COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES

Question 1

ACCOMPANIMENT

Answer 1

musical ideas/layers which provide
rhythmic and/or harmonic support for
main or subsequent subjects/themes

Techniques and Processes:
* riff
* ostinato
* orchestration
* rhythmic accompaniment
* pedal
* harmonisation
* alberti bass

Question 2

CONTRAST

Answer 2

creating change by adding new ideas,
patterns or musical elements

Techniques and processes:
modulation
* augmentation
* cross rhythm
* poly-rhythm
* inversion
* arpeggiator

Question 3

DEVELOPMENT

Answer 3

the transformation and restatement of
initial musical ideas, repeated in different
contexts or in altered forms

Techniques and processes:
augmentation
* canon
* countermelody
* call and response
* fragmentation
* sampling
* filters
* vocoder
* compression
* low-frequency oscillation

Question 4

SUBJECT/THEME

Answer 4

a recognisable melody, upon which part
or all of a composition is based

Techniques and Processes:
* word painting
* similar motion
* motif
* sampling

Question 5

TRANSITION

Answer 5

shift from one musical idea or section to
another

Techniques and Processes:
* voice leading
* modulation
* risers
* breakdowns

Question 6

UNITY

Answer 6

maintaining consistency by repeating
similar ideas, creating a sense of
cohesion and structure

Techniques and Processes:
* repetition
* imitation
* sequence

Question 7

VARIATION

Answer 7

changes to established musical patterns
when heard again

Techniques and Processes:
* harmonic change
* diminution
* augmentation
* extension
* sampling
* filters
* vocoder
* compression
* low-frequency oscillation