Melody Writing Leaving Certificate
______________________ The Basics _________________________
Key Signature-
# Sharp Key Signatures b Flat Key Signatures
Key Signature-
# Sharp Key Signatures b Flat Key Signatures
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Modulation means to Change the Key signature, In the 16 bar melody we must modulate in the 8th bar. In this bar we must raise the fah. If the key is a # (sharp) key signature we raise the note up to #, if the key is a b (flat) key signature we raise the note to a natural.
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Cadences is the progression of two (or more) chords.
Modulation means to Change the Key signature, In the 16 bar melody we must modulate in the 8th bar. In this bar we must raise the fah. If the key is a # (sharp) key signature we raise the note up to #, if the key is a b (flat) key signature we raise the note to a natural.
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Cadences is the progression of two (or more) chords.
Sequence- Pattern Repeated in different pitch higher or lower
Inversion- Change interval (Notes) upside down
Repetition- Pattern just repeated
Inversion- Change interval (Notes) upside down
Repetition- Pattern just repeated
Checking to see if your melody is minor
- The question will not ask you to modulate- example 2008
- Write out your scale/tonic solfa and check soh note for accidentals
- If your melody is a minor melody, continue to put accidental on all soh notes throughout your piece.
- Do not modulate, you can end phrase A1 on fah-soh as normal but do not raise the fah.
Plan of your 16 bar melody
What do you do in A1 phrase?
· Use the same rhythm just change the melody
· In the eighth bar you must end on Fah- Soh. It is in this bar that you have to modulate/ raise the fah note (to a natural or a sharp)
Why do we modulate? For contrast, to avoid a feeling of completion,to push the melody away from the tonic (doh).
What do you do in B phrase? This is a contrasting phrase
· Take a motif from Phrase A but develop it first (Inversion)
· Sequence the motif
· Lead the Melody towards a climax in step
· End the phrase in an unfinished way (i.e. not a perfect cadence)
Your Final Phrase A2
· This phrase should be based on the opening phrase A, but it should not be a direct repetition of it.
· Try to develop the opening (Sequence, Inversion etc)
· N.B. if your B phrase has ended on a re/fah/soh note, the first note of this phrase should be a step above or below
· Resolve the melody (i.e. end on doh- perfect cadence/Finished)
How to write a good melody question;
Dynamics- Meaning how loud or soft the music is played
· Use the same rhythm just change the melody
· In the eighth bar you must end on Fah- Soh. It is in this bar that you have to modulate/ raise the fah note (to a natural or a sharp)
Why do we modulate? For contrast, to avoid a feeling of completion,to push the melody away from the tonic (doh).
What do you do in B phrase? This is a contrasting phrase
· Take a motif from Phrase A but develop it first (Inversion)
· Sequence the motif
· Lead the Melody towards a climax in step
· End the phrase in an unfinished way (i.e. not a perfect cadence)
Your Final Phrase A2
· This phrase should be based on the opening phrase A, but it should not be a direct repetition of it.
· Try to develop the opening (Sequence, Inversion etc)
· N.B. if your B phrase has ended on a re/fah/soh note, the first note of this phrase should be a step above or below
· Resolve the melody (i.e. end on doh- perfect cadence/Finished)
How to write a good melody question;
- Check and Recheck the Key Signature- Is it a minor key?
- Put tonic solfa under your melody (i.e. doh, rah, me, fah, soh, lah, ti, doh) & Sing it
- Phrase your 16 bars ( 4 phrases, each phrase 4 bars)
- Aim for good balance and structure
- Examine the melody for steps & leaps + Always leap within doh triad (doh-me-soh)
- Use Sequence, Inversion and Repetition
- Keep the Rhythm Simple
- Try to broaden the range of your answer, don’t be afraid to use high doh (ti must be followed by doh when ascending as ti is called a leading note)
- Use dynamics, expression marks, tempo, phrasing and articulation
Dynamics- Meaning how loud or soft the music is played
Tempo- The speed of the composition, always wrote on the top left corner at the start
Articulation