Pitch 6
From the syllabus:Pitch refers to the relative highness and lowness of sounds. Important aspects include high, low, higher and lower pitches, direction of pitch movement, melody, harmony, indefinite and definite pitch.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of pitch as relevant to the music studied:
• high/low: pitches can be comparatively high or low
• direction of pitch movement: up, down, same level
• melody: a horizontal succession of pitches
• harmony: two or more pitches sounding together
• indefinite pitch: untuned sounds, for example, the speaking voice
• definite pitch: tuned sounds, for example, the singing voice.
Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context):
• definite and indefinite pitch
• pitch direction and contour
• pitch patterns
• pitch range and register
• harmony
• methods of notating pitch, both traditional and graphic
•various scales, modes and other ways of organising pitch.
Students should be able to discuss the following aspects of pitch as relevant to the music studied:
• high/low: pitches can be comparatively high or low
• direction of pitch movement: up, down, same level
• melody: a horizontal succession of pitches
• harmony: two or more pitches sounding together
• indefinite pitch: untuned sounds, for example, the speaking voice
• definite pitch: tuned sounds, for example, the singing voice.
Students should understand and apply the following (where appropriate to the musical context):
• definite and indefinite pitch
• pitch direction and contour
• pitch patterns
• pitch range and register
• harmony
• methods of notating pitch, both traditional and graphic
•various scales, modes and other ways of organising pitch.
Tonality
Major Minor Modulation Atonality (Atonal) Definite Pitch Indefinite pitch Scales Semitone Tone Blues Scale/Blue Notes Chromatic scale Modal (Modes) Pentatonic Whole tone Harmony & Chords Harmony Chords - Major - Major 7th - Minor - Minor 7th - Dominant 7th - Diminished |
Arpeggio/Broken Chord
Chromatic Harmony Cluster chord Consonance Diatonic Dissonance Primary Triads Rate of chord change Repeating chord progressions Cadence - Perfect - Plagal - Interrupted - Imperfect Melody and Direction Ascending Descending Intervals Leaps Melody Octave Phrase Range Register |
Pitch Devices
Alberti Bass Cadenza Call and Response Canon Counter Melody Drone Imitation Inversion Melodic Contour Motif/Fragment Ornamentation - Appoggiatura - Grace Note - Mordent - Trill - Turn Ostinato Pedal Point Question and Answer Retrograde Repetition Riff Sequence Walking Bass Line |
Ostinato
When discussing ostinati (plural) in pitch you must make sure that you only discuss pitch features and not durational aspects. An (melodic) Ostinato is a musical pattern that is continually repeated (at least for a section). A true ostinato repeats the same pitch. If you hear the same melodic pattern at different pitches then you call it a ‘rhythmic ostinato’ but you can still explain the pitch features of the ostinato.
Here is an African piece from the move ‘The Power of One’. The basses are singing an Ostinato (from the start).
When discussing ostinati (plural) in pitch you must make sure that you only discuss pitch features and not durational aspects. An (melodic) Ostinato is a musical pattern that is continually repeated (at least for a section). A true ostinato repeats the same pitch. If you hear the same melodic pattern at different pitches then you call it a ‘rhythmic ostinato’ but you can still explain the pitch features of the ostinato.
Here is an African piece from the move ‘The Power of One’. The basses are singing an Ostinato (from the start).
This ostinato outlines the C chord and therefore uses arpeggio movement. Always try and graphically notate the pitch of any ostinati you hear.
This piece is by Bach (Baroque) it is known as a ‘Passacaglia/Ground Bass’. It is a particular piece of music with a repeating bass line. This Organ Passacaglia has a very clear bass line. A piece like this has a theme and variations structure with variation occurring on every repletion of the bass line. (See ‘Theme and Variations’ in STRUCTURE) The bass line in the ‘Canon’ example in Pitch is another example of an ostinato.
This piece is by Bach (Baroque) it is known as a ‘Passacaglia/Ground Bass’. It is a particular piece of music with a repeating bass line. This Organ Passacaglia has a very clear bass line. A piece like this has a theme and variations structure with variation occurring on every repletion of the bass line. (See ‘Theme and Variations’ in STRUCTURE) The bass line in the ‘Canon’ example in Pitch is another example of an ostinato.
Pedal Point
A pedal point is a continuous or repeated pitch over which harmony changes. Pedal point notes are usually the tonic (I) or dominant (V) notes
A pedal point is a continuous or repeated pitch over which harmony changes. Pedal point notes are usually the tonic (I) or dominant (V) notes
Question and Answer
The question is performed by one instrument. The question phrase is ‘unfinished’ and wants resolution from the answer phrase. The answer phrase may develop the melodic material used in the question. (I looked everywhere for a good example and couldn’t find one… you know what this sounds like!)
The question is performed by one instrument. The question phrase is ‘unfinished’ and wants resolution from the answer phrase. The answer phrase may develop the melodic material used in the question. (I looked everywhere for a good example and couldn’t find one… you know what this sounds like!)
Retrograde
A statement of pitch material in reverse order. The rhythm is usually retrograded also.
A statement of pitch material in reverse order. The rhythm is usually retrograded also.
Repetition
Repletion is self explanatory. Is the melody repeated? If so where in the piece, how much of the melody, etc…
Repletion is self explanatory. Is the melody repeated? If so where in the piece, how much of the melody, etc…
Riff
A riff is a repeated melodic pattern that may be used throughout a piece of popular music. An Ostinato is more of a continuous repetition. You may wish to discuss the durations and textural role of the riff if it is appropriate to the question.
A riff is a repeated melodic pattern that may be used throughout a piece of popular music. An Ostinato is more of a continuous repetition. You may wish to discuss the durations and textural role of the riff if it is appropriate to the question.
Sequence
A repeating melodic pattern that repeats up (ascending) or down (descending) each time. Sequences can be long, short, complex, simple , ascending and descending.
The first example is an ascending sequence, the second is a descending sequence. Both move by stepwise movement.
A repeating melodic pattern that repeats up (ascending) or down (descending) each time. Sequences can be long, short, complex, simple , ascending and descending.
The first example is an ascending sequence, the second is a descending sequence. Both move by stepwise movement.
Below is an example from Second Allegro (Op. 3 no 11) by Vivaldi.
Notice the descending sequence in the bass line.
Notice the descending sequence in the bass line.
Walking Bass Line
A bass line commonly associated with the 12 bar blues chord structure and the Blues genre. The walking bass line outlines/arpeggiates the chords (often dominant 7th chords)
A bass line commonly associated with the 12 bar blues chord structure and the Blues genre. The walking bass line outlines/arpeggiates the chords (often dominant 7th chords)
The notes with the flats are ‘Blue notes’ See ‘Blues Scale’ in PITCH.
An example of the walking bass line in a rock piece.
An example of the walking bass line in a rock piece.
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