elements of music a basic introduction to the fundamentals of music
TRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
Elements of Music
A Basic Introduction
to the Fundamentals
of Music
![Page 2: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Purposes of Music
• Convey specific emotions
• Tell stories
• Imitate sounds of nature
• Persuade others
• Invoke meaning
• Recreation/relaxation
![Page 3: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
The Main Purposes for this Course
• Ceremonial: ritual, celebration, commemoration
• Recreational: a means of diversion to support recreational activities – dances, social gatherings, festivals
• Artistic Expression: communicate emotions, feelings, ideas, or information (narrative)
![Page 4: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Basic Elements/Terminology
• Melody: Main theme/tune of the piece
• Harmony: Accompanying parts that are not the melody. They blend with/support the melody
• Rhythm: Patterns of sounds and silence – it’s the pulse/beat and how it is organized
![Page 5: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
Elements Continued…
• Tempo: Speed of the beat or pulse and the changes that occur to it.
• Dynamics: Degrees of loudness and softness
• Timbre/Tone Color: The quality of sound as determined by the instruments or voices that are performing the music.
• Form: The organization/structure of a musical composition.
![Page 6: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
Pitch, what is it?
• The sound of music is actually the waves that carry the sound from the initial vibrating item (instrument/vocal chords) to the listener’s eardrum.
• The number of waves or cycles per second determines the pitch. (This gives us melody and harmony)
How do these have an effect on the other elements of music?
![Page 7: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Effects…
• Dynamics/Volume – vertical size of the wave
• Timbre/tone color – shape of the wave and overtones created by combining waves
• Rhythm – when the sounds of the waves start and stop
![Page 8: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Melody: How the pitch changes and the pitch location
• There are four types: – Repeated pitches– Stepwise motion– Movement in skips– Motion in leaps
![Page 9: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Harmony
• Help to determine the key or tonality (tone) of the music (In conjunction with the melody)
• Major = happy or cheerful sounding
• Minor = sad, gloomy, uneasy, spooky
• Modal = major or minor but with a few notes that “don’t fit”
![Page 10: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Things we will cover later…
• Pentatonic scale
• Whole tone scale
• Atonal music
![Page 11: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Texture – An aspect of harmony
• Texture = thickness of sound– Monophonic: “one sound” music is performed
in unison; everyone plays or sings the same part at the same time. Therefore, Harmony doesn’t exist in monophonic music.
– Homophonic: “same sound” music has multiple or different parts being sung or played, but they are done at the same time. Melody and harmony exist, but melody rules!
![Page 12: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Texture continued…
• The final texture-– Polyphonic: “many sounds” music has
multiple, independent parts that are sung or played at the same time. Each part is as important as the others. Because the parts overlap, there is usually no silence, making this the thickest sounding type of the three.
![Page 13: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
A minor point:
• Vocal music that is performed without accompanying instruments is called “a capella”
![Page 14: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Tonality or Key
Sharp = raises the pitch by ½ step
Flat = lowers pitch by ½ step
Natural= cancels a sharp or flat
![Page 15: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Key Signature
• Another place you will find these symbols is at the beginning of a piece of music. Combinations of these symbols make up the “key signature”
• The key signature tells the musicians which notes are played or sung throughout the piece of music.
![Page 16: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Key Signature
![Page 17: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Rhythm
• The most complex element of music.
• Defined as the patterns of sounds and silences that make music move through time. Written as a fraction w/o the line.
• Usually top number= multiple of 2 or 3.– Multiple of 2 = duple meter– Multiple of 3 = triple meter
![Page 18: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Rhythm continued…
• Top number tells how many beats are in each measure.
• Bottom number tells what kind of note is equal to one beat.
![Page 19: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Silence counts as well…
• The duration of silence in music is notated using rests. Observe the following and note the similarities to the note values.
![Page 20: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Tempo
• The speed of the beat of the music.• Traditional tempo markings are done in
Italian terms.• The following are the most common tempo
markings:– Allegro – Fast– Moderato – Moderate– Adagio – Slow– Largo – Very Slow
![Page 21: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
VOLUME!!!! or Dynamics
• Dynamics are the degrees of loudness or softness (volume) and intensity of sound.
• Based off of two main Italian words – – Forte = strong and loud– Piano = soft
![Page 22: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Common Dynamic Markings
• pp pianissimo very soft
• p piano soft
• mp mezzo piano mod. soft
• mf mezzo forte mod. loud
• f forte loud
• Ff fortissimo very loud
![Page 23: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Greek Music
• Most of what we know is associated with the Greek philosopher and mathematician Pythagoras.
• He discovered how mathematical proportions were important in creating the musical scale.
• Logically, music is mathematical in nature.
![Page 24: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
More on Pythagoras
• Discovered certain mathematical proportions applied to the length of strings created pitches of different intervals.
• Octave – 2:1• Perfect 5th – 3:2• Perfect 4th – 4:3
![Page 25: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Greek Mythology
• Music was created by the Gods and Demi-gods such as:
– Apollo– Amphion– Orpheus
People with musical talents were considered divine
![Page 26: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Thoughts on Music
• Music was almost all monophonic
• Aristotle believed that music should lead a person to have noble thoughts.
• Music was believed to affect character; it was strictly regulated.
• Greek Purposes for Music: instruct, inspire, alter mood
![Page 27: Elements of Music A Basic Introduction to the Fundamentals of Music](https://reader035.vdocuments.mx/reader035/viewer/2022062423/56649e635503460f94b5fcd3/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Instruments
• Lyre: a small handheld harp – inspiration for lyric poetry, or poetry recited while the harp was played or strummed
• Aulos: a cross between oboe and bagpipes. Used in worship of Dionysis. Accompanied the greek theater, and thus the name for the “chorus” as singers/chanters in the play