Composition Study Notes

Musical Phrases

A musical phrase consists of a presentation phase and a continuation phase, forming a complete eight-bar music theme that must end with a cadence.

Presentation Phase (First Four Bars) - Methods of Melody Repetition:

• Exact Repetition

  Completely identical repetition

  Adjusting melody pitch

  Slightly modifying the melody

• Sequential Repetition

  Raising or lowering the melody and harmony simultaneously by the same interval

  Variable sequential progression (third relationship)

  Strict sequential progression (major third relationship)

• Statement-Response Repetition

  Must use the tonic chord as a question, and respond with the dominant chord

  Involves the technique of Transposition

  Transposition: List the notes in the chord, resolve the notes in the melody to the stable note of the transposed key, and modify the interval relationships that are not on the tonic pitch level. (Simple method description)

Continuation Phase (Last Four Bars) - Techniques:

• Surface Rhythm Acceleration

  Melodic development = controlling tension

  Controlling tension:

  • Accumulating tension: Using short notes
  • Accumulating tension: Ascending progression
  • Releasing tension: Using long notes
  • Releasing tension: Descending progression

  Melodic acceleration: Shortening the duration of melody notes

• Harmonic Acceleration

• Sequential Progression

• Fragmentation

  Musical “fragments”

  Extracting original melody fragments

  Developing new melodies

• Liquidation

Musical Period

Definition: A musical period is an eight-bar music theme consisting of two parts, called the Antecedent Phrase and the Consequent Phrase.