1. Basic Elements of
Muisic
Melody, Harmony, Scales

2. Melody
A timely arranged linear sequence of pitched
sounds that listeners perceive as a single entity.

3. Listening Activity
Define melody and harmony of the following
composition in your own words.
A. Vivaldi, Concerto “Spring” from the “Four
Seasons”, 1st movement, Allegro
http://magnatune.com/artists/albums/lara-fourseasons/

4. Range
The distance between the lowest and the
highest notes in the melody.

5. Wide Range
Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 5, in D Major, 1st Movement
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/brandenburg-
concerto-no-5-in-d-johann-sebastian-bach/

6. Narrow Range
Brahms, Violin Concerto in D, 3rd movement
http://content.thespco.org/music/compositions/violin-
concerto-in-d-johannes-brahms/

7. Melodic Motion
Disjunct – melody moves by large leaps.
Conjunct – melody rises and falls slowly, with only small changes between one
note and the next.

8. Conjunct Motion
Beethoven, “Ode to Joy” from Symphony No. 9
Start listening at 2:30 mark.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljGMhDSSGFU

9. Disjunct Motion
Piazzolla, “Spring”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJzogioRx6A

10. Listening Activity
Define the melodic motion of the following composition. Is it
conjunct, disjunct, or a combination of both?
F. Chopin, “Nocturne in E-Flat Major”, op. 9 no. 2
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=--ykTqoQnqI

11. Melodic Contour or Shape
• Ascending
• Descending
• Arch

12. Ascending Melody
R. Strauss, “Don Juan”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66zOdfCWEqA

13. Descending Melody
Handel, “Joy to the World” – the opening of the melody.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wKW_az2HVfk

14. Arch
D. Shostakovich, “Romance from The Gadfly”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QDW4VJGKLAQ

15. Listening Activity
Define the melody of this composition in terms of range,
motion, and contour.
J. S. Bach, Brandenburg Concerto No. 6, 1st Movement
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kj1VvTTTO7Q

16. Harmony
Two or more notes played together at the same time.
Two notes played at the same time – an interval.
More than two notes played at the same time – a chord.

17. Intervals
Please read and study page 1, Intervals:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of
_music/melody1.shtml

18. Consonant Intervals
Consonance in music – a combination of notes that
sounds pleasant.
Please replay the following intervals:
• Unison
• Major and Minor Thirds
• Perfect Fourth
• Perfect Fifth
• Major and Minor Sixths
• Octave
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of_music
/harmony_and_tonality1.shtml

19. Dissonant Intervals
Dissonance – a combination of notes that
sounds unpleasant or harsh.
Please replay the following intervals:
• Major and Minor Seconds
• Tritone
• Major and Minor Sevenths
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of
_music/harmony_and_tonality1.shtml

20. Chords
Please read all four pages on the Harmony and Tonality section
of this website:
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_
of_music/harmony_and_tonality1.shtml

21. Scales
Scales are various combinations of musical intervals.
Please study the following:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_of
_music/melody2.shtml

22. Diatonic Scales
• Major – happy.
Chopin, Etude in G Flat Major
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4pyqLbi2wLU
• Minor – sad.
Rachmaninov, Prelude in C Sharp Minor
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXQCPAR0EHo

23. Pentatonic Scale
Is widely used in music around the world, especially in folk
music.
Watch from 3:00 to 6:30:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PnbOWi6f_IM
Gang and Zhanhao, “Butterfly Lovers” Violin Concerto, start
listening at 1:50
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_qd-9wD6qA
Traditional music from Uganda
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=363Nv-5oYBA

24. Chromatic Scale
Is not happy or sad
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sr2rXc9Qu4A
Schoenberg, Piano Concerto – is based on series of chromatic
tones.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O_dnflTagHM
Rimsky-Korsakoff, Flight of the Bumblebee – the melody is based
on a chromatic scale.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yZPrrboTkY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MK0z3LS45xU

25. Other Scale Types
Whole Tone Scale – based on whole steps
• Debussy, “Volies”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FVV0jkZC4jI
Microtone Scale – a scale based on the intervals that are less
that ½ step.
• Composer Harry Partch created a 43-note scale and new
instruments. Please watch various selections from this
documentary.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfCjWIQtm-
M&list=PL325E98023B8838E2

26. Listening Activity
Define the melody and harmony in the following example using
terms discussed in this part.
J. S. Bach’s “Air on the G String”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2j-frfK-yg

27. Required Readings
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melody
• http://openhighschoolcourses.org/mod/page/view.php?id=11
834
• http://www.bbc.co.uk/schools/gcsebitesize/music/elements_
of_music/melody1.shtml
• http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/30
• http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/31
• http://cnx.org/content/m10851/latest/
• http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harmony
• http://www.musictheory.net/lessons/40
• http://www.musictheory.net/lessons - read (1)The Staff, Clefs,
and Ledger Lines and (2)Steps and Accidentals in the Basics
area