MUSC 132 Chapter 18: Chapter 18 Notes
Document Summary
Phrase and motive: a phrase is a basic unit of musical thought that ends with a cadence. Phrases are often two, four, or eight measures long, especially in the classical era, but they may be other lengths are well. A motive, the smallest recognizable musical idea, is characterized by its pitches, contour, and/or rhythm. For a musical segment to qualify as a motive, it must be repeated either exactly or in varied form (for example, transposed or embellished: motives may be varied in a number of ways. Transposed to appear on another scale degree. Inverted so that the direction of each diatonic interval is reversed. Extended by repeating a portion of the motive to make it longer. Truncated by cutting of the end to make it sorter. The first two units of the sentence do not end with a cadence, but require the third portion for closure.
