Chapter 4

a primary musical parameter related to the unfolding of pitches in a linear fashion through time. A melody can also be thought of as a combination of pitches and rhythms that is perceivable as a single musical unit.

a primary musical parameter related to the overall “shape” of a composition that is created by the combination of individual sections (which, in turn, are forged by thematic design and harmonic structure).

the manner in which contrapuntal voices progress from note to note (individually) and chord to chord (collectively).

a centuries-old training regimen in counterpoint that is graduated in nature, proceeding incrementally by level or species.

melodic motion by step.

melodic motion by leap.

a point of rest that signals the completion of a musical idea.

a large-scale melodic motion between adjacent, structural scale degrees.

a technique that involves combining two or more melodies such that both harmonic unity and melodic independence are achieved.

a description of the manner in which two melodies progress with respect to one another.

a lack of true contrapuntal motion, wherein neither voice changes pitch.

a type of contrapuntal motion that occurs when one voice changes pitch and the other repeats the same note.

a type of contrapuntal motion that exists when two voices move in the same direction and in the same way, preserving the interval size that is created harmonically between the parts.

a type of contrapuntal motion that takes place when two voices move in the same direction, but in different ways (e.g., one voice moves by step and the other moves by leap in the same direction).

a type of contrapuntal motion that exists when two parts progress in opposite directions.

a melodic scheme in which contrapuntal voices swap pitch classes via contrary stepwise motion.

an objectionable contrapuntal situation involving consecutive perfect intervals of the same type that are connected by parallel motion.

an objectionable contrapuntal situation that involves a leap in the soprano creating a perfect fifth or octave above the bass that is approached by similar motion.

an objectionable contrapuntal situation that takes place when different pitch classes sharing the same note letter are used in adjacent temporal positions within different voices.

an objectionable contrapuntal situation in which a relatively lower voice (e.g., the alto) is written in a higher register than a higher voice (e.g., the soprano) or vice versa.

an objectionable contrapuntal situation wherein the higher voice (e.g., the soprano) leaps to a lower position than the previously used note in the lower voice (e.g., the alto) or vice versa, despite the voices not technically crossing.

a melodic embellishment that is approached by step and left by step in the same direction, filling in the melodic interval of a third.

a melodic ornament used to decorate a structurally significant tone.

a melodic embellishment that is approached by step and left by step in the opposite direction, returning to the original note that preceded it.

a melodic embellishment figure featuring a step in some direction, a leap of a third in the opposite direction between two dissonances, and finally step in the original direction into a consonance.

a melodic embellishment figure featuring consonance on the downbeat, followed by a dissonance that is a step above or below that consonance, a leap of a third out of the dissonance in the same direction as the previous step, and finally two steps in the opposite direction into consonant pitches.

an accented melodic embellishment that is approached or “prepared” by a consonant common tone and resolves down by step into another consonance.

a salient, identifiable combination of pitch and rhythm that is shorter than a theme yet still represents a musical idea.

the process of repeating and altering an initial idea throughout a phrase or piece of music, which simultaneously engenders the traditionally-desired aesthetic attributes of unity and variety.

a patterned repetition of a melodic segment at different pitch levels.

a compositional guideline stating that one should deviate from the literal repetition of a motive upon its third iteration in order to create interest and avoid monotony.