Hello and welcome to today's music lesson.

I'm Miss Mansel and I'm gonna be your teacher for today.

Let's get started.

The outcome for today's lesson is, "I can analyze how an electronic composition uses melodic and other devices and can incorporate some of these into my own composition.

" Let's have a look at some keywords for today.

Countermelody, a second melody that plays at the same time as the main melody.

Diminution, where the notes in a melody or rhythm are all shortened by the same proportion, for example, in half.

Sequence, where a melodic idea is repeated, getting higher or lower in pitch each time.

Pedal, where the base note stays the same while the cords change above.

Inverted pedal, where a note in a non base part stays the same, while the cords change around or below it.

Today's lesson on using melodic and other devices is in two parts.

Part one is on analyzing an electronic composition, and part two is using musical devices in your composition.

Let's get started with part one.

Analyzing an electronic composition.

Composers use melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic devices to form interesting musical ideas, add variety and tension to compositions and to help develop ideas.

Let's analyze a piece of electronic music focusing on its use of melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices.

One effective melodic device is the countermelody.

Introducing a countermelody can add variety when a main melody repeats and also thicken the texture to add energy and intensity.

Compare these two sections of the composition.

The first time we hear this melody, it is on its own.

Have a listen.

As the texture thickens a countermelody is added.

Have a listen to that as well.

What do you think makes this countermelody effective?

This countermelody is effective because it has a contrasting range or octave to the main melody.

Uses contrasting rhythms and melodic shape.

Has a contrasting timbre to the main melody.

Plays its most complex patterns during rests or sustained notes in the main reality.

You can have a look here.

You can see that core features in each melody are played at different times to each other.

This means that both melodies can be heard clearly and distinctly.

In this example, a countermelody joins in halfway through a different section.

Which of the features are used in this example?

Have a listen.

This countermelody uses most of the same features.

It has a contrasting range to the main melody.

It uses contrasting rhythms.

It has a contrasting timbre to the main melody.

It plays its most complex patterns during rests or sustain notes in the main melody.

However, at some points it joins in with the main melody, harmonizing it.

This creates variety in the texture and adds harmonic interest.

A sequence is another common melodic device that can be effective for creating melodies and developing melodic ideas.

Sequences can either be ascending or descending.

What type of sequence forms the main melody in this section?

Have a listen to the section.

I hope you spotted that this is based on an ascending sequence.

This works particularly effectively in this section because the ascending pattern contributes to the buildup towards the climax of the whole piece.

Here you can see highlighted each section of the sequence as it gets higher.

You might have noticed some similarities between some of the melodies and countermelodies in the composition.

The composer has used the same motif in different melodies, creating links between them and adding to the coherence of the composition.

Compare these three melodies from the composition.

Can you hear the short motif that they all use?

Have a listen to the first one.

And now the second.

And now the third.

They all use this short semiquaver pattern.

For this technique to work, the motif must use a distinct rhythmic on melodic idea.

It's important that each melody still has its own character and doesn't sound too similar to the others.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Name three melodic devices that are used in this composition.

Pause and have a think.

I hope you got countermelody, sequence, and motif.

This composition also uses harmonic devices.

Listen to this section again.

What harmonic device can you hear?

Focus on the base part.

Have a listen.

Did you spot the use of a pedal?

That's where the base note stays the same while the chords change above.

In this example, it uses the tonic note and creates tension because the base note clashes with the chromatic notes of the chords.

In this different example, one of the synthesizers repeats the same note throughout this whole section while the chords change around it.

Why is this not a pedal?

Have a listen to this example.

It is not a pedal because the repeated note is not the lowest note, i.

e the base note.

Instead, this is an example of an inverted pedal where a non base note states the same while the chords change round or below it.

An inverted pedal does not have to be the highest note playing, it only has to be a note other than the base note.

This composition also demonstrates some rhythmic devices.

Compare these two patterns that are used.

Can you identify what rhythmic device this is an example of?

So have a listen to both of those patterns.

This is an example of diminution, where the notes of a rhythm or pattern are all shortened proportionally by the same amount.

In this example, the notes have been halved in length.

Have a listen to where they both play together.

The diminution adds variety in a repeating section, but maintains a feeling of unity because it is based on an existing pattern from earlier in the piece.

Augmentation where the notes are lengthened instead of shortened, can be used for similar purposes.

Some rhythmic devices are used throughout the composition, particularly in the accompanying rhythmic parts.

Have a listen to the percussion accompaniment.

What rhythmic devices can you hear?

These rhythms use syncopation and create a polyrhythm.

Together, these create an interesting and varied rhythmic accompaniment for the melodic and harmonic parts.

In summary, this composition uses a wide range of different devices.

Melodic devices, for example, sequence, countermelody, and motif.

Harmonic devices such as pedal and inverted pedal.

Rhythmic devices, which include diminution, syncopation, and polyrhythm.

These techniques help to create a varied composition that balances unity and variety, creates tension and resolution, and takes the listener on a satisfying musical journey.

Let's do a check for understanding.

When a base note stays the same while the chords change above, this is called what?

Have a think.

I hope you said it was a pedal or a pedal note.

How is an inverted pedal different from a normal pedal?

Pause and have a think.

An inverted pedal is not the base note, it is a higher note that stays the same as the chords change around or below it.

Well done if you got that.

Let's do task A.

Listen to the whole electronic composition.

Write a paragraph explaining how the composer has used different melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices and the effect that these have on the music.

So pause and listen to the whole composition now and write your paragraph.

So having written your paragraph, you might have mentioned melodic devices such as ascending sequences used to create a buildup to a climax.

Counter melodies used to thicken the texture and create variety around repeated melodies.

Motifs used to create links between melodies, adding to the coherence of the composition.

Harmonic devices such as a tonic pedal and inverted pedal used to add variety to the harmony, creating tension in some sections.

Rhythmic devices such as diminution, adding variety in a repeating section while maintaining a feeling of unity by being based on an existing melodic idea.

Syncopation and polyrhythms creating an interesting, varied texture in the accompaniment.

I hope you got some of those points in your answer.

Let's move on to part two, "Using musical devices in your composition.

" This composition shows us how to use a range of different devices including melodic devices such as sequence, countermelody, and motif, harmonic devices such as pedal and inverted pedal, rhythmic devices such as diminution, syncopation, and polyrhythm.

These are chosen for specific purposes, including developing ideas, creating variety, adding coherence, and creating tension or resolution.

When choosing devices to use in your composition, consider the effect or purpose of using that particular device.

Let's do a check for understanding.

Name two different rhythmic devices used in this composition.

Pause and have a think.

You could have said diminution, syncopation, or polyrhythm.

Have you got two of those?

Let's do Task B.

Reflect on your composition.

Identify where you could use melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices to add variety, musical interest, and to develop ideas.

Make sure you choose devices to suit the musical effects that you want to create, and then develop your composition using your chosen techniques.

Suggested devices would be these melodic devices, harmonic devices, and rhythmic devices.

Pause the listen video now and have a go at developing your composition.

How did you get on?

Reflect on the changes you have made to your composition.

Use these questions to help you consider your next steps.

What melodic, harmonic and rhythmic devices have you used?

What are the effect of those?

Could using another sequence, countermelody or motif, be useful for adding variety or development to your composition?

Could using another pedal or inverted pedal be useful for creating variety and adding harmonic tension to your composition?

Could using diminution, augmentation, further syncopation, or polyrhythms contribute to the development of your composition?

Let's summarize today's lesson.

Composers use different melodic, harmonic, and rhythmic devices for specific musical effects.

Common melodic devices include using sequences, countermelodies, and motifs.

Pedals, a repeating base note and inverted pedals, a repeated non base note are effective harmonic devices.

To develop rhythmic features, we can use devices such as diminution, augmentation, syncopation, and polyrhythms.

Thanks for joining me for today's lesson.