Music Fundamentals

Pitch

• Frequency = number of times a vibrational pattern repeats itself per unit of time

• Measured in cycles per second or “Hertz” (abbreviated Hz) [c. 20 – c. 20,000 Hz]

• The faster the repetition of the pattern, the “higher” the frequency/pitch

• Western standard of “A-440”• Overtones/partials = 2:1, 3:2, 3:4, 5:4, 6:5

etc.

Volume

• Amplitude = amount of displacement of air molecules produced by vibrating string, air column or percussive surface

• Measured in “decibels” (dB = ratio)

• The greater the displacement, the “higher/louder” the amplitude/displacment

Duration

• Conceptualized by patterns of meter and rhythm

• Meter = recurring patterns of strong and weak beats/pulses– “symmetrical” = duple / triple / compound– “non-symmetrical”

• Rhythm = arrangements of durations within a meter

Timbre

• Sounds of the same pitch, amplitude, and duration but produced by different media can be distinguished on the basis of timbre or “tone color”

• Different sounding media cause different pitches in the harmonic series (“overtones”) to be suppressed or amplified.

Scale

• Organization of pitches within an octave (1:2 ratio of pitches)– Pentatonic– Diatonic– Chromatic– Microtonal

• Scales generate both melodies (pitches considered diachronically) and harmonies (pitches considered synchronically)

Texture• Monophonic = all sounding media produce the

same sequence of pitches with the same durations• Heterophonic = different sounding media produce

simultaneous variations of the sequence of pitches and durations

• Polyphonic = different sounding media produce different sequences of pitches and durations exhibiting common interest

• Homophonic/harmonic = different sounding media produce different sequences of pitches and durations exhibiting unequal interest (melody/accompaniment)

Form

• Structural intelligibility of a particular musical event unfolding over time

• Exact repetition (same pitch/volume/duration/timbre)

• Variation (vary one or more of pitch/volume/duration/timbre)

• Development (elaborate one or more of pitch/volume/duration/timbre)

• Contrast (introduce new material)

• “Free” forms: no regular patterns of repetition and contrast (e.g., fantasia, rhapsody)

• “Fixed” forms: regular patterns of repetition and contrast– Binary (AB: AAB/AABB/AA’BB’, etc.)– Ternary (ABA: ABA’/ABACA/ABACABA,

etc.)– Mixed, e.g., sonata-allegro: Exposition /

Development / Recapitulation / Coda