Compositional Devices Teacher’s Guide
Compositional Devices for Exploring Phrase Material
Definitions in quotes are musical definitions from the Harvard Dictionary of Music, Fourth Ed. 2003.
Augmentation
"the presentation of a subject in double value, e.g.--quarter note replaced by a half note."
• to lengthen or make bigger
• to draw out in time and/or space
Diminution
"the presentation of a subject in halved value"
• to reduce in size
• to make smaller in time and/or space
Mirroring
• to do on the other side
• to change the facing
Isolation
• to take one aspect of the phrase and do it, omitting the rest ex.do only the focus and head movements of the phrase.
Accumulation
• a sequential repetition. Start at a specific point in the phrase and gradually add the following counts, going back to the starting point each time and accumulating.
ex. 1. 1,2. 1,2,3. 1,2,3,4. etc.
Inversion
"the general meaning of the term is a substitution of higher for lower tones and vice versa. There are two main types of inversion:
harmonic an interval is inverted by transferring its lower note into the higher octave or its higher note into the lower octave.
melodic a melody is inverted by changing each ascending interval into the corresponding descending interval, and vice versa. The result is a mirror-like exchange of upward and downward movements, comparable to the contours of a forest and its reflection in a lake."
Retrograde
"the term denotes the backward reading of a melody, i.e. beginning with the last note and ending with the first one."
• to go from back to front, as in running a film backwards performing the momentum or energy of the movement in reverse
Transposition
(1) "the rewriting of the ex tempore performance of a composition at another pitch, i.e., in another key."
(2) "the modification of a musical subject or motive made with a view to change its personality."
• change the energy and quality. personality change. meter change (waltz, march, etc)
Development
"An important technique of recent composition which consists in the unfolding of the thematic material... these devices are used in a manner designed to bring about a feeling of evolution and growth, of increased intensity and higher "temperature," of dynamic stress and climax."
• to isolate an aspect and carry it to a new choreographic intention to enhance tension or create release.
Embellishment
"Arose as a spontaneous act on the part of the interpreter who, in performing a written melody, enlivened it, expanded it, or varied it through his technique of improvisation."
• to add on top of, or to give a special emphasis to one aspect of the phrase; i.e., adding an improvised section every 2 counts
Canon
"a polyphonic composition in which all parts have the same melody throughout although starting at different points."
“Cowboy Take Me Away”
Copyright The Dixie Chicks
I said I wanna touch the earth
I wanna break it in my hands
I wanna grow something wild and unruly
I wanna sleep on the hard ground
In the comfort of your arms
On a pillow of bluebonnets
In a blanket made of stars
Oh it sounds good to me I said
Cowboy take me away
Fly this girl as high as you can
Into the wild blue
Set me free, oh, I pray
Closer to heaven above
And closer to you closer to you
I wanna walk and not run
I wanna skip and not fall
I wanna look at the horizon
And not see a building standing tall
I wanna be the only one
For miles and miles
Except for maybe you and
Your simple smile
Oh it sounds good to me
Yes it sounds so good to me
Cowboy take me away
Fly this girl as high as you can
Into the wild blue
Set me free oh I pray
Closer to Heaven above and
Closer to you closer to you
I said I wanna touch the earth
I wanna break it in my hands
I wanna grow something wild and unruly
Oh it sounds so good to me
Cowboy take me away
Fly this girl as high as you can
Into the wild blue
Set me free oh I pray
Closer to heaven above and
Closer to you closer to you
Closer to you
Cowboy take me away,
Closer to you
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Objectives