Tonality

Tonal Center in melodies

Any melody has a musical center of gravity, called the "Tonic," usually the final note

Most melodies have a second, weaker center of gravity, called the "Dominant" (a 5th above the Tonic)

Most melodies have a third, weaker yet center of gravity, called the "Subdominant" (a 5th below the tonic)

The mode of a melody (major, minor, or any other mode) is determined by the placement of half-steps in relation to the Tonic

Major mode: half-steps between the 3rd & 4th, & between the 7th & 8th notes of the scale

Minor mode: half-steps between the 2nd & 3rd and 5th & 6ths notes of the scale

Special scales: Blues; Jazz; Spanish Gypsy; Whole-tone; Chromatic

Harmonic Tonal Center in music that uses functional harmony

Tonic chord is the center of gravity and resting point

Subdominant chord moves away from the Tonic chord

Dominant chord moves back to the Tonic chord

Using Tonal Centers as a variable in music

Modulation: shifting temporarily from one tonal center to another

Modulation is accomplished by temporarily changing the position of the half-steps (adding sharps or flats)

Short-term memory retains the sense of Tonic, and recognizes a return to it

20th century efforts to abolish tonality

Bi-tonality: 2 tonal centers are present at the same time

Poly-tonality: 2 or more tonal centers are present at the same time

Pan-tonality: all possible tonal centers are present at the same time

Atonality: no tonal center is present

Tonality and harmony in 20th century popular music

Pop music uses tonal centers, functional harmony, and occasional modality

Jazz uses tonal centers and expanded functional harmony

Musical theater uses tonal centers, functional harmony, and operatic devices

Rock uses tonal centers and reduced functional and modal harmonies

Folk & Country music uses tonal centers and reduced functional or modal harmonies

Musical Form

Musical forms are both large and small

Individual pieces or individual movements in a larger work have their own forms

The "form" of a large multi-movement work is the contrast among the individual movements

In opera, oratorio, cantata or musical, the "book" is broken into individual "numbers"

A "symphony" is a multimovement work for orchestra

A "sonata" is a multimovement work for solo instrument or solo instrument with piano

A "trio," "quartet," or "quintet" is a multimovement work for chamber ensemble

Building a theme

Motives (2 or more notes) are combined into phrases

Phrases (2 or more motives) are combined into themes

Phrases or themes can have an open ending (weak cadence) or closed ending (strong cadence)

Transitions between themes can use motives from the themes or not use them

Similarity, Contrast and Variation

Similarity: an exact repeat of musical material

Contrast: a section that does not repeat any musical material

Variation: musical material is repeated but something is changed

Musical Themes and Tonality as a basis for Form

Contrasting themes (melodies) define sections of a piece of music

Repeated themes with the tonal centers changed also define sections of a piece

Development: motives or entire themes are repeated with different elements changed

Basic musical forms, 1750-1900

Binary: AB or AABB or ABAB

Ternary: ABA or ABA' or AAB or ABB or ABC

Rondo: expanded Ternary, ABACA or ABACADA, etc.

Sonata-allegro or "first-movement" form

A form used for a single movement (often the allegro 1st movement of a sonata)

"Sonata form is a drama between two contrasting tonal centers."

It is a ternary form that grew out of a binary form

Elements of sonata-allegro form

Optional introduction, often slow, to set the mood

Exposition: a first theme in the tonic, a contrasting second theme in the dominant

Development: motives and phrases of both themes undergo transformations

Recapitulation: return to the first theme in the tonic, the second theme also in the tonic

Optional coda: a musical summary and ending

Places where sonata-allegro form is often used

First movements of symphonies, sonatas, concertos, chamber pieces

Other movements of symphonies, sonatas, concertos, chamber pieces

Single-movement Overtures, Symphonic Poems

Complete multi-movement Sonata form

First movement: fast; often sonata-allegro form; defines the tonal center

Second movement: slow; ternary, sonata-allegro, variations, or rondo form; often in the

subdominant or relative minor key

Optional third movement: moderate, in triple time; ternary form; tonic key

Final movement: fastest; rondo or sonata-allegro form; tonic key

Other common forms for single movements or single-movement works

Theme and variations

Cyclic form (a common theme used in several movements)

Suite (individual short pieces, sometimes selected from a longer score)

Character pieces (individual pieces that explore a single mood)

Instrumentation, 1550-1900

Primary instruments used for accompaniment

16th cent. lute; 17o-1750 harpsichord; 1750-1950 piano; 1950-1980 guitar; 1980-1995 keyboard

Primary instruments used for solo playing

1500-1650 all instruments equal; 1650-1950 violin; 1800-1990 piano

Instruments used for orchestral playing

17th cent. -1990 strings; gradually adding more woodwinds, brass, percussion

Instruments used for chamber music

17th cent.-1750 strings & woodwinds equal with basso continuo; 1750-1950 strings, winds, piano

 

The development of standard ensembles, 1750-1900

Large ensembles

The Orchestra

Development

Mid-1700s: a string band with pairs of oboes & French horns

Late 1700s: a string band with pairs of flutes, oboes, (clarinets), bassoons, French

horns, trumpets & timpani

Early 1800s: + optional woodwinds, trombones in 3s, sometimes winds in 3s

Late 1800s: winds in 3s or 4s, expanded percussion, 3 trombones & tuba standard

Early 1900s: the large orchestra standardized

Functions (In each case the orchestra is the same, but the function is different.)

Symphony Orchestra: to play Symphonies & concert music written for orchestra

Opera Orchestra: to accompany the singers and play continuity under action

Ballet Orchestra: to accompany the dancers and set the scenes and moods

Church Orchestra: to accompany large choral works for stage or church use

Dance Orchestra: to furnish music for light entertainment and dancing

String band with orchestral winds or jazz winds

Jazz band with or without violins & other strings

Theater Orchestra: to accompany operetta, review, musical comedy, musical theater

Smaller version of concert orchestra

Jazz band with or without violins & other strings

Rock band with or without horn line, woodwinds, strings, synthesizers

The Wind Band (Brass & percussion or brass, woodwind & percussion)

Military bands played for marching and formations, provided entertainment

Drum and bugle corps and school marching bands used the military model and added `` Pageantry

Town bands played for civic functions and provided entertainment

Professional bands toured playing concert music & entertainment music, inspired school concert bands

Early Dixieland Jazz bands were modeled on small marching bands

Medium & large Jazz bands expanded the individual instruments into sections

The Chorus

Originated in the church, 1st men, then men & boys, much later added women

Always small (20-24) until 19th century, then could be large or larger; inspired school choirs

Concert Choir: professional or amateur, non-liturgical, although may do sacred music

Chamber ensembles with strings

Baroque Trio Sonata: 2 violins & cello with harpsichord

String Trio: 2 violins & cello or violin, viola & cello without keyboard

String Quartet: 2 violins, viola & cello

String Quintet: String Quartet with an additional viola, cello, or double bass

Any of the above with flute, oboe, clarinet replacing one violin

Chamber ensembles with piano

Piano Trio: Piano + violin & cello

Piano Quartet: Piano + violin, viola & cello

Piano Quintet: Piano + String Quartet

Chamber ensembles without strings

Baroque Trio Sonatas with Woodwind instruments

Woodwind Quintet: flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon, French horn

Brass Quintet: 2 trumpets, French horn, trombone, tuba

Standard ensembles in popular music
(Rhythm includes keyboard(s), bass, drum set, guitar(s), optional percussion, Latin drums)

Jazz bands

Dixieland jazz (trumpet, clarinet, trombone; 1-4 rhythm)

Hotel band (2 trumpets, trombone, 3 saxes; 3-4 rhythm)

Big band (3-4 trumpets, 3-4 trombones, 5 saxes; 3-4 rhythm)

Symphonic jazz band (4-5 trumpets, 4-5 trombones, 5-6 saxes; 4-5 rhythm; possible

French horn(s), mellophones, tuba)

Jazz combo: piano, bass, drum set; optional guitar, 1-3 horns

Vocal groups

Male (2-5; a cappella or accompanied)

Female (2-5; a cappella or accompanied)

Mixed (2-5; a cappella or accompanied)

Bands (2-5 singers; most also play instruments)

Rock bands

Rhythm section is standard (lead guitar, bass guitar, drum set)

Expanded rhythm (keyboard(s), rhythm guitar(s), percussion, Latin drums)

Expanded keyboards (2-n keyboards and/or sound modules)

Horn line (some combination of trumpet(s), trombone(s), sax(es))

Traditional and acoustic bands (always small, almost always string bands with vocals)

Folk & neo-folk: mostly guitars and vocals

Traditional: guitars, dulcimer, mandolin, fiddle, string bass, banjo and vocals