The elements of music to consider
Melody
Melodies can be created by using different features which can affect such things as to how it moves and how it is articulated. String Quartet No.2 in E♭ major features:
- phrases that are written with call and responseWhere one melody is answered by another.
- ornaments are written in the score, such as:
- trillTwo adjacent notes that are played rapidly one after the other.
- mordentA type of ornament which suggests the performer plays the printed note, immediately the one immediately above and then the printed note again.
- appoggiaturaAn ornamental leaning note in which the ornament takes half the value of the note it proceeds.
- acciaccaturaNote played as quickly as possible before the note that follows.
- scalic passages and arpeggioIndividual notes of a chord played in succession from lowest to highest.
- mainly diatonicMelody or harmony which uses pitches of the given key. passages, but also some chromaticChromatic harmony uses notes from outside the key to colour the chords. for colour
Harmony, tonality and texture
These three elements can have an affect on the mood that a piece of music creates. For this piece, the features include:
- consonant harmonyHarmony that fits together and sounds pleasant to listen to as opposed to dissonance. is heard
- a key signature is E♭ major except for the third movement, which is in B♭ major - the dominantThe fifth tone or degree of any of the major or minor scales.
- melody and accompanimentA type of texture where there is only one clear melody and an accompaniment that plays different notes and rhythms but is supporting the melody. texture between the first violin and other string instruments
Structure
A string quartet has four movements:
- movement 1 – sonata formA form used in classical sonatas, symphonies and concertos which consists of exposition, development and recapitulation sections.
- movement 2 – scherzoUsually a light, playful passage of music.
- movement 3 – binary formA musical structure of two parts in which an A section is followed by a contrasting B section.
- movement 4 – rondoA music structure that continually returns to the A section, eg A-B-A-C-A.
- each section is written in balanced phraseA short section of music, normally a melody, that could be thought of as a musical sentence. Phrases are like building blocks in music.
Tempo
A string quartet follows tempo settings for each movement:
- movement 1 – allegro moderato
- movement 2 – allegro
- movement 3 – largo sostenuto
- movement 4 – presto
Metre and rhythm
For each of the four movements the metres are:
- movement 1 – common time or 4/4
- movement 2 – 3/4
- movement 3 – 3/4
- movement 4 – 6/8
A variety of rhythms are used, eg the tripletA group of three equal length notes played in the space of two, eg three quavers played in the space of two quavers. in bar 25 in the first violin.
Instrumentation
A string quartet comprises:
- two violins
- viola
- cello
- arcoBowing the strings. playing is heard throughout
Dynamics and timbre
Bear the following points in mind when referring to these elements:
- dynamics contrast for each section of the movement
- there is contrast in the type of sound when a stringed instrument is played with legatoMusic which is played smoothly. and staccato Notes played detached. techniques
