Page 66 - Music

Chapter Melody and harmony
Four

Introduction

Melody and harmony are important elements in music. Melodies are usually
accompanied by emotions that can make the listener jump with joy or weep
with sadness. Harmony occurs when sounds complement the melody to
enhance its beauty. In this chapter, you will learn the concepts of melody

and harmony in music. The competencies developed will enable you to
compose simple melodies, construct triads in various keys and sing various
songs in harmony.

Think

What makes a song catchy and memorable

Concept of melody

A melody is a succession of notes, varying in pitch, which have an organised
and recognisable shape. A melody involves a linear or horizontal arrangement of
pitches. Pitches and rhythm create a melody when they are combined. See the
example shown in Figure 4.1.

Figure 4.1: A melody in staff notation

Notes in a melody can move by step or leap from one to another. A stepwise
movement means that a note moves by step to a note that is next to it. A leap

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