Cycle (music)

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Cycle has several meanings in the field of music. Acoustically, it refers to one complete vibration, the base unit of Hertz being one cycle per second.[1] Theoretically, an interval cycle is a collection of pitch classes created by a sequence of identical intervals. Individual pieces that aggregate into larger works are considered cycles, for example, the movements of a suite, symphony, sonata, or string quartet.[2] This definition can apply to everything from settings of the Mass or a song cycle to an opera cycle. Cycle also applies to the complete performance of an individual composer's work in one genre.[3]

Harmonic cycles—repeated sequences of a harmonic progression—are at the root of many musical genres, such as the

theme and variations
is essentially of this type, but generally on a larger scale.

Composition using a tone row is another example of a cycle of pitch material, although it may be more difficult to hear because the variations are more diverse.

Rhythmic cycles

Indian classical music

Main article: Indian classical music

In Indian classical music, a specific rhythmic structure known as a tala is repeated through the length of the raga, and used as a basis for improvisation of the drum parts.

Music of Indonesia

In the

pi phat
, have been analyzed colotomically.

Sub-Saharan African music traditions

Main article: Sub-Saharan African music traditions

cross beats and larger phrases, but awareness of the cycle is ever present.[7] In many sub-Saharan and Disapora musics, a key pattern, typically played on a bell, establishes the basic cycle or period
.

Mixed cycles

Different types of musical cycles can overlap. One example is

relatively prime
, a complex melody will emerge. Most compositions using this technique end when the two cycles coincide.

A similar process is used in

serial music, although the number of different overlapping cycles can be quite large, and encode a wide variety of musical parameters, such as dynamics, articulation, timbre, register
, and so forth.

Opera cycles

See also

References

  1. ^ Randel, Don, "Cycle", The Harvard Dictionary of Music, Cambridge, MA: Belknap Press, 1986, p. 218.
  2. ^ G. M. Tucker and Roger Parker, "Cyclic Form", The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham (Oxford and New York: Oxford University Press, 2001).
  3. ^ "cycle." In The Oxford Companion to Music, edited by Alison Latham. Oxford Music Online, http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t114/e7623 (accessed December 25, 2011).
  4. ^ Ladzekpo, C.K. (1996). Web. "Main Beat Schemes," Foundation Course in African Music. Web. http://home.comcast.net/~dzinyaladzekpo/PrinciplesFr.html
  5. ISBN 1-886502-80-3
    .
  6. ISBN 978-0-226-45694-2
  7. ^ Kubik 2010, p. 41.
  8. ISBN 9782870098523
    .
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