All Questions
Tagged with composition terminology
36
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Is there a compositional term for an introductory variation on a larger theme?
I’ve noticed that in some music spaces, specifically entertainment and gaming, composers rely heavily on character or main themes as recurring motifs. One such instance I’ve heard recently involves ...
- 161
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4
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471
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What is the best name for a short composition (Suite, Sonata, Partita, etc.)?
I have a short composition and I would like to give it a name but I don't know what term would be more appropriate (Suite, Sonata, Partita, another one?). The composition has a duration of 1:21, uses ...
- 113
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3
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417
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Pieces or parts of pieces containing only harmony?
I am listening to some pieces where the whole composition or some internal parts seem to contain only harmony/chords without producing a discernible melody. Is this some particular technique or we can ...
- 111
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Term for a musical section
I'm looking for the term for a a long, unique intro in a tune.
It was prevalent in the mid-20th century in musicals and the like.
- 51
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3
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What do I call this type of transition?
I'm a complete novice to composing and music theory, but part of what I'd like to do is acquire the vocabulary to describe subtle changes in sound, especially ones that evoke a distinct emotion.
For ...
3
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1
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119
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Is there a term for repeated melodies of different length
Inspired Flight's "An Outlet" is an example of what I mean.
For the first few measures, a melody of 16 eighth notes is established in middle register (if I ...
- 183
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2
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203
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How to balance my phrase structure? [closed]
I'm trying to compose a verse (with refrain?)-chorus (bridge?) pop song (optional: Instrumental intro, bridge before the final chorus, instrumental solo somewhere) about 3-4 minutes in length. I've ...
- 1,396
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Why do some songs change while fading out? What is it called?
I noticed that some songs repeat a theme and then fade out at the end, but before completely fading out the song "changes". For example, the singer sings different words (that don't appear ...
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163
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What exactly counts as writing for "electronics"?
What does "writing for electronics" mean? For example, when a call for scores is asking for a piece for electronics, or for another instrument and electronics, what exactly is it asking for? ...
- 39
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3
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594
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Term for One person performing a whole Arrangement with nothing else accompanying (As a Cover)
Like how "Unplugged Version" means the Original Song has been performed with 0 usage of technology-stuff (other than Microphone) [No editing, Acoustic Instruments only, No Faders, No ...
2
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4
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406
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Word for the list of compositions of a Classical composer?
Either I'm being stupid or my brain is not working properly...
Is there a word for the list of compositions of a Classical composer? I can only think of 'discography' for a performer but that's not ...
user59072
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What makes the Hungarian rhapsodies sound... Hungarian?
More generally, how can a piece of music be made to sound, for want of a better word, foreign?
I was listening to some of Chopin's mazurkas and the one that struck me the most was Mazurka No. 34 in C ...
- 91
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What is the difference between the Romantic and post-romantic periods?
This question came about when I was reading Blair Allen Johnston’s dissertation, ‘Harmony and Climax in the late works of Sergei Rachmanioff’
He loosely groups the post romantic period within 1890-...
- 407
6
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4
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457
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What is the term for skipping notes in a familiar melody, so that the listener imagines them?
There is a technique in composition where certain notes in a familiar melody are entirely skipped, so that they are not played but are still imagined. This usually happens (or is noticeable) in the ...
- 163