Glossary
Arching (contour)
A melodic contour that first rises and then falls, creating a curved or wave-like shape.
Example:
A melody that ascends to a peak and then gracefully descends, like a musical rainbow, exhibits an arching contour.
Conjunct Motion
Melodic movement that proceeds primarily by whole or half steps, creating a smooth and flowing line.
Example:
Playing a major scale from C to C demonstrates perfect conjunct motion.
Contour
The overall shape or direction of a melody, illustrating its movement in terms of rising, falling, or remaining static pitches.
Example:
The opening of Beethoven's Fifth Symphony has a distinct falling contour followed by a sustained note.
Disjunct Motion
Melodic movement that proceeds by leaps (intervals larger than a step), creating contrast and often a more dramatic effect.
Example:
The dramatic opening of 'The Star-Spangled Banner' features prominent disjunct motion with its wide leaps.
Falling (contour)
A melodic contour where the pitches generally descend, often conveying a sense of calm, resolution, or sadness.
Example:
Many lullabies feature a falling contour, creating a soothing and peaceful effect.
Leaping (contour)
A melodic contour characterized by frequent and large jumps in pitch, often associated with disjunct motion.
Example:
A fanfare often uses a leaping contour to create a bold and dramatic effect.
Melismatic
A text setting in vocal music where a single syllable of the lyrics is sung over many different notes.
Example:
The elaborate vocal runs in a gospel choir or an opera aria are prime examples of melismatic singing.
Melody
The linear succession of musical pitches that is perceived as a single entity; it is where pitch meets rhythm, creating a musical statement.
Example:
The memorable tune you hum from your favorite song is its melody.
Motive
A short, distinctive melodic or rhythmic idea that forms the basic building block of a musical composition, often repeated and varied.
Example:
The iconic 'Jaws' theme is built from a simple two-note motive that creates immense tension.
Phrase
A complete musical idea, similar to a sentence in language, typically having a clear beginning, middle, and end.
Example:
In 'Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star,' the line 'Twinkle, twinkle, little star' forms a distinct musical phrase.
Phrasing
The expressive interpretation and shaping of a melody and rhythm by a musician, often involving dynamics, tempo, and articulation.
Example:
A pianist uses subtle changes in volume and timing to create beautiful phrasing in a romantic piece.
Pitch
The perceived highness or lowness of a musical sound, determined by the frequency of its vibrations.
Example:
A flute plays a high pitch, while a tuba produces a low one.
Range
The total span of notes from the lowest to the highest pitch used within a melody or a musical piece.
Example:
A vocal piece that requires a singer to hit both very low and very high notes has a wide range.
Register
Refers to how high or low a melody is situated within the overall range of musical pitches.
Example:
A piccolo plays in a very high register, while a double bass plays in a low one.
Rhythm
The organization of musical sounds in time, involving patterns of durations, accents, and tempo.
Example:
The steady beat and varied note lengths in a march create its distinct rhythm.
Rising (contour)
A melodic contour where the pitches generally ascend, often creating a sense of building excitement or tension.
Example:
The melody of 'Do-Re-Mi' from The Sound of Music is a classic example of a rising contour.
Stepwise (contour)
A melodic contour characterized by movement in small steps (whole or half steps), creating a smooth and connected feel.
Example:
A simple nursery rhyme often uses a stepwise contour, making it easy to sing and follow.
Syllabic
A text setting in vocal music where each syllable of the lyrics is assigned a single note.
Example:
Most pop songs are syllabic, with one note per word or syllable for clear communication.