COMPOSITIONAL DEVICES
These are techniques and devices that composers use to build and enhance their musical ideas. They relate to pieces of music in a similar way that words, punctuation and grammar work within a sentence to give that sentence a certain character.
Repetition
Repetition is a very broad term and is a part of most music in some way. Repetition is where sounds, sequences or phrases are literally repeated immediately.
REPETITION EXAMPLE 1: Psycho Prelude by Bernard Hermmann (1911 - 1975)
Follow Violin 1 - see how the phrase (or motif) is repeated immediately.
REPETITION EXAMPLE 1: Psycho Prelude by Bernard Hermmann (1911 - 1975)
Follow Violin 1 - see how the phrase (or motif) is repeated immediately.
REPETITION EXAMPLE 2: Eight Lines (Octet) by Steve Reich (1936 - present)
A lot of Minimalist music is based on exploring repetition over time...
A lot of Minimalist music is based on exploring repetition over time...
REPETITION EXAMPLE 3: 5th Symphony, 1st movement by Luwig Van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
This example also demonstrates imitation between violins 1 and 2
This example also demonstrates imitation between violins 1 and 2
Imitation
Imitation is the repetition of a melody in a polyphonic texture shortly after its first appearance in a different voice, often at a different pitch. The melody may vary through transposition, inversion or otherwise, but retain its original character.
IMITATION EXAMPLE 1: 5th Symphony, 1st movement by Luwig Van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
This piece is full of imitation between parts!!!!!
IMITATION EXAMPLE 1: 5th Symphony, 1st movement by Luwig Van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
This piece is full of imitation between parts!!!!!
IMITATION EXAMPLE 2: Fugue in G minor BWV 578 By J.S Bach (1685 1750)
Canons and Fugues are both styles that rely heavily on both repetition and imitation - here we get the theme first in the tonic then in the dominant (down a 4th)
- this means that we are hearing imitation not repetition
Canons and Fugues are both styles that rely heavily on both repetition and imitation - here we get the theme first in the tonic then in the dominant (down a 4th)
- this means that we are hearing imitation not repetition
Sequence
You can think of this as several repetitions of a melodic phrase in different pitches - usually moving up or down by step - it is quite similar to repetition and imitation... you know it when you hear it...
SEQUENCE EXAMPLE 1: Four Seasons - Summer - Allegro Non Molto By Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)
Vivaldi's music is FULL of nice sequencing!!!
Here we hear 2 repetitions of the same sequence - the second time down an octave
SEQUENCE EXAMPLE 1: Four Seasons - Summer - Allegro Non Molto By Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)
Vivaldi's music is FULL of nice sequencing!!!
Here we hear 2 repetitions of the same sequence - the second time down an octave
SEQUENCE EXAMPLE 2: Concerto for 2 Violins in A (RV 522) By Antonio Vivaldi (1678 - 1741)
SEQUENCE EXAMPLE 3: KV 545, Piano Sonata No 16 in C By Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (1756 - 1791)
This enormously famous piece starts it's first sequence passage 4 bars in...
This enormously famous piece starts it's first sequence passage 4 bars in...
canon
A canon is a contrapuntal compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration (e.g., quarter rest, one measure, etc.). The initial melody is called the leader (or dux), while the imitative melody, which is played in a different voice, is called the follower (or comes).
CANON EXAMPLE 1: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706)
probably the most famous example...had to include it:(
CANON EXAMPLE 1: Canon in D by Johann Pachelbel (1653 - 1706)
probably the most famous example...had to include it:(
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CANON EXAMPLE 2: Invention number 1 by J.S Bach (1685 1750)
INVERSION
In music we can invert chord voicings, melodies and intervals.
IN OTHER WORDS the composer keeps the same intervals between notes but makes the new phrase go down in pitch where other one went up and up where the old one went down
Here is a written example from Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier
IN OTHER WORDS the composer keeps the same intervals between notes but makes the new phrase go down in pitch where other one went up and up where the old one went down
Here is a written example from Bach's The Well Tempered Clavier
INVERSION EXAMPLE 1: Invention No. 14, BWV 785 by J.S Bach (1685 1750)
Not only do we see melodic (and intervalic) inversion here BUT we hear it twice in a row in the treble clef!!
SIDE NOTE: This is also a good example of sequence
Not only do we see melodic (and intervalic) inversion here BUT we hear it twice in a row in the treble clef!!
SIDE NOTE: This is also a good example of sequence
OSTINATO
A musical pattern that repeats itself over and over again - often whilst other things are going on over the top...
A riff, is a kind of ostinato
A riff, is a kind of ostinato
OSTINATO EXAMPLE 1: The Planets, "Mars" by Gustav Holst (1874 - 1934)
Check out the bass part in piano 2 for a classic example of ostinato
Check out the bass part in piano 2 for a classic example of ostinato
OSTINATO EXAMPLE 2: Bolero by Maurice Ravel (1875 - 1937)
The snare drum part in this piece is one of the most famous examples of an ostinato
The snare drum part in this piece is one of the most famous examples of an ostinato
OSTINATO EXAMPLE 3: Cantus in Memory of Benjamin Britten by Arvo Pärt (1935 to present)
Arvo Pärt's music, like most 'minimalist' music, is full of ostinati - Follow the 1st violins (the super high sounding part) for an example....
Arvo Pärt's music, like most 'minimalist' music, is full of ostinati - Follow the 1st violins (the super high sounding part) for an example....
DRONE
A drone is basically a long held note (sometimes chord), usually occuring in a bass instrument, for a long section of a piece - sometimes the whole piece...
DRONE EXAMPLE 2: Bagpipes from Baghdad by Eminem
Most bagpipe music uses a low drone tone over which melodies and ostinatos are played
Most bagpipe music uses a low drone tone over which melodies and ostinatos are played
DRONE EXAMPLE 3: Anoushka Shankar (sitar)
A lot of North Indian Classical (Hindustani) music uses a drone tone as it's basis - listen for it in the background
A lot of North Indian Classical (Hindustani) music uses a drone tone as it's basis - listen for it in the background
Alberti Bass
Alberti bass Alberti bass is a kind of broken chord or arpeggiated accompaniment, where the notes of the chord are presented in the order lowest, highest, middle, highest. This pattern is then repeated. The broken chord pattern helps to create a smooth, sustained, flowing sound on the piano.
Alberti bass was often used in the Classical era and sometimes the Romantic era . It was named after composer Domenico Alberti.
Alberti bass is usually found in the left hand of pieces for keyboard instruments, especially for Mozart's Piano Pieces. However, it is also found in pieces for other instruments.
Alberti bass was often used in the Classical era and sometimes the Romantic era . It was named after composer Domenico Alberti.
Alberti bass is usually found in the left hand of pieces for keyboard instruments, especially for Mozart's Piano Pieces. However, it is also found in pieces for other instruments.
ALBERTI BASS EXAMPLE 1: Sonata no. 19 in G minor op. 49 by Luwig Van Beethoven (1770 - 1827)
Pedal (PEDAL TONE)
Very similar to drone but generally does not last for as long. It can be drone-like but it can also just be a note that is returned to regularly...
A pedal is a single note that is held on or repeated in the bass. The chords above the bass may change, but the bass note stays the same.
PEDAL EXAMPLE 1: Symphony No 104 D major "London" Finale by Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)
Listen to the cellos and basses here
A pedal is a single note that is held on or repeated in the bass. The chords above the bass may change, but the bass note stays the same.
PEDAL EXAMPLE 1: Symphony No 104 D major "London" Finale by Joseph Haydn (1732 - 1809)
Listen to the cellos and basses here
PEDAL EXAMPLE 2: Prelude No. 1 in C Major J.S Bach (1685 1750)
Observe the way the same BASS NOTE is used over and over whilst the chords change...
Observe the way the same BASS NOTE is used over and over whilst the chords change...
Contrary Motion
Often used in Counterpoint, Contrary motion is motion of at least two melodic lines in opposite directions. That is, when one of the lines moves up, the other line moves down.
CONTRARY MOTION EXAMPLE 1: Goldberg Variations, Variation 15, BWV 988 By J.S Bach (1685 1750)
Here is an interesting visual representation of contrary motion at work
Here is an interesting visual representation of contrary motion at work