The Elements of Music

Stefanie Lorimer

The Elements of
MUSIC

Music is sound.
Music is organised sound.

Music is organised sound in time.

The Elements of Music

combine to provide structure and organisation.
Beat/Meter Duration/ Rhythm

Tempo

MUSIC
Timbre Pitch/ Melody

Dynamics

Texture/ Harmony

The Elements of Music:

Beat/Meter

Is the result of the periodic effect of pulse in music. Pulse is organised regularly or irregularly by emphasising certain beats, resulting in meter. The above is an example of triple meter.

The Elements of Music

Rhythm/Duration

Is the arrangement of durational sonic patterns (sound durations) in relation to the beat. Sounds of different lengths are indicated by a range of note shapes, for example: The interaction between meter and duration is called rhythm.

The Elements of Music

Pitch/Melody
(Propagation of a 197 kb soundwave.)

Pitch is determined by the frequency of acoustic vibrations per second (hertz): the higher the hertz value, the higher the sound. A 440 (or concert pitch): this wave pushes your eardrum back and forth 440 times per second. Pitches are artistically arranged according to the gravitational relationships in a given tonal system to form melodies.

The Elements of Music

Dynamics

Refer to graduation of amplitude (louds and softs). Dynamic levels may be prescribed by the composer and/or interpreted according to artistic convention by the performer. Dynamic accents and repetitions are part of the structural organisation of music.

The Elements of Music

Texture/Harmony

Describes the depth, nature and relationship of various parts (voices). Refers to the vertical and horizontal arrangement of melodic and rhythmic elements. Example of monophonic texture (one melody). Example of homophonic texture (melody and harmony). Example of polyphonic texture (several melodies).

The Elements of Music

Timbre

Refers to tone colour or the essential quality of a sound. This quality is determined by the sound sources individual harmonic profile (combination of overtones). All sounds are made up of a fundamental and overtones. Some instruments use the overtone series to produce sounds. Composers mix tone colours or timbres like a painter might mix colours to achieve certain effects.

The Elements of Music

Tempo
Refers to the rate of speed of the beat. Is measured in beats per minute. Like dynamics, composers may indicate precisely which speed they require by indicating =X (beats per minute) or performers may interpret according to convention. Variations and repetitions of tempi patterns contribute to the structural organisation of music.

References
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/ Arts/music/elements/main.htm http://www.silcom.com/~aludwig/ http://www.smu.edu/totw/overtone.htm http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/forka nim.html