Elements and

Organization of
Music
Epifanio, Norbert Gary L.

Harmony
Simultaneous sounding
of two or more tones.

Chord
is two or more notes or
tones sounded at the same
time and conceived as
entity.

Triad
the most common chord in
our music is a certain
combination of three tones.

Chord Progression
The scheme by which
chords change.

Consonance
certain combinations of
tones produce a quality
of repose or relaxation.

Dissonance
certain other combinations
of tones produce a quality
of unrest or tension.

Diatonic Harmony
One in which there are
very few altered tones.

Chromatic Harmony
One in which there are
numerous altered tones.

Tonality
The character of a piece of music
as determined by the key in which
it is played or the relations
between the notes of a scale or
key.

Polytonality
Music which two or more keys are
combines simultaneously in a single
composition.

Multitonality

Displaced tonality

Atonal
It is music that rejects the framework of
key.

Dynamics
oThe volume or loudness of the
music
oThis may refer to contrast among
sections of a piece, the mix within
a piece, or the overall
presentation

Tempo
oRefers to the rate of the speed,
the pace of the music.
oIt determines the speed of the
beats in the measure, their
duration in actual time.

Most frequently encountered are

the following :
Very slow: Largo (broad)
Grave (solemn)
Slow:
Lento
Adagio (gently, leisurely, slowly)
Moderate: Andante (going at a walking pace)
Andantino (a little andante, somewhat faster
than
andante)
Moderato (moderate speed)

Most frequently encountered are

the following :
Fairly fast: Allegretto (a little lively- not as fast as allegro)
Fast:
Allegro (happy, cheerful, lively)
Very fast:
Allegro multo (very lively)
Vivace (vivacious, lively)
Presto (very quick)
Prestissimo (as quick as possible)

Accelerando
Gradual increase of
speed.

Ritardando
Gradual decrease of
speed.

Timbre
o The characteristics of the sound itself
o We often use terms from the visual arts to
describe musical timbre
o Timbres often hold strong associations in our
minds

Texture
o Refers to the melodic and harmonic
relationship of musical factors.

oThe consistency of musical sounds

Types of texture
o Monophonic texture means only one line of
music sounding alone
o Homophonic means one line leads and the
others support it.
o Polyphonic texture are multiple
independent lines happening together.

Types of texture
oNonmelodic texture
Is created for special effects in which
harmonic sounds obscure or partly
exclude the melodic content of a
composition.
Occurs in contemporary and modern
music.

Types of texture
oSonority
Is an attribute of texture which is
based more on harmonic than
melodic consideration.
Refer to the quality of richness or
thinness of texture.

Types of texture
oSonority is determined
by:
Number of Parts
Refers to the number of voices involved.
Spacing of tones
Refers to the musical intervals between parts,.

Types of texture
oSonority is determined
by:
Register tones

Refers to whether the tones are high, medium,

or slow
Timbre
Refers to the tone quality or qualities of the
mediums which will play the music.