Melodic motion

{{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, including nearness or farness of successive pitches or notes in a melody. This may be described as conjunct or disjunct, stepwise, skipwise or no movement, respectively. See also 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 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). *''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 in which each phrase begins on a higher pitch than the last ended (prevalent in the North American Plain Indians music). *''Arc'': The melody rises and falls in roughly equal amounts, the curve ascending gradually to a climax and then dropping off (prevalent among Navajo and North American Indian music)

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

Other examples include: *Double tonic: smaller pendular motion in one direction

These all may be modal frames or parts of modal frames.

==See also== *Parsons code *Pitch contour *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 on behalf of Society for Ethnomusicology |volume=20 |issue=2 |pages=179-215 |jstor=851015}} An in-depth discussion about melodic contour.

Category:Melodic motion