Question

In essay form, differentiate between the following two sets of terms: i. melody and harmony ii. rhythm and meter

Answer 1

i. Melody and harmony are two of the fundamental components of musical sound. A melody is the central core of a musical piece. It is the main element of a song or composition. In modern music, the lead singer of a band usually sings it, and most people remember it as the “singable” portion of a song or musical piece. In contrast, harmony is the supporting sound that is either harmonious or discordant, depending on the composer’s intent. The harmony is played or sung (or both) simultaneously with the melody and enhances it. When melody and harmony combine, they create texture and complexity. There can be varying levels of harmony, in octaves that are higher or lower (or both) than the central melody.

ii. Rhythm is another fundamental component of music, but has more of a visceral, feeling component (as compared to sounds such as melody or harmony). It provides the organizing pulse that creates a structure in a musical piece. Rhythm is a regular, timed aspect of a musical piece, and it sets the duration of measured sounds. It is a combination of elements called beats. In contrast, meter is a series of accented notes that occur within a given short period. We can identify a composition’s meter through its time signature.

Explanation:

This is directly from plato / edmentum.

Answer 2

When we study music in a technical and academic way, we are introduced to some terms that may seem to have the same meanings, but have a totally different application from each other. However, it is important that every music student knows how to differentiate them.

An example of this can be seen between the words "melody" and "harmony. Although many people believe that these words have the same meaning, it is important to note that harmony refers to the overlapping of notes during musical composition and that it is the basis for the construction of the melody, which in turn refers to the sequence of notes emitted one after the other in the same tone and on the same scale

Another example is the words "rhythm" and "meter". The rhythm is the term that refers to the patterns of duration of melodies, while "meter" has a more complex concept and is related to the subsequent beats that are identified within the rhythm as it extends through the duration from music.