MUS 122 — Tonal Harmony I: Lecture Note

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LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Course Code: MUS 122 Course Title: Tonal Harmony 1 Course Credit Load: 2 Units Series 1: Principles of Melodic Writing Series 2: Foundations of Harmonic Writing Series 3: Triads in Major and Minor Scales Series 4: Melody Composition with Lyrics Series 5: Four-Part SATB Harmonisation Proposed Outline for Series 1 Part 1: Characteristics of Melody o Sub-Part 1.1: Definition and nature of melody o Sub-Part 1.2: Elements of melodic contour (range, direction, climax) Part 2: Rules of Melodic Construction o Sub-Part 2.1: Stepwise motion and leaps o Sub-Part 2.2: Treatment of dissonance o Sub-Part 2.3: Balance and symmetry in melodic lines Part 3: Expressive Qualities of Melody o Sub-Part 3.1: Relationship between melody and text (lyrics) o Sub-Part 3.2: Creating singable and memorable melodies

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Introduction Melody is often described as the soul of music, the part that listeners hum, sing, or remember long after a performance. In tonal harmony, the ability to craft effective melodies is essential because it provides the foundation upon which harmonic structures are built. This Series will guide you through the principles that make melodies both beautiful and structurally sound. The aim of this Series is to equip you with the skills to construct melodies that are coherent, expressive, and suitable for harmonisation. We shall commence this Series by examining the characteristics of melody, including its definition, contour, and expressive qualities. Next, we will explore the rules of melodic construction, focusing on stepwise motion, leaps, and the treatment of dissonance. Finally, we will conclude by considering how melody interacts with lyrics and how composers create singable and memorable lines that connect with listeners. Series Learning Outcomes Upon completing this Series, you should be able to:  SLO 2.1 define melody and explain its essential characteristics,  SLO 2.2 analyse melodic contour in terms of range, direction, and climax,  SLO 2.3 apply rules of melodic construction including stepwise motion, leaps, and treatment of dissonance,  SLO 2.4 evaluate balance and symmetry in melodic lines, and  SLO 2.5 design expressive melodies that align effectively with given lyrics.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.1 Characteristics of Melody 1.1.1 Definition and nature of melody A melody is a succession of musical tones arranged in a particular order to form a coherent and expressive line. It is the aspect of music that listeners most readily recognise and remember. Unlike harmony, which deals with the vertical combination of sounds, melody unfolds horizontally over time. A well-constructed melody balances simplicity with interest, making it both singable and memorable. Fill in the blank: A melody is a succession of ______ arranged to form a coherent musical line. Figure 1.1 Representation of melody versus harmony 1.1.2 Elements of melodic contour (range, direction, climax) The melodic contour refers to the overall shape of a melody as it moves up and down in pitch. Three important elements define contour:  Range: The distance between the lowest and highest notes in a melody. A narrow range often feels simple and intimate, while a wide range can sound dramatic and expansive.  Direction: The way a melody moves, either ascending, descending, or remaining static. Effective melodies often combine these movements to maintain interest.  Climax: The highest point of intensity or pitch in a melody. It provides emotional focus and is usually placed strategically to give the melody a sense of arrival. Fill in the blank: The highest point of intensity in a melody is called the ______.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Plate 1.1 Example of melodic contour with range, direction, and climax Pilot questions 1.1 1. Which term describes the overall shape of a melody as it moves up and down in pitch? 2. What is the difference between a narrow range and a wide range in melody? 3. Which element of melodic contour provides emotional focus? 4. How does direction contribute to the interest of a melody? 5. Fill in the blank: A melody unfolds ______ over time. 1.2 Rules of Melodic Construction 1.2.1 Stepwise motion and leaps A melody is most effective when it balances stepwise motion and leaps. Stepwise motion refers to movement between adjacent notes in a scale, creating smooth and connected lines. Leaps, on the other hand, involve larger intervals that add variety and excitement. Good melodic writing ensures that leaps are used sparingly and are often followed by stepwise motion in the opposite direction to restore balance. Fill in the blank: Movement between adjacent notes in a scale is called ______ motion. Figure 1.2 Example of stepwise motion and leaps in melody

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS 1.2.2 Treatment of dissonance Dissonance refers to a combination of tones that creates tension or instability. In melodic writing, dissonant notes must be carefully prepared and resolved to maintain musical coherence. Common techniques include passing tones, neighbour tones, and suspensions, all of which introduce dissonance but resolve smoothly into consonance. This controlled use of dissonance adds expressive depth without disrupting the flow of the melody. Fill in the blank: A note that creates tension and requires resolution is called ______. Box 1.1 Common types of melodic dissonance 1.2.3 Balance and symmetry in melodic lines A well-constructed melody often displays balance and symmetry. Balance refers to the proportion between ascending and descending movements, long and short phrases, and tension and release. Symmetry involves structuring melodies so that phrases mirror or complement one another, creating a sense of unity. These qualities make melodies easier to remember and more aesthetically pleasing. Fill in the blank: When melodic phrases mirror or complement one another, this is called ______. Plate 1.2 Symmetry in melodic phrasing

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Pilot questions 1.2 1. What is the difference between stepwise motion and leaps in melody? 2. Why should leaps be followed by stepwise motion in the opposite direction? 3. Which term describes tones that create tension and require resolution? 4. Name two common techniques for handling dissonance in melodic writing. 5. What qualities make a melody balanced and symmetrical? 1.3 Expressive Qualities of Melody 1.3.1 Relationship between melody and text (lyrics) A melody often gains its full meaning when paired with lyrics, which are the words set to music. The relationship between melody and text is crucial because the melodic line must reflect the natural rhythm, accent, and emotional tone of the words. For example, strong syllables in lyrics are usually matched with strong beats in the melody. This alignment ensures that the music supports the text rather than obscuring it. Fill in the blank: Strong syllables in lyrics are usually matched with strong ______ in the melody. 1.3.2 Creating singable and memorable melodies A melody becomes truly expressive when it is both singable and memorable. Singable melodies are those that lie comfortably within the vocal range and avoid awkward leaps or excessive dissonance. Memorable melodies often use repetition, clear phrasing, and a strong sense of climax. Composers aim to balance simplicity with variety so that the melody is easy to recall yet engaging to perform. Fill in the blank: A melody that lies comfortably within the vocal range and avoids awkward leaps is described as ______.

LA-NET | ONLINE LEARNING VIDEO PLATFORM FOR POST-SECONDARY & HIGHER INSTITUTION STUDENTS Plate 1.3 Example of a singable and memorable melody Pilot questions 1.3 1. Why is it important for a melody to reflect the rhythm and accent of lyrics? 2. What qualities make a melody singable? 3. Which techniques help make a melody memorable? 4. Fill in the blank: A melody that uses repetition and clear phrasing is often easier to ______. 5. How does the placement of climax contribute to the expressiveness of a melody? Series Summary This Series has introduced you to the principles of melodic writing, which form the foundation of tonal harmony. We began by examining the characteristics of melody, focusing on its definition, nature, and the elements of melodic contour such as range, direction, and climax. We then explored the rules of melodic construction, including the importance of stepwise motion, the careful use of leaps, and the treatment of dissonance to maintain coherence. Finally, we considered the expressive qualities of melody, particularly its relationship with lyrics and the techniques that make melodies singable and memorable. By working through these Parts, you have achieved the Series Learning Outcomes. You can now define melody and explain its characteristics (SLO 2.1), analyse melodic contour (SLO 2.2), apply rules of melodic construction (SLO 2.3), evaluate balance and symmetry in melodic lines (SLO 2.4), and design expressive melodies that align effectively with given lyrics (SLO 2.5). These skills will serve as a strong foundation for the subsequent Series on harmonic writing and beyond.

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