SOUND PATTERNS

1.1 DEFINING MUSIC

MUSIC can be a difficult term to define, but clearly first and foremost it must involve a definition of SOUND (see also on YouTube: What is up with Noises?). Sound is created from a vibrating source (such as a string) travelling through a medium (such as air) which is perceived by some receptor (such as the ear). There are four parameters of sound:

1. Pitch

2. Duration

3. Intensity

4. Quality

Each of these is a result of a specific property of the vibration.

1. Pitch	Frequency of the vibration
2. Duration	Time length of the vibration
3. Intensity	Amplitude of the vibration
4. Quality	Shape of the sound wave

Each of these has a musical manifestation.

1. Pitch	Frequency of the vibration	Melody and harmony
2. Duration	Time length of the vibration	Rhythm and meter
3. Intensity	Amplitude of the vibration	Dynamics and articulations
4. Quality	Shape of the sound wave	Color and timbre

If any one of these four parameters is missing there can be no sound, and the result will be silence. Sound that receives some degree of organization is generally considered to be music, and that is the subject of music theory.

1.2 MUSIC THEORY

MUSIC THEORY is the study of sound patterns by examining historical models (analysis) and composing within historical styles (synthesis). Contrary to its name, it is not theoretical. It is made up of observations of past practices and conclusions drawn from those observations. Music theory is a life-long study for musicians. A course in music theory simply provides a foundation to begin making those observations. The first important observation about music is in regard to the concept of TONALITY.

1.3 DEFINING TONALITY

Tonality is the essential organization around a single pitch, the tonic, which provides a home base to the ear. All other pitches work to establish the preeminence of tonic. The term KEY is virtually synonymous with tonality.

Tonality is the focus of musical organization; it is the point from which music departs and to which it ultimately returns. How it all works is complex, and the purpose of this text is to explain how tonality is achieved and represented.

1.4 HISTORICAL STUDIES

Music can be roughly divided into three basic categories:

• Art music

  Highly structured music, all parts composed/synthesized and notated, generally transmitted in concert and recordings

• Traditional music

  Folk music, generally preserved through oral/aural means

• Popular music

  Music transmitted through various types of mass media, generally with great mass appeal

This text deals primarily with the COMMON PRACTICE PERIOD, which describes the art music of Europe (generally called Western civilization) during the years 1600 to 1900. Within this time period, European music was codified and developed into a cohesive art form, and comprises a great deal of music that is commonly featured at concerts and recitals. The innovations and practices of this era still influence much music today.

This music is a very small segment of the musical universe. This text has two appendices reflecting the extent to which traditional music and popular music have permeated the world.

1.5 STRUCTURE IN THE COMMON PRACTICE PERIOD

• The smallest musical unit of the Common Practice Period is the NOTE, which is equivalent to a letter in an alphabet.
• Notes group into a MEASURE, which is like a word.
• Measures group (often in 4, 8, or 16 measures) into a PHRASE, which is equivalent to a sentence.
• The ending of each phrase is a CADENCE, which is equivalent to a punctuation mark.
• Phrases group together into a PERIOD, which is equivalent to a paragraph.
• Periods form a SECTION, which is like a chapter in a book.
• Sections form a MOVEMENT, which is like a book.
• Movements group into a COMPOSITE FORM, which is like a collection of related books.

1.6 PRIOR KNOWLEDGE

Although this text begins with the fundamentals, it is assumed there is some knowledge a music student should already have. Check the following items, and investigate those that seem unfamiliar:

• Five-line staff
• Treble and bass clefs
• Voice names and types (soprano, alto, tenor, bass)
• Note names (pitch and pitch class)
• Accidentals (sharps, flats, naturals)
• Whole steps and half steps
• Measures and bar lines
• Note durations (whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth...)
• Rest durations (whole, half, quarter, eighth, sixteenth...)
• Leger lines

Throughout Sound Patterns, you will find this icon: . Each time it appears you are about to find a link to a series of pages created by Dr. Tobias RUSH which provides MORE information about the topic. They are well worth the time getting a slightly different point of view.

Learn more about pitch notation

Learn more about rhythm notation