The Elements of Music

Stefanie
Lorimer

The Elements of
MUSI
C
Music is sound.
Music is organised
sound.
Music is organised sound in
time.

The Elements of Music

combine to provide structure and
organisation.
Beat/Meter
Duration/
Rhythm

Tempo

MUSIC
Pitch/
Melody

Timbre

Dynamics

Texture/
Harmony

The Elements of Music:

Beat/Mete
r
Is the result of the periodic effect of pulse in
music.
Pulse is organised regularly or irregularly by
emphasising certain beats, resulting in meter.
The above is an example of triple meter.

The Elements of Music

Rhythm/Durati
on

Is the arrangement of durational sonic patterns

(sound durations) in relation to the beat.
Sounds of different lengths are indicated by a range of note
shapes, for example:
The interaction between meter and duration is called
rhythm.

The Elements of Music

Pitch/Melody
(Propagation of a 197 kb
soundwave.)

Pitch is determined by the frequency of acoustic vibrations

per second (hertz): the higher the hertz value, the higher the
sound.
A 440 (or concert pitch): this wave pushes your eardrum back
and forth 440 times per second.
Pitches are artistically arranged according to the gravitational
relationships in a given tonal system to form melodies.

The Elements of Music

Dynamics

Refer to graduation of amplitude (louds and softs).

Dynamic levels may be prescribed by the composer and/or
interpreted according to artistic convention by the performer.
Dynamic accents and repetitions are part of the structural
organisation of music.

The Elements of Music

Texture/Harmo
ny
Describes the depth, nature and relationship of various
parts (voices).
Refers to the vertical and horizontal arrangement of
melodic and rhythmic elements.
Example of monophonic texture (one melody).
Example of homophonic texture (melody and harmony).
Example of polyphonic texture (several melodies).

The Elements of Music

Timbre

Refers to tone colour or the essential quality of a sound.

This quality is determined by the sound sources individual
harmonic profile (combination of overtones).
All sounds are made up of a fundamental and overtones.
Some instruments use the overtone series to produce sounds.
Composers mix tone colours or timbres like a painter
might mix colours to achieve certain effects.

The Elements of Music

Tempo

Refers to the rate of speed of the beat.

Is measured in beats per minute.
Like dynamics, composers may indicate precisely
which speed they require by indicating
=X
(beats per minute) or performers may interpret
according to convention.
Variations and repetitions of tempi patterns
contribute to the structural organisation of music.

References
http://www.cartage.org.lb/en/themes/A
rts/music/elements/main.htm
http://www.silcom.com/~aludwig/
http://www.smu.edu/totw/overtone.htm
http://www.kettering.edu/~drussell/for
kanim.html