Harmony and Rhythm Are an Integral Part of Concert Music
Music is the formal art of composing sounds in specific time to create a particular composition in accordance with the components of rhythm, melody, harmony, and melodic timbre. It is perhaps one of the oldest universal artistic aspects of all human cultures. It can be found in all musical works, from the most simple of notes, which are the result of white noise, to the most dramatic and complex creations of orchestrated music.
The Ancient Greeks, in their drama the Phaedrus, made use of two contrasting types of music, the lyre and the symphony, as well as two distinct kinds of instruments, the lute and the sitar. Lyre music was composed of rhythmic beats, similar to the beats found in most Western music today. Symphonie was characterized by smooth tonal tones, such as those found in classical pieces by Beethoven and Mozart. The use of a double bass, or bass clef, marked the beginning of twentieth century music, sometimes known as “mono-tone” music. The development of harmony and melody found new expression in the form of a fugue, the combination of several melodies, played on only two instruments.
In present times, with the growth of electronic and computer technologies, many music enthusiasts have taken up the hobby of creating their own compositions using software available in the market. With this software, they are capable of creating their own original works of music. This has given birth to a new genre of music called “dramatic concert music.” Dramatic concert music often requires the musicians to apply techniques used in classical music such as the use of polyphony, and other forms of technical unpredictability.
Unlike spoken word, music does not reveal its intentions through words or emotion. In a symphony, for example, the composer creates symphonies of varying lengths, while the performers manipulate and change their sounds according to mood, desire, and octave construction. It is the composer’s dream to create a work that reveals all its details and beauty. To achieve this, he should not only be able to match the style and structure of his musical creation with the feelings of his audience, but also with the technicalities of his instrument.
The most basic elements of music – melody and rhythm – emerge from the relationship between the various elements that compose a melody or a rhythm. The basic elements in a melody include bass, the first element in a melody; rhythm, the second element in a melody; and harmony, the third element in a melody. The arrangement of these elements in a melody creates a structure for the melody. Every musical movement of a piece of music needs to start and end with a melody. The most popular music composers, Beethoven and Mozart, showed the importance of harmony and rhythm by using techniques like polyphonic songs, which include a variety of notes, chord progressions, and repeated themes.
The importance of harmony lies in the fact that it allows one another to stand out and gain emphasis. This is why, for example, in a melodic piece like an elegy, the harmonies created by each part to support and enhance each other, leading to greater emotional depth and feeling in the audience. The same thing can be said of a musical number such as a love theme in a wedding march. A good composer should always strive to build his elements in such a way that they compliment each other, and the result is a harmony of sounds that leaves the listener awed. The best concert musicians understand the value of harmony and are able to seamlessly combine it with rhythm and melody to create a beautiful musical masterpiece.
