UNIT 3 – MUSIC

1. MUSIC AND TELEVISION

The invention of television gave birth to a new era of information and mass communication. This
invention also transformed the world of show business. Music is one of the elements that help confer
meaning to an audiovisual narrative, that is why music is present in every television format.

1.1 The grammatical function

Music is commonly used as short pieces of music for distinguishing and organizing different
sections of television programs. The most commonly used musical inserts are:
• Theme song: appears at the start and end of the program, and summarizes the essence of a
show.
• Bumper music: usually lasts less than thirty seconds and is used to introduce commercial
breaks or accompany a promotional video.
• Stringer: shorter than the bumper music, is used to separate thematic blocks such as, for
instance, different sections in a news program.

(Watch videos of page 42).

1.2. Television fiction

Encompass series, mini-series, TV-movies and soap operas. Music is at the service of the
narrative, just as it is in a film, but there is one key piece of music with much importance: the
theme song that communicate the essence of the serie with melodies. Example: Game of
Thrones.

1.3. Music and advertising

Advertising is crucial in television because most networks depend on it to make a profit. The key
musical devices used in advertising are: repeating a melody and associating the music with the
target audience for the product. Music is used in different ways:

• Jingle: an easily identifiable song used in an advertisement, usually featuring the slogan
for the brand.
• Music logo: is a brief piece that is associated with a brand. Should be striking and is often
original, simple, and very short.
• Incidental music: music that appears in an advertisement and is associated with the
product being advertised. It might be a pre-existing piece of music, and adaptation of an
existing work, or a piece created especially for the ad.

(Watch videos of page 43).

1.4. Music as protagonist

Sometimes, music is the main protagonist on television: musical competitions, musical

programs, performances and music videos. Its objective is to draw the viewer's attention and it
often stands out for its production, creativity, and, sometimes, its experimentation.

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2. DURATION

Duration is the quality that enables us to distinguish between a long and a short sound. The unit of
measurement is the beat and we can represent it with musical figures.

2.1. Musical figures, prolongation signs and time signatures

Musical figures

It is common to find the following triplet in music, which is a special rhythmic pattern with the
duration of a quarter note beat:

Example:
Complete the following exercise using a semibreve, half notes, a quarter note, eighth notes and
sixteenth notes and also write some rests:

4
4
Possible answer:

4
4

Prolongation signs

• Dot: is a small dot written to the right of it, which increases its duration by half of its
original value.

• Tie: is a curved line that connects two figures and combines their durations in a single
sound.

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 Time signatures:
• Binary meter: there are two beats of quarter note in each bar →
→ Loud part – Soft part. Example: 2
4
• Ternary meter: there are three beats of quarter note in each bar →
→ Loud part – Soft part – Soft part. Example: 3
4
• Quaternary meter: there are four beats of quarter note in each bar →
→ Loud part – Soft part – Semi Loud Part – Soft part. Example: 4
4
3. STRING INSTRUMENTS
String instruments, or chordophones, produce sound through the vibration of one or more strings.
3.1. Bowed string instruments
Bowed string instruments are played by vibrating the strings with the friction of a bow.
Instruments: violín, viola, cello and double bass.

3.2. Plucked string instruments

Plucking means to pull and releasing a string with the fingers or a plectrum. Instruments: guitar
and harp.

3.3. Struck string instruments

These instruments are played by striking their strings. Instruments: piano and cimbalom.
(See pictures of pages 46 and 47).

4. NATURE
Ever since the first Paleolithic paintings were created, nature has always been present in the arts. As
far as music is concerned, many composers have found inspiration in the beauty of the sky and the
earth, rivers, seas, brooks, thunders, etc. Some musicians have attempted to describe nature in their
works by imitating its sounds, and others expressed what they felt when surrounded by nature.
Examples: An Alpine Symphony by Richard Strauss or The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi.

5. MUSICAL NOTES

A staff is a set of five horizontal lines that can be extended by adding additional lines. The treble or G
clef appears on the left-hand side of the staff and indicates that there is the SOL note on the second
line. The other notes can be named by following the scale order:
Ascendant order: do – re – mi – fa – sol – la – si – do
Descendant order: do – si – la – sol – fa – mi – re – do

The Alphabetical Musical Notation: