Music element: METER

METER is how the beats are grouped together, according to the STRONG and WEAK accents of the beats.

METER

Is most commonly grouped in sets of 2 beats, called DUPLE METER, in sets of 3 (called TRIPLE), and in sets or 4 beat (called QUADRUPLE).

DUPLE: feel of 2 beats: strong – weak

TRIPLE: feel of 3 beats: strong – weak- weak

QUADRUPLE: 4 beats: strong-wk- less strg – wk

In addition, METER can be classified into SIMPLE and COMPOUND

METER

SIMPLE METER :

Occurs when the main beat can be subdivided into 2 equal parts. Simple meters usually have the quarter note as the main beat.

Examples:

a) 2 b) 3 c) 4 # of beats

4 4 4 quarter = 1

METER

COMPOUND METER :

Occurs when the main beat can be subdivided into 3 equal parts. Compound meters usually have a dotted note as the main beat.

Examples:

a) 6 b) 9 c) 12 # of beats

8 8 8 dotted quarter = 1

A dotted quarter note = 3 eight notes (3 x 8)

METER To understand SIMPLE and COMPOUND meter

better let’s pay attention to this AP Theory video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMqBpHXseVs

Meter can be DUPLE, TRIPLE, QUADRUPLE, or MIXED, depending on the way beats are grouped.

Watch the video to see examples of simple & compound meter:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XXUChwbzl48&feat

ure=related

METER But how do we identify it?

Put on your listening ears: you need to start by “feeling” the beat of the song.

TAP the beat and try to identify where the “heavy” or accented beats are (stringer beats).

Now count how many BEATS you have in between, as you move from strong beat to strong to beat.

Listen to the examples in familiar tunes:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hx-4K7wlovk&feature=related

METER ACTIVITY In your journal write the following:

1) 4 3 3) 4 3

4 4 4 4

2) 4 3 4) 4 3

4 4 4 4

Listen to the audio examples – circle the correct meter for each example.

METER But how do we identify it?

Listen to the examples:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TB63_-zitwM&feature=related

Compound meter:

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvdbQyHhKbE&feature=autoplay&list=PL2639803D3506B9C4&playnext=2

TEMPO

TEMPO is the SPEED of the music.

• To describe TEMPO music uses a set of ITALIAN words to describe the various speeds.

• Usually the middle ground is set by the word MODERATO which means “in a moderate walking speed”- (your normal walking pace)

Tempo markings: Words that indicate how fast or slow

the music should be played

Largo Very slow

Adagio Slow

Andante Slow but moving tempo

HERE ARE SOME SLOW TEMPO MARKINGS:

Tempo markings: Words that indicate how fast or slow

the music should be played

Allegro Fast

Presto Lively and quickly

Prestissimo Very fast

HERE ARE SOME FAST TEMPO MARKINGS:

Tempo Activity: Look at the markings below: in your

journal, arrange them in order, from fast to slow (1-5)

___ Andante ___Moderato

___ Allegro ___ Adagio ___Presto

Would this arrangement be accelerando or

ritardando? _____________

Write it in your journal!

Changing Tempo Markings: indicate speed changes

ACCELERANDO: Gradually speed up

RITARDANDO: Gradually slow down

TEMPO PRIMO: Return to the original tempo

Tempo Activity: In you journal, COPY the following.

When we listen to the song, determine what the tempo might be: use the hint

on your worksheet

1. Pumped-up kicks: _____________________

2. VIVA LA VIDA: _______________________________________

3. WILLIAM TELL OVERTURE: ____________________________

Tempo Activity: Listen to the music examples and

determine what the tempo might be: use the hint on your worksheet

1. Shape of my heart : ___________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y_tHPWO_4gg

2. VIVA LA VIDA: _______________________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dvgZkm1xWPE

3. William Tell Overture:

____________________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NOmMRBHxU0w

TEXTURE: Describes how many layers or main lines of melody or harmony we have in the music

There are four types of TEXTURE:

• MONOPHONY or monophonic music

• HOMOPHONY or homophonic music

• POLYPHONY or polyphonic music

• HETEROPHONY or heterophonic music

WATCH this summary video

AP theory: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_J2R20X16Jc

MONOPHONIC TEXTURE:

• Monophonic music has only one melodic line,

with no harmony or counterpoint.

• There may be rhythmic accompaniment, but

only one line that has specific pitches.

• Monophonic music can also be called

monophony.

MONOPHONIC TEXTURE:

Examples of Monophony

• One person whistling a tune

• A group of people all singing a song together,

without harmonies or instruments, such as in

Gregorian chant -- http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Gregorian+Chant+Free+Download&view=

detail&mid=B8B65E532B63F1021E2EB8B65E532B63F1021E2E&first=0

• A single bugle (trumpet) sounding "Taps“

• Queen's "We Will Rock You : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-tJYN-eG1zk

HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE:

Homophonic music has one clearly melodic line (the

main tune); all other parts provide accompaniment

or fill in the chords.

It can also be called Homophony -- Listen : http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=scott+joplin+the+entertainer&mid=

EA029882872C33653382EA029882872C33653382&view=detail&FORM

=VIRE5

When other “tunes” are present but they are sung or

played with the melody, or have the same rhythm,

they are not independent melodic parts, and the

texture is still homophonic

HOMOPHONIC TEXTURE:

Examples of Homophony

• Choral music in which the parts have mostly the

same rhythms at the same time.

• A singer accompanied by a guitar picking or

strumming chords, or by a back-up band (most

commercial music is homophonic).

• A small jazz combo with a bass, a piano, and a

drum set providing the "rhythm" background for a

trumpet improvising a solo.

• Listen: Sting– shape of my heart

POLYPHONIC TEXTURE:

The music is polyphonic if more than one

independent melody is occurring at the same time.

Polyphonic music can also be called polyphony,

counterpoint, or contrapuntal music

LISTEN:

Pachelbel’s canon: http://vimeo.com/1653186

Les Miserables: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=one+day+more+les+miserables&mid=5322FED45B1

20112EDA75322FED45B120112EDA7&view=detail&FORM=VIRE3

Bach’s fugue: http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=bach's+fugue+in+g+minor&mid=867093FA

5E3214742F20867093FA5E3214742F20&view=detail&FORM=VIRE1

POLYPHONIC TEXTURE:

Examples of Polyphony

•Rounds, canons, and fugues are all polyphonic and

music where the parts sound independent.

•Much Baroque music is contrapuntal, particularly

the works of J.S. Bach.

•Most music for large instrumental groups such as

bands or orchestras is contrapuntal at least some of

the time.

•Think of a favorite pop or gospel tune that, near the

end, has the soloist “singing freeely" while the back-

up singers repeat the refrain.

HETEROPHONIC TEXTURE:

Two or more voices simultaneously performing

variations of the same melody

Heterophonic texture is rare in Western music.

•EXAMPLES:

Heterophony can be heard in the Bluegrass,

"mountain music", Cajun, and Zydeco traditions.

Listen for the tune to be played by two instruments

(say fiddle and banjo) at the same time, with each

adding the embellishments and ornaments that are

characteristic of the instrument.

HETEROPHONIC TEXTURE:

•Some Middle Eastern, South Asian, central

Eurasian, and Native American music traditions

include heterophony.

Listen for traditional music (most modern-composed

music, even from these cultures, has little or no

heterophony) in which singers and/or

instrumentalists perform the same melody at the

same time, but give it different embellishments or

ornaments

Listen:

TEXTURE LISTENING ACTIVITY: In your journal, make a list 1 through 5.

Listen and write the texture you think the example has .

Ex 1: ____________________________ http://www.classicalarchives.com/web_player.html

Ex 2: ____________________________ http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Bach+Fugue+In+G+Minor&view=detail&mid=A

C069CADD8F91AB40E3BAC069CADD8F91AB40E3B&first=21

Ex. 3: ____________________________ http://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=Hear+Gregorian+Chant&mid=5DEE4ECD3A73

EA1493C65DEE4ECD3A73EA1493C6&view=detail&FORM=VIRE2

Ex 4: __________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWNaR-rxAic

Ex. 5: ____________________________ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VpdB6CN7jww&feature=related

• Acknowledgements: Module adapted from “the basic elements of

music” by: Catherine Schmidt-Jones. • http://www.vevo.com/watch/enigma/sadeness-part-i/DEA210303260#/watch/enigma/sadeness-

part-i/DEA210303260