Prof. Lydia AyersProf. Lydia Ayers

Melodic ContoursMelodic ContoursMelodic ContoursMelodic Contours• directions in which melodies movedirections in which melodies move

Stationary ContourStationary ContourStationary ContourStationary Contour• melody stays at the same levelmelody stays at the same level

[i:74][i:74] Sometimes I Feel Like a Motherless ChildSometimes I Feel Like a Motherless Child

Stationary ContourStationary ContourStationary ContourStationary Contour

• melody stays at the same levelmelody stays at the same level

[i:75][i:75] ÜsküdarÜsküdar (Turkish Folk Song) (Turkish Folk Song)

Descending ContourDescending ContourDescending ContourDescending Contour

• melody goes downmelody goes down

[i:76][i:76] ÜsküdarÜsküdar (Turkish Folk Song) (Turkish Folk Song)

Archlike ContourArchlike ContourArchlike ContourArchlike Contour

• melody goes up and then downmelody goes up and then down

[i:77][i:77] ÜsküdarÜsküdar (Turkish Folk Song) (Turkish Folk Song)

RhythmRhythmRhythmRhythm• a balance between similar and a balance between similar and

contrasting rhythms makes a melody contrasting rhythms makes a melody interestinginteresting

Rhythm from [i:78][i:78] ÜsküdarÜsküdar

Range of a MelodyRange of a MelodyRange of a MelodyRange of a Melody• distance from highest to lowest pitchdistance from highest to lowest pitch

[i:78][i:78] ÜsküdarÜsküdar (Turkish Folk Song) (Turkish Folk Song)

Lowest Lowest PointPoint

Highest Point

[i:79][i:79] Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless ChildSometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child (Black American Spiritual)(Black American Spiritual)

[i:79][i:79] Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless ChildSometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child (Black American Spiritual)(Black American Spiritual)

• Important focal point: “A long way” reaches a Important focal point: “A long way” reaches a long way down to the lowest point in the songlong way down to the lowest point in the song

Lowest Point

Lowest Point

Conjunct MovementConjunct MovementConjunct MovementConjunct Movement

• movement by movement by stepstep = movement by = movement by secondsseconds

[i:75][i:75] ÜsküdarÜsküdar (Turkish Folk Song) (Turkish Folk Song)

Disjunct MovementDisjunct MovementDisjunct MovementDisjunct Movement

• movement by movement by leapleap

[i:80][i:80] Leonard and Jane FeatherLeonard and Jane Feather:

Blues for Yesterday

PhrasePhrasePhrasePhrase• a unit in which musical ideas are a unit in which musical ideas are

developed into more complete thoughtsdeveloped into more complete thoughts• typically four to eight measurestypically four to eight measures

[i:80][i:80] Leonard and Jane FeatherLeonard and Jane Feather:

Blues for Yesterday

Phrase MembersPhrase MembersPhrase MembersPhrase Members• units, often two measures in lengthunits, often two measures in length• create phrases with other phrase memberscreate phrases with other phrase members• often in balanced pairsoften in balanced pairs

[i:80][i:80] Leonard and Jane FeatherLeonard and Jane Feather:

Blues for Yesterday

phrase member phrase member

phrase

Blues FormBlues FormBlues FormBlues Form

• AABAAB

[i:81][i:81] Leonard and Jane FeatherLeonard and Jane Feather:

Blues for Yesterday

performed Louis Armstrong

A’

B

A

Blues ScalesBlues ScalesBlues ScalesBlues Scales• Several kinds of blues scalesSeveral kinds of blues scales• Blues for Yesterday uses [i:82][i:82] F Major

Scale with a blue minor 6th

• Melody emphasizes aa [i:83][i:83] G minor G minor arpeggio (broken chord)arpeggio (broken chord)

Blues ScalesBlues ScalesBlues ScalesBlues Scales• F Major Scale with a blue minor 6th

• Ends on 4Ends on 4thth and doesn’t sound major and doesn’t sound major• G minor arpeggio (broken chord)G minor arpeggio (broken chord)

[i:81][i:81] Blues for Yesterday

[i:70][i:70] Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless ChildSometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child [i:70][i:70] Sometimes I feel Like a Motherless ChildSometimes I feel Like a Motherless Child •

(A N

atu

ral M

ino

r S

cale

)(A

Nat

ura

l Min

or

Sca

le)

A

A’

B

A’’

B’

[i:84][i:84] Scale for Havah NagilaScale for Havah Nagila[i:84][i:84] Scale for Havah NagilaScale for Havah Nagila• 3 leading tones in different positions3 leading tones in different positions

[i:85][i:85] SequenceSequence[i:85][i:85] SequenceSequence

• repetition of a melodic figure, motive or repetition of a melodic figure, motive or phrase at a different pitch level phrase at a different pitch level

first statement second statement

third statement

Tonal SequenceTonal SequenceTonal SequenceTonal Sequence• quality of certain intervals may change to quality of certain intervals may change to

stay in the key stay in the key

[i:86][i:86]

[i:87][i:87]

[i:88][i:88]