Melody“It is the melody which is the charm of music, and it is that which is most difficult to produce. The invention of a fine melody is a work of genius.” – Joseph Haydn
Defining Melody:
Range – the distance between the lowest and highest notes•Narrow (as in a children’s song that is easy to sing)•Medium•Wide (as in some melodies played on an instrument)
Defining Melody:
Contour – the overall shape as the melody turns upward, downward, or remains static. The contour can be visualized as a line graph. •Ascending•Descending•Arch•Wave
Defining Melody:
Interval – the distance between any two pitches.
Melodies that move principally by small intervals in a joined, connected manner are called conjunct. Melodies that move in larger, disconnected intervals are described as disjunct.
Examples
Beethoven, Symphony No. 9 Range: narrow
5 notes Contour: wavelike Interval: conjunct
Joy to the World Range: medium
8 notes Contour: descending Interval: conjunct
Star-Spangled Banner Range: Wide
10 notes Contour: wavelike Interval: disjunct
Structure of Melody:
Phrase – a unit of meaning within a larger structure, like a sentence.
Structure of Melody:
Cadence – the end of a musical phrase, a resting place.• Incomplete• Complete
Structure of Melody:
Rhyme Scheme – describes the similarity in sound of the last syllables in each line of text.
Structure of Melody:
Climax – the high point in a melodic line, which usually represents a peak in intensity as well as in range.
Structure of Melody:
Countermelody – More complex music can feature several simultaneous melodies. Sometimes the relative importance of one melody over the other is clear, and the added tune is called a countermelody (literally “against a melody”)
Example: Trio section of Stars and Stripes
Music History
I. Medieval Period (450 - 1450) II. The Renaissance (1450-1600) III. The Baroque Period (1600-1750) IV. The Classical Period (1750-1820) V. The Romantic Period (1820-1900) VI. The Twentieth Century (1900 - )
