2024-12-23

rhythm/percussion and melody/melodic instruments

emphasis categories

this distinguishes what is often treated as rhythm and melody, or percussion versus melodic instruments

onset emphasis

  • focus on temporal positioning and relationships between events

  • primary attributes

    • meter: division of time into recurring patterns

    • rhythm: organization of onsets in time

      • types

        • metric: aligned with the underlying meter
        • intrametric: subdivisions within the meter
        • contrametric: opposed to the meter
        • extrametric: independent of the meter

      • structural approaches:

        • additive: built by sequentially adding durations
        • divisive: derived by dividing a total duration

    • accentuation: variation in emphasis on specific onsets

    • interval ratios: temporal gaps between successive onsets

    • patterns and transformations

      • fill: addition of onsets within existing patterns

      • shift: temporal displacement of onsets

      • echo/reflection: repetition with variation, inversion, or delay

      • sequence operations

        • split: division of a sequence into multiple sub-sequences

        • merge: combination of sequences into one

pitch emphasis

  • focus on frequency relationships and tonal structure

  • primary attributes

    • tuning: system of defining pitch frequencies (eg, equal temperament, just intonation)

    • scale

      • pitch set: collection of allowable pitches
      • intervals: relative differences between pitches
      • root note: central pitch around which the scale is organized

    • melodic direction: ascending, descending, or static movement

    • harmony: simultaneous pitch combinations

    • repetition: recurrence of specific pitch patterns

    • chords: scale-related grouping of pitches to form harmonic units

cross-domain features

certain features exhibit relevance in both onset and pitch contexts but take distinct forms in each.

  • sequence:

    • onset: temporal ordering of rhythmic events
    • pitch: ordering of notes within a melody

  • repetition:

    • onset: rhythmic motifs or recurring patterns
    • pitch: themes, leitmotifs, or recurring melodies

  • variation:

    • onset: changes in rhythm while preserving structural coherence

    • pitch: modulation, ornamentation, or rephrasing of melody

textural properties

texture in onset emphasis

  • density: number of onsets within a given time frame
  • syncopation: displacement of expected rhythmic accents
  • polyrhythm: coexistence of multiple rhythmic patterns

texture in pitch emphasis

  • range: breadth of pitches used
  • tessitura: preferred pitch range of the melody
  • counterpoint: interweaving of independent melodic lines
  • chord progression: movement between harmonic structures

overarching relations

the distinction between onset and pitch is foundational, but they often overlap in practical music.

interactions

  • melodic instruments often carry both rhythmic and pitch emphasis
  • percussion instruments can exhibit pitch emphasis (eg, tuned percussion like marimbas)

integration

  • polyphony: rhythmic and melodic dimensions coexist in layers
  • gestural unity: combined articulation of rhythm and melody to convey musical ideas