Pitch - Melody Flashcards
Melodic contour
the shape of the melody (ascending, angular, arch, stagnant, wave, descending).
Ornamentation
notes which are added to the main notes of a piece of music in order to make it more interesting (trills, bends, slides, vibrato, melismas, mordents).
Melody
A sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying, a melodic line, or the “horizontal” aspect of a piece.
Register
The general pitch that an instrument is known for (low/medium/high).
Range
distance from the lowest to the highest pitch played (narrow/wide).
Melodic movement
how the melody moves (steps, leaps, combination).
Melodic arrangement
how the melody/ies is/are arranged (counter melody, one after another).
Interval
distance between notes
Ostinato
a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm
Repetition
sounds or sequences are repeated
Sequence
the immediate copying of a motif or longer passage at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice
Motif
a short rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated in various parts of a composition
Melisma
an ornamental phrase of several notes sung to one syllable of text
Riff
a series of notes, chord pattern or musical phrase that is repeated.
