Key Concepts
This chapter introduces six foundational concepts related to melody and melodic contours:
- Melodic Supremacy and Harmonic Truth - Melody as primary generative element with harmony chosen to fulfill melodic implications
- Intervallic Preferences: Descending Augmented Fourth and Major Sixth - Specific intervals forming foundational elements of melodic language
- Melodic Cadence Formulas - Characteristic patterns derived from historical models functioning as closural gestures
- Folk Song Influences - Melodic characteristics from Russian and French folk traditions
- Plainchant Contours - Melodic patterns derived from Gregorian chant and liturgical traditions
- Hindu Ragas - Melodic modes from Indian classical music providing non-Western resources