# Melodic motion

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{{Short description|Quality of movement of a melody}}
thumb|Melodic motion: ascending vs. descending X conjunct vs. disjunct

'''Melodic motion''' is the quality of movement of a [melody](/source/melody), including nearness or farness of successive [pitches](/source/pitch_(music)) or [notes](/source/note_(music)) in a [melody](/source/melody). This may be described as conjunct or disjunct, [stepwise, skipwise or no movement](/source/Steps_and_skips), respectively. See also [contrapuntal motion](/source/contrapuntal_motion). In a conjunct melodic motion, the melodic phrase moves in a stepwise fashion; that is the subsequent notes move up or down a semitone or tone, but no greater. In a disjunct melodic motion, the melodic phrase leaps upwards or downwards; this movement is greater than a whole tone. 
In popular Western music, a melodic leap of disjunct motion is often present in the chorus of a song, to distinguish it from the verses and captivate the audience.

== In traditional culture music ==
Ethnomusicologist [Bruno Nettl](/source/Bruno_Nettl) describes various types of '''melodic movement''' or '''contour''' to categorise a song's melody.

There are three general categories, ''ascending'', ''descending'', and ''undulating'':{{sfn|Nettl|1956|p=51–52}}
*''Ascending'': Upwards melodic movement (only found in remote regions).
*''Descending'': Downwards melodic movement (prevalent in the New World and [Australian music](/source/Indigenous_music_of_Australia)).
*''Undulating'': Equal movement in both directions, using approximately the same intervals for ascent and descent (prevalent in Old World culture music). Usually concludes with a descending progression.
**''Pendulum'': Extreme form of undulating movement that covers a large range and uses large intervals is called pendulum-type melodic movement. Like undulating melodies, usually concludes with a descending progression.
According to Nettl, undulating and descending melodies are far more common than ascending ones.{{sfn|Nettl|1956|p=52}}

He also identifies additional specialized types which characterise musical styles with exceptionally homogenous contours, named after the melody contour's trace.{{sfn|Nettl|1956|p=52–53}}
*''Tile'', ''terrace'', or ''cascading'': a number of descending [phrases](/source/phrase_(music)) in which each phrase begins on a higher pitch than the last ended (prevalent in the [North American Plain Indians music](/source/Indigenous_music_of_North_America)).
*''Arc'': The melody rises and falls in roughly equal amounts, the curve ascending gradually to a climax and then dropping off (prevalent among [Navajo](/source/Navajo_music) and [North American Indian music](/source/North_American_Indian_music))

In addition to this, ''rise'', which may be considered a [musical form](/source/musical_form), is a contrasting section of higher pitch, a "musical plateau".{{sfn|Nettl|1956|p=73}}

Other examples include:
*[Double tonic](/source/Double_tonic): smaller pendular motion in one direction

These all may be [modal frame](/source/modal_frame)s or parts of modal frames.

==See also==
*[Parsons code](/source/Parsons_code)
*[Pitch contour](/source/Pitch_contour)
*[Voice leading](/source/Voice_leading)

==Citations==
{{reflist}}

==Bibliography==
{{refbegin}}
* {{Cite book |title=Music in Primitive Culture |last=Nettl |first=Bruno |author-link=Bruno Nettl |date=1956 |location=United States of America |publisher=Harvard University Press}}
{{refend}}

==Further reading==
* {{cite journal |last=Adams |first=Charles R. |date=May 1976 |title=Melodic Contour Typology |url=https://www.hugoribeiro.com.br/biblioteca-digital/Adams-Melodic_Contour_Typology.pdf |journal=Ethnomusicology |publisher=[University of Illinois Press](/source/University_of_Illinois_Press) on behalf of [Society for Ethnomusicology](/source/Society_for_Ethnomusicology) |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=179-215 |jstor=851015}} An in-depth discussion about melodic contour.

{{Melody}}
{{Modal frame}}

Category:Melodic motion

{{music-theory-stub}}

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Melodic motion](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodic_motion) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Melodic_motion?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.