Theory of the Western music

The theory of the Western music has as an aim the description of the operation of the Western music, as of the system of notation which is associated to him, namely, the Solfège. By “ Western tonal music ”, one will understand “ the whole of the music practiced and composed in the countries of Occidental culture, since the Renaissance until the beginning of the 20th century , at least ”.

  • the “Classical music” - in the broad sense of the term - thus occupies a central place in such a theory. However, various musical systems, connected or derived from this Standard of music, can be concerned - at least partially - by this theory. For example, the Serial music, the Jazz, the musics popular, etc, use same the moderate scales as the tonal music Western.

  • the theory of the Western tonal music has the following characteristics.

Rate/rhythm

Compared with other musical systems, the rhythmic system can appear singularly impoverished: durations proportional of the sounds and silences, equality of the time, the started from time and the measurement S…

Melody

The melody system did not cease going towards a simplification increasingly marked: at the 18th century, the chromatic scale with the equal temperament, made up of 12 equal Semitone S and of 12 degrees - seven principal degrees and five secondary degrees -, ended up becoming in fact the matrix generating scales and ranges inherited the medieval modes, and beyond, of the musical system of the ancient Greece.

Harmonize

The harmonic system constitutes one of the principal characteristics of the Western music. The word “harmonizes” here, must be heard in the broad sense, including as well the counterpoint - system exclusively employed of the XII {{E}} at the 16th century - that the traditional harmony - system which gradually succeeded to him as from the 16th century. This harmonic system governs the simultaneity deliberated on the sounds, and implements the concepts of consonance and Dissonance. Counterpoint as well as tonal harmony require a planning : indeed, if it is always possible to improvise rythmiquement or mélodiquement , on the other hand, at once which emerges a harmonic thought , one cannot avoid resorting to the partition. In addition, this harmonic system is viable only at the price of the simplification of the systems rhythmic and melody which we have just exposed.

  • For more information on this question, to consult the articles Harmony, elementary tonal Harmony, Agreement and Polyphony.

Notation

The marking system, extremely complex, is called Solfège. It was born from the requirements of the medieval Polyphonie with the neighborhoods of the 11th century, it puts at the foreground the concept of “made up music” in opposition to the “impromptu music”. Indeed, the rare moments of improvisation are rigorously delimited and regulated by the tradition - rates, Prélude S, récitatifs… Generally, the Western music brings into play a Compositeur, a partition and a interprets.

  • For more information on this question, to consult the article Musical theory.

See too

Internal bonds

External bonds

  • RowyNet Music of lexicon

Simple: Music theory

Random links:Thermopyles | Cut Presidents of the AFC | Namco System 21 | Zabrega (Malo Crniće) | Nicolas III of Mecklembourg-Werle-Güstrow