Compositional Devices

Consists of two distinct phrases, where the second phrase is heard as a response to the first phrase (call)

A short melodic phrase repeated throughout a piece of music

A short, constantly repeated rhythmic pattern

A kind of ostinato used particularly in music of the Baroque era. It is a bassline that is continually repeated throughout a composition.

Riff is a kind of ostinato particularly used in jazz and rock music. It is short repeated rhythmic and/or melodic phrase

A temporary displacement of a regular metrical accent where the accent shifts from a strong to a weak beat

The use of more than one key simultaneously

A piece using the whole tone scale

A key change within a piece

Music that is created ‘on-the-spot’, without preparation

The use of accidental notes outside the prevailing diatonic key

The restatement in succession of identical musical material in two or more parts

A continuous unchanged note or set of notes that do not contribute to the harmonic development of the piece

Sustained (often bass) note that supports the harmonic movement of the music by creating tension and resolution. Pedal notes can vary in length.

Where the melody is embellished (or decorated) with ornaments; such as trills, mordents, turns, grace notes, glissandi, slide, pitch bends, drop notes, scoops, flams

Where the meter (time signature) changes within the piece

The simultaneous combination of contrasting rhythms, where the notes of one rhythm are not divisible by the notes of the other.

A time signature that does not conform to either a duple, triple, or quadruple meter. Examples include time signatures representing five or seven beats in the bar

An ongoing change in the speed of a beat often occurs at the commencement of a new section of music.

The restatement of a theme where the notes are of a longer duration

The restatement of a theme where the notes are of a shorter duration

Where the intervals of an original musical motif are reversed

The immediate restatement of a motif at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice

Where a musical theme (or motif) is played backwards