Range (tonal music)

In the Western music, and more precisely, the tonal music, a range is the “ordered succession of different the degrees from a Tonalité”, degrees associated with a mode given, and generally presented in an ascending way - unless otherwise specified - since the tonic , until its first repetition, i.e., until the octave of this tonic.

  • a range always bears the name of the Tonalité from which it is resulting, and consequently, of the tonic of this tonality.

For example:

- the tonic C corresponds to the tonality and the range of C ;
- the range of F sharp corresponds to the tonality of F sharp : both have as a tonic F \ sharp ;
- the tonality of B flat corresponds to the range of B flat : both have as a tonic if \ flat ;
- etc

  • the prototype of the range of the tonal Système is the heptatonic range , i.e., the range made up of seven degrees. But one finds sometimes ranges including/understanding a number lower by degrees. For example, with the the Middle Ages, of the hexatonic ranges - six degrees - and pentatonic - five degrees - were often used: these ranges are described as defective ranges by reference to the canonical heptatonic range. In addition, other notes can be used on the occasion: generally, notes known as intermediate. Such notes, called secondary notes , generally fulfill a function of melody ornaments.

  • a range thus contains always the same number of sounds as the corresponding tonality, plus one, this of course, in order to reveal all the joint intervals of the range in question - i.e., the intervals between close degrees .

For example, the heptatonic range of C on the whole includes eight sounds - C, D, semi, F, ground, if and C .

  • a range is a melody, it is even “ the prototype of any melody ”. However, a melody is not a simple succession of notes, but a “succession of melody intervals”. However, each note of a melody, is also determined by the degree on which it is placed. One can thus say that each degree of a range - and thus, each note of a melody - depends at the same time on the interval which separates this degree from the precedent, and on the interval which separates it from the tonic.

See too

Internal bonds

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