Learn Foundation Concepts - Structural
Single line | Unison | Harmony | Solo | Ensemble | Ostinato | Riff | Round | Accompanied | Unaccompanied | Repetition
| A number of notes which happen one after another and form a line of music which is then played by a solo instrument, voice or group in unison. | ||
| A number of instruments or voices perform a single line of music together | ||
| The distance between a note and the nearest note with the same name, for example C to C'. | ||
| Notes or chords which sound well with a melody, are said to harmonise the melody. | ||
| A voice or instrument performing on its own. The example is played on a harp. This term can also be used for an instrument playing with accompaniment from another instrument or group of instruments. | ||
A group of players playing or singing together. The example of ensemble is played by a Scottish dance band. |
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A short musical idea or rhythm which is repeated over and over again. The example is from an Orchestral work. |
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| A repeated figure or pattern in the bass part of a pop song over which the rest of the music is built and performed. The example is played by a pop group. | ||
Music where different parts of the tune sound well when played together. You probably sung rounds in Primary School like ''Three Blind Mice'' or London's Burning.'' One group of singers starts the song, and then a second group starts singing the same song a couple of bars later. Several groups can sing this way together, and it will still sound good, because the notes harmonise together. Listen to an example of voices singing a canon.
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| Music in which a solo instrument or voice has another instrument which plays a less important part along with the solo. | ||
| Voices or a voice or instrument playing on its own. The example is sung by an unaccompanied choir. | ||
Something in the music is repeated. It could be the tune, or some other part of the music, like the Bass part or just a short musical idea. The example is played by an Orchestra.
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| Difference, e.g. Legato changes to Staccato or as in this example a change in tempo from reel to jig. | ||
| Part of the music, e.g. the music could be in two sections, section A and section B |
