Melodic Composition Flashcards
Elision
One phrase ends while the next begins simultaneously with a note or chord
Internal expansion
Lengthens the piece anywhere other than the beginning or end
Cadential extension
Expansion at the end of a phrase
Motive/motif
Repeated notes to establish an identity
Theme
Main musical idea
Leitmotif
Motif associated with a person, idea or emotion
Imitation
Second singer/part repeats the first singer/part’s notes
Melodic inversion
Imitation of a melody performed upside-down
Mirror inversion
Imitation by an exact major third up or down
Variation
Small changes to an original motif
Melodic sequence
Repeating the original motive on a different starting pitch
Retrograde
Melody played backwards
Retrograde inversion
Pitches of the original theme played inverted and backwards
Augmentation
Same pitches with a lengthened rhythm
Diminution
Note values are shortened
Expansion
Adds new material to the original phrase typically at the end
Modulation
Repeats the theme or motif exactly in a different key
Mode mixture
Combining chords from the parallel major or minor to increase harmonic resources
Ornamentation/embellishment
Adding/decorating the melody with nonchord tones
Parallel period
Two phrases begin identically or one is a variation of the first
Contrasting period
Two phrases are different from each other
Double period
4 phrases ending with a PAC
Antecedent
First two phrases of a double period
Consequent
Last two phrases of a double period
