- How many different melodies do you hear?
- Are any of the melodies repeated within this piece?
- What is the shape of each melody?
- In what direction do the melodies move?
- Is melodic material used in transitions or as accompaniments in this piece?
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
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"Aida: Act II: Triumphal March"
Introduction
Melodies that people love and remember form a very important part of life. Popular melodies have always played a central role in the cultural life of various peoples. For example, every country has a national anthem and traditional songs that evoke a deep emotional reaction. Whole generations identify with certain songs, from television show themes to commercial jingles to Top 40 songs. Parents and grandparents have songs that are closely associated with their school years, just as current popular songs will always be associated with your school years.
Judgment about the quality of a piece of music is often based on the appeal of the melodies it contains. When one of those melodies acquires significant importance within a given composition, it is called a theme.
Listen to The Moldau, a beautiful symphonic poem by the Czech composer Bedřich Smetana. In this composition, Smetana describes the Moldau River as it flows from its source high in the mountains to the city of Prague. His description is both literal—with annotations on the score—and musical. The melody used to represent the river is the river theme. This theme becomes the unifying element of the piece, providing the basis for the unity and variety that make this work particularly appealing.
The Moldau portrays not only the river and its transformation from a small stream to a raging torrent, but it also highlights other events that occur along its course: a peasant wedding celebration, a hunting scene, the appearance of water nymphs, and more.
Composer: Bedrich Smetana
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"Ma Vlast (My Country): No. 2. Vltava (Moldau)" [ 01:08-01:24 ]00:16