LES 6.2: Elements & Principles of Art (Elements of Art: Auditory)

Music

Sound organized in a specific time

Considered an implement to cultural activities, answering a specific role or function.

During the times when man had to hunt for food, this was used as a corral to herd animals, or as an element of specific rituals or rites.

Singing or dancing to this was also often included in opportunities for members of society to gather and interact.

Rhythm, Dynamics, Melody, Harmony, Timbre, Texture

6 Common Elements of Music

Rhythm

One of the elements of music

Often associated to the terms beat, meter, and tempo

Element of music that situates it in time. It is the pulse of the music.

Beat is the basic unit of music while tempo refers to its speed (beats/second). Beats can be organized into a recognizable recurrent pattern, which is called the meter.

Beat

Part of rhythm

Basic unit of music

Tempo

Part of rhythm

Speed of beat (beats/second)

Meter

Part of rhythm

Recognizable recurrent pattern beats can be organized into

Largo

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Slowly and broadly

Andante

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Walking pace

Moderato

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

At moderate speed

Allegro

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Fast

Vivace

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Lively

Accelerando

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Gradually speeding up

Rallentado

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Gradually slowing down

Allargando

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Getting slower, broadening

Rubato

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in tempo

Literally "robbed time," rhythm is played freely for expressive effect

Dynamics

One of the elements of music

Refers to the loudness or quietness of music

Pianissimo [pp]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Very quiet

Piano [p]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Quiet

Mezzi-piano [mp]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Moderately quiet

Mezzo-forte [mf]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Moderately loud

Forte [f]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Loud

Fortissimo [ff]

One of the classical terms used to refer to variations in dynamics

Very loud

Crescendo

Part of dynamics

When composers indicate an increase in loudness

Decrescendo/Diminuendo

Part of dynamics

When composers indicate an decrease in loudness

Melody

One of the elements of music

Refers to the linear presentation (horizontal) of pitch (highness or lowness of musical sound)

By horizontal, it means that in musical notation, it is read in succession from left to right.

Pitch

Part of melody

Highness or lowness of musical sound

Harmony

One of the elements of music

Vertical

Arises when pitches are combined to form chords (when several notes are simultaneously played)

Can be described in terms of its "harshness": dissonance is the harsh-sounding combination while consonance is the smooth-sounding combination.

Chord

Part of harmony

When several notes are simultaneously played

Dissonance

Part of harmony

Harsh-sounding combination

Consonance

Part of harmony

Smooth-sounding combination

Timbre

One of the elements of music

“Color” of music

Quality that distinguishes a voice or an instrument from another.

Dependent on the technique, may give a certain tone or characteristic to music, much like how a painter evokes different effects or impressions onto the canvas.

Texture

One of the elements of music

Number of melodies, the type of layers, and their relatedness in a composition

Monophonic

Part of texture (in music)

Single melodic line

Polyphonic

Part of texture (in music)

Two or more melodic lines

Homophonic

Part of texture (in music)

Main melody accompanied by chords