10

Complete the melody - design the phrases

Design the Phrases

The complete melody will always be 8 bars long and you will always be given about 2 bars of the starting melody.   In general, the first two bars will comprise the first half of a phrase, begging for an answering half phrase of 2 bars, and will include a distinctive rhythmic element - usually a dotted rhythm.

If you’re stuck for any other ideas work or cannot hear the tune, work to the following scheme:-

•  Reckon on two phrases of four bars each

•  Complete the first phrase  with 2 bars that answer the opening 2 bars, but introduce some new and contrasted rhythmic element. Tap the opening 2 bar rhythm and answer it with your own tapped rhythm of the same number of beats. Note down your answering rhythm.

• Finish the first phrase with melody notes that strongly  imply an imperfect cadence

•   In the first half (2 bars) of the second phrase, re-use the distinctive rhythmic element of the opening two bars

• Complete the second phrase with melody notes that strongly imply a perfect cadence

• THIS LAST POINT IS CRUCIAL!!  

If the melody starts on an up-beat - anacrusis - or more generally, the first bar does not contain     all the beats of the time signature, then your melody must exhibit two features.  

#1  Your second phrase must begin on the same (up) beat as the opening bar

#2   Your final bar must be shortened in beats so it and the first bar make up the                 full number of beats of the time signature.

E.g. a melody in 4/4 time starts on the 4th beat with an opening bar of just one crotchet beat.

The second phrase must being on the 4th beat of the 4th full bar and the final bar must be just 3 beats long

E.g. a melody in 6/8 time starts with an opening bar of just a quaver.

The second phrase must start on the 6th quaver of the 4th full bar and the final bar must be

 5 quavers (   j q  )long.