about Music: Element 1: Pitch (Part 1)

Part 1: Characteristics of Sound — Pitch and a little bit of Music Theory

Leonardo.ai

In my previous post I mentioned that there are four fundamental characteristics of sound, that are important for musicians and music lovers to understand: pitch, duration, timbre (colour), and volume.

In this post I would like to tell you more about Pitch, which refers to the actual music notes played by the performers and heard by the listeners.

Let’s begin by listening to another piece of music that you may be familiar with. Something a little more playful and energetic. The Scherzo from Mendelssohn’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”.

Try to reflect as you listen, on what it is that makes this piece so light and fairy-like, and reflect on what emotion you feel.

So, what did you think did the trick to convey the lightness and fairy-like texture?

Perhaps you came up with the following:

Very few instruments playing at any one time, but quick changes, using especially the flutes and wind instruments.