Elements of Music Lecture 3 -- Mel-Har-Rhy

Elements of Music Overview

Definition: The main musical line that can be hummed or whistled; it’s the tune that stays in your head.
- Example: "It's a Small World" - the memorable part, such as "It's a Small World, After All" is the melody.
Emotional Connection: The Greeks believed that melody speaks to emotions, a notion still relevant today.
Characteristics:
- Single Pitch: Melodies consist of only one pitch at a time, thus are limited in range based on the instrument or voice.
- Descriptive Terms:
  - Conjunct: Melody moves closely between notes (steps).
  - Disjunct: Melody features larger jumps between notes.
Melody Examples:
- Practice drawing the melody of familiar songs, e.g., "Row, Row, Row Your Boat".
Phrase and Motive: A melody can be broken down into phrases (like sentences) and motives (like words).
- Sequence: A repetition of a melody at different pitches (e.g., moving "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" up and down).

Definition: The support for melody; it consists of multiple notes played simultaneously, complementing the melody.
- Often involves chords, which are combinations of three or more pitches.
Complexity:
- Harmony in jazz is complex, while popular music tends to use less complex harmonies.
Chords:
- Consonant: Harmonious sounds that blend well together.
- Dissonant: Tense sounds that clash or create tension.
- Example of triad: A common type of chord consisting of three notes a third apart.
Harmonic Triads: Developed around the concept of stacking notes in thirds, creating 'triads' (C-E-G, D-F#-A, etc.).
Seventh Chords: Chords that add a fourth note to triads (example: add A to a C chord).
Key Signatures: Set of notes used in a piece; determines major or minor tonality.
- Example: C major (C-D-E-F-G-A-B) vs. A minor (A-B-C-D-E-F-G).

Definition: The timing of sounds in music; how notes are organized in time, contrasting with the constant beat.
Beat: Steady pulse underlying music, akin to a heartbeat.
Tempo: The speed of the beat, which can vary but usually remains consistent within a piece.
Grouping of Beats: Organized into measures or bars, which can be categorized based on their strong and weak beats.
- Common Meter Types:
  - Duple: Strong-weak pattern.
  - Triple: Strong-weak-weak pattern (e.g., waltz).
  - Quadruple: Strong-weak-weak-weak pattern (common in popular music).
Syncopation: Rhythms that emphasize notes between the beats, often found in jazz.
- Example: Demonstration of syncopation through live performances and analysis of beat versus rhythm.
Polyrhythm: Multiple rhythms occurring simultaneously, common in various styles especially jazz.

Understanding the interplay of melody, harmony, and rhythm is crucial for grasping music fundamentals.
Encourage repeated viewing of the material and textbook reading for deeper comprehension.
Open invitation for questions for clarification.