Musical Terms (updated 3/12/13)
Notes from 3/12/13 Music 150
Form - Musical structure and design
Octave - the repetition of a pitch or melody at a higher or lower area. The song "Somebody that I Used To Know" by Gotye in class to illustrate this. The first two verses are the male singing the melody at a lower pitch. For the chorus, "But you didn't have to cut me off...", he is singing at the next octave, and uses more force to his voice to sing the high notes. In the third and final verse, the woman's voice is an octave higher than the man's voice was in the chorus. So this song covers 3 different octaves for tension, interest, and the progression of the story.
Repetition - literal repeats of the same material.
Contrast - completely new material from the first musical idea
Variation - when the original material is slightly changed to create interest
The above three methods used in conjunction are the methods used in achieving musical interest.
Theme - the tune in classical music. Not just repeated, but expanded and "developed"
Thematic development - when a theme is fragmented and used in different ways.
Motive - a fragment of a melody. Very little piece that is recognizable, but not as long as a phrase.
Sequence - the repetition of a motive at a higher or lower pitch. Beethoven's fifth symphony is a great example.
Ostinato - a short musical pattern that is repeated over and over as the basis of a musical composition. Ex. A blues riff or the Theme from Peter Gunn.
Parts of a popular song:
Introduction - obviously, heard at the beginning of a song. May have elements of later sections to "foreshadow" melodies, harmonies, rhythms, etc. Typically will not have lyrics, but it may.
Verse - narrative part of a song. Sets the story, solo singer with accompaniment, occasional harmony. Usually 4-bar phrases, probably 4 or 8 phrases.
Pre-chorus - optional. After verse, the music can change significantly enough to be called a new section, but it's not as much an arrival as the chorus. Usually a build-up between verse and chorus. Not as long as the verse, probably only 4-8 bars.
Chorus - the "hook" of the song. Very memorable, uses harmonies, repetition, possibly the title of the song resides here. 4-bar phrases in 4 lines is common, either 2 lines repeated, or 4 lines that each start the same.
Bridge - sometimes after the first verse and chorus combination, usually after the second verse/chorus combination. A new section (contrast) that will require a new section name (if verse is A and chorus is B, bridge will be C). Not as tuneful or memorable as chorus or verse. Usually leads back into another chorus or a solo section, etc.
Interlude - an (usually) instrumental part that is placed between a verse and a chorus, or between a chorus and the next verse. Nay use the same musical elements as the intro, verse, and/or chorus, and is designed to give a break between the action of a verse/chorus combination that doesn't have much space in them.
The same chord progression can be used to write many songs.
Axis of Awesome 4-chord song(s) - this video has the song titles as they go by.
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ÊTheme - the tune in classical music.Not just repeated, but expanded and "developed"
ÊA motive is a part of a phrase.Ê A complete phrase combines with other complete phrases to form a section.Ê
ÊThe Form of a composition is discussed in sections, not phrases or themes.
ÊListening examples from class:
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Ain't Nobody Got Time For That Form is AAABACAA. Some of the A sections are a cappella, others have the bass drum or hand claps playing the beat. Many things throughout that use repetition, variation, contrast to create interest in a short song.
Elvis Costello and the Brodsky [String] Quartet: For Other Eyes
Movie trailer for Letters to Juliet
As before, be able to identify the title / composer, but now focus on instruments that you are hearing, the meter, and the texture, phrases / cadences, harmony, etc.