Basic Music Notes Recognition

Rhythm. Is the most basic element of music, because music can do without the other elements but cannot exist without rhythm. Music played, or sung brings out a regular rhythmic pattern or pulsation which we call beats. Beats are grouped in a measure that contains units of four, three, or two beats called a meter. Rhythm is that movement through time of the arrangement of tones and silences, of the order of short and long notes, and the accents of these tones so that a regular movement is produced.

Musical Texture Texture Musical texture is the element of music that analyzes musical layers in terms of number and function. The most basic texture is called monophonic. Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law. Monophonic texture has only one layer, a melody. With monophony, it doesn't matter how many instruments and or voices are present if they are all singing or playing the same thing at the same time. It also doesn't matter if the voices or instruments are on the exact same frequency, or if they are singing in octaves. An octave is the distance between two musical pitches that sound almost the same, but one is higher and one is lower. It also doesn't matter if drums are present or not. In most cases, drums, the rhythmic layer, are neither melody nor harmony, and therefore are generally not considered when determining texture type. Too much monophony can be boring, so most music has another kind of layer, harmony. When a melody is supported by a harmony, the texture is homophonic. No one may ever know the feelings inside my mind. All the lines I ever write are running out of time. One layer grabs your attention, and the other layer is just hanging out in the background. Most popular music is homophonic. Notice how there was only one instrument in the previous example, a piano, but there were two different things happening on that instrument, a melody, and a harmony. What if a piece of music has multiple independent layers happening at the same time, and you're not sure which one is the melody? This is called polyphony. Polyphony can occur if you take the same melody but start it at staggered intervals. This is called a round. ♪ The last texture is called heterophony. Heterophony is relatively rare in Western music but is very common in non-Western music. It occurs when there are two or more versions of the same melody happening at the same time. Usually, one of the melody lines has more notes than the other, a kind of musical decoration, and or a slightly different rhythmic pattern. Songs will often use a variety of textures to keep the piece interesting. Come on, I need you, I swear, at this moment, you need everything. Come on, I need you, I swear, at this moment, you need everything. Start trying to identify the musical textures in your favorite music.

Create a quiz over the following topic: Visual Art: Elements of Art, Music, Dance, and Drama A. Elements of Visual Art: There are seven primary elements of art (line, shape, form, space, color, value, texture), the components from which any artwork can be built. Any artwork that can stand the test of time will contain these elements. Element 1 – Line Line is the most fundamental concept in art. This element leads the viewer’s eye around the artwork, communicating the piece’s meaning to the viewer. Without this element, none of the other elements could exist. At its most basic foundation, a line is simply a moving dot. When these dots overlap, the line is solid. When they do not overlap, the line is dotted or dashed. These “incomplete” lines can represent movement or hidden material behind the primary figure. Repeated lines create patterns, and these patterned lines create a rhythm for the work. Lines can be: • Curved • Zigzag • Horizontal • Vertical • Diagonal • Implied • Gesture • Varied thicknesses • Varied lengths Examples of lines and their meaning in art: Thick Lines – give emphasis and advance Thin Lines – recede and cause the eye to “lose interest” Straight Lines – rarely found in nature, thus are inorganic. Straight lines are dynamic and mechanistic. Curved Lines – gently change directions and have no sharp angles, suggesting calmness – Curved lines are more readily found in nature and are thus considered organic lines Works with pronounced curved lines include Van Gogh’s The Starry Night (1889). Note the movement across the sky.

Music note basics

Ostinato Music Definition Ostinato (plural – ostinati or ostinatos) is an Italian word meaning obstinate or persistent and is used in music to describe a musical phrase or rhythm that is repeated persistently. The repeated pattern could be a melody, a figure in the bass – called a basso ostinato or simply a repeated rhythmic idea. An ostinato may be played for an entire piece of music or just during one section. The key aspect to remember in the definition of an ostinato is that it is a pattern that is repeated persistently in a piece of music. Rhythmic Ostinato A rhythmic ostinato is a rhythmic pattern that is persistently repeated. It will often be played on an untuned percussion instrument (e.g. snare drum, triangle, etc..). However, rhythmic ostinati can also be found in parts played on pitched instruments where the note pitch stays the same or where the pitches change as the phrase is repeated. The key characteristic is that it is the rhythm that is persistently repeated.In Maurice Ravel’s “Bolero” the use of a rhythmic ostinato brings a magical and almost hypnotic feel to the piece as the percussive pattern contrasts with the sweeping and almost improvisatory nature of the flute melody. Have a look at the pattern below and listen to its use in the audio extract: Rhythmic Ostinato Example from Ravel Bolero.A rhythmic ostinato is an excellent technique that composers use for creating drama and tension. One of the most famous examples of this is from “Mars” by Gustav Holst. Have a look/listen to the rhythmic pattern: Rhythmic Ostinato Example from Gustav Holst Mars. This rhythmic pattern is played relentlessly throughout the piece and forms the basis for the intense drama associated with the subject – Mars, the god of war! Have a listen to this extract of the piece performed by the United States Air Force Band:You can hear how the relentless sound of a rhythmic ostinato is extremely effective at building tension as the music around it changes and develops. This effect is heightened in the extract from Mars as the bass note remains on a G throughout the extract and acts as a pedal point. Not surprisingly, rhythmic ostinati are used widely in dramatic film music. Hans Zimmer is a film composer who makes considerable use of this technique across the many film scores he has written. Have a listen to the opening from his theme for the film “Pirates of the Caribbean” performed by the Auckland Symphony Orchestra:You can hear that there are a number of different ostinati in many of the different parts that are layered to produce the overall sound. Here is the rhythmic ostinato that forms the basis of the melody line: Rhythmic Ostinato Example Hans ZimmerMelodic ostinato A melodic ostinato is a repeated pattern where both the rhythm and the melody form the basis for the repeated pattern. These often occur in the bass part where they are called a basso ostinato. Basso Ostinato A basso ostinato is a repeated pattern in the bass part of a piece. This technique became particularly popular in the 17th century where a number of Baroque dances were based upon ostinati in the bass part. In dances such as the passacaglia the bass remained constant throughout the piece whilst the other parts developed. This technique is called “ground bass” and you can have a look at my lesson on ground bass for some examples of this. The most famous example of a basso ostinato is Pachelbel’s Canon in D. Ostinati Examples in Contemporary Music Rhythmic and melodic ostinatos have had a massive influence on contemporary popular music across a wide range of genres. This can be seen in 2 main ways: Riffs (short melodic phrases) – these are effectively contemporary expressions of ostinato. Loops – rhythmic and melodic phrases are repeated to create the characteristic sound of contemporary productions. As a result, you will probably be able to find examples of the use of repeated patterns/ostinati in most contemporary songs. However, there are some songs where the use of an ostinato provides the clear foundation for the song and these are useful examples to listen to. Examples of Ostinati Riffs Seven Nation Army by White Stripes The guitar riff from Seven Nation Army is one of the most famous modern guitar riffs and is used as an ostinato that plays throughout the song. It is an excellent example of a melodic ostinato:Back in Black by AC/DC The opening guitar riff in this song is another great example:Examples of Loops Loops are repeated patterns that are clearly built on the concept of ostinati. They are used widely in contemporary music. Hip hop songs often use loops as the foundation for the track. Still D.R.E by Dr. Dre ft. Snoop Dogg In this song a piano loop plays throughout the whole track and forms the foundation of the song:

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