly heard

large-scale arpeggiations

Chordal outlining involving nonadjacent pitches (often primary tones) over the course of several measures; less common than step progressions