Elements of Music

Music has eight elements that composers and performers manipulate to create pieces that stir hearts and minds. These elements are rhythm, pitch, texture, timbre, structure, dynamic, melody and harmony. These are the "language of music" and influence our interpretations of what we hear.

Rhythm Rhythm is the element of time in music. Duration how long a sound (or silence) is Tempo the speed of the beat Largo = "large" or labored (slow) Adagio = slow Andante = steady "walking" tempo Moderato = moderate Allegro = fast ("happy") Presto = very fast Other basic terms regarding tempo are: Syncopation - an "off-the-beat" accent (between the counted numbers) Ritardando - gradually SLOWING DOWN the tempo Accelerando - gradually SPEEDING UP the tempo Rubato - freely and expressively making subtle changes in the tempo.(a technique commonly encountered in music of the Romantic era) Pitch Pitch is a subjective sensation, reflecting generally the lowness or highness of a sound.The pitch of a sound is based on the frequency of vibration and the size of the vibrating object.The slower the vibration and the bigger the vibrating

object, the lower the pitch; the faster the vibration and the smaller the vibrating object, the higher the pitch. Consonance is a tone combination that is stable. Consonances are points of arrival, rest, and resolution. Besides that, a tone combination that is unstable is called a dissonance.

Texture Texture refers to the number of layers as well as the type of layers used in a composition and how these layers are related.There are 3 main textures, monophonic, polyphonic and homophonic. Monophonic - Music with only one note sounding at a time, having no harmony oraccompaniment. Polyphonic - Music with two or more independent melodies sounding at the same time.The most intricate types of polyphonic texture iscanon and fugue which mayintroduce three, four, five or more independent melodies simultaneously. Homophonic - Music with two or more notes sounding at a the same time, but generally featuring a prominent melody in the upper part, supported by a lessintricate harmonic accompaniment underneath. It is normally one main melody accompanied by chords.

Timbre Timbre is also known as tone colour. It refers to the quality of sounds that distinguishes one voice or instrument from another.The timbre of some instruments can be changed by applying certain techniques while playing. Composers use timbre much like painters use colours to evoke certain effects on a canvas. A variety of timbres can also be created by combining instruments or voices.

Structure The form or structure normally refers to the Ternary form or the Binary form. Ternary form - a three-part form (A-B-A) which is used most frequently. This

form can be represented as statement (A), contrast or departure (B) and return (A). Binary form - two-part form which is (A-B). This two-part form gives a sense of statement (A) and counterstatement (B)

Dynamic All musical aspects relating to the relative loudness or quietness of music fall under the general element of dynamics.The terms used to describe dynamic levels are often in Italian: pianissimo [pp] = very quiet piano [p] = quiet mezzo-piano [mp] = moderately quiet mezzo-forte [mf] = moderately loud forte [f] = loud fortissimo [ff] = very loud

Other basic terms relating to Dynamics are, Crescendo means gradually getting louder and diminuendo (or decrescendo) means gradually getting quieter. The accent means punching or leaning into a note harder to temporary emphasize it.

Melody Melody is a series of single tones which add up to a recognizable whole. it has direction, shape, and continuity. The tones of melody that is performed can vary its effect. Sometimes they are sung or played in a smooth, connected style called legato. Or they may be performed in a short, detached manner called staccato.A repetition of a melodic pattern on a higher or lower pitch is called a sequence.

Harmony Harmony refers to the combination of notes or chords played together and the relationship between a series of chords.Harmony accompanies and supports the melody. It is created by playing a group of notes, either simultaneously or as broken chords behind the melody thus giving it musical texture.

Sources: 1.http://www.wmich.edu/mus-gened/mus150/Ch1-elements.pdf 2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_theory#Timbre 3. http://www.ehow.com/about_5397504_eight-elements-music.html 4. http://musiced.about.com/od/beginnerstheory/a/musicelements.htm