2: The Elements of Music
All sound—not just music—has certain characteristics. The distinction between music and non-musical sounds, in most cases, is one of organization: sounds that we describe as noise tend to be irregular and unpredictable, while sounds that we describe as music are more likely to exhibit patterns. This is not always the case. A jackhammer, for instance, makes a regular and patterned noise, while certain composers create patternless music.
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- 2.1: The Dimensions of Sound
- Whether we are listening to noise or music, we will perceive the same elements: rhythm, pitch, volume, articulation, and timbre. These elements will combine in time to produce a sonic object of a given texture that either exhibits or lacks form. In the following sections, we will define each of these dimensions and explore the roles that each plays in the creation and perception of music.
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- 2.2: Music in the World
- With the exception of its opening passages, which considered the problem of defining what music even is, this unit has so far emphasized the empirical qualities of music. We have acknowledged the documented effects of music on the human brain, and we have acquired a variety of terms and concepts that can be used to understand and describe music as a physical phenomenon. Now it is time to address some of the messier aspects of talking and writing about music.