Intervals

Definition

Intervals are the distances between two pitches, measured in terms of the number of scale steps they encompass. In music, intervals are crucial because they create the foundation for melodies and harmonies, influencing the way music is perceived emotionally. Understanding intervals is particularly important when looking at different styles of organum, as they dictate how the voices interact and create textures in early polyphonic music.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. In parallel organum, voices move together in the same direction by a consistent interval, often a perfect fourth or fifth.
2. Free organum allows for more independent melodic lines where intervals can vary, creating a rich texture of harmonies.
3. Melismatic organum features long melodic phrases with many notes sung on a single syllable, often creating complex intervals as voices weave together.
4. Intervals in organum can express different emotional qualities; for instance, perfect intervals are usually perceived as stable, while dissonances create tension.
5. The use of specific intervals in early polyphony was critical for establishing tonal centers and supporting the overall harmonic structure of the music.

Review Questions

• How do different types of organum utilize intervals to create musical textures?
  • Different types of organum leverage intervals in unique ways to produce various textures. In parallel organum, intervals remain constant as voices move together, resulting in a unified sound. Free organum allows voices to diverge more freely, creating intricate interactions where intervals change, leading to richer harmonic landscapes. Melismatic organum highlights intervals through extensive elaboration on a single syllable, emphasizing how individual notes and their relationships can shape the overall sound.
• Discuss how dissonance and consonance within intervals affect the emotional character of organum.
  • The interplay between dissonance and consonance within intervals significantly impacts the emotional character of organum. Consonant intervals, such as perfect fifths and octaves, provide a sense of stability and resolution. In contrast, dissonant intervals introduce tension and anticipation. This dynamic creates an emotional journey throughout a piece of organum as composers use both consonant and dissonant intervals strategically to evoke feelings and drive musical narratives.
• Evaluate the role of intervals in shaping the evolution of polyphonic music from organum to later styles.
  • Intervals played a pivotal role in the evolution from organum to more complex forms of polyphonic music. As composers experimented with various intervallic relationships, they began to explore greater harmonic richness beyond the simple parallel motion of earlier organum. This exploration led to the development of counterpoint techniques that emphasized independence among voices while still adhering to rules about consonance and dissonance. Consequently, this progression not only broadened musical vocabulary but also laid foundational principles that would influence future musical styles throughout history.

Related terms

Tritone: An interval that spans three whole tones, often associated with dissonance in musical contexts.

Perfect Fifth: An interval that consists of seven half steps, considered one of the most consonant and stable intervals in music.

Dissonance: A combination of tones that creates tension or instability, often resolved by consonant intervals.