Range

• Distance from highest to lowest pitch
• Smaller ranges generally easier to sing

Interval Structure

• Conjunct– mostly stepwise
• Disjunct– mostly leaps

Gesture

Shape of smaller pitch/rhythm patterns

• Ascending, descending
• Arch, inverted arch
• Stationary

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Repetition

Composer choices: repeat, vary, something new

Can be exact or varied

Promotes a sense of unity

Motive-short musical figure

Rule of three- unofficial limit to avoid predictability

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Sequence

Pattern repeated at a different pitch level

Real sequence– intervallically identical

Tonal sequence– intervals are altered to preserve the key

Modified sequence– sequence in which variation occurs

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Melodic Tonality

The way a melody defines a tonal center

Scalar vs. arpeggiated

Large scale events

Structural pitches

• Longer
• Metrically stronger
• Accented
• Repeated
• First or last
• Can also be scalar or arpeggiated

Tonic/Dominant axis

Tonic and dominant stick out as structural pitches