Yesterday, in the train, all of my mind went to "How I should describe both, Melody & Harmony in such way, where I clearly distinguish them from each other". In conclusion, I said, let's apply the mathematical language on it. Roughly, let \(M\) be the musical piece. Then, \(M\) should be consist of \( \{ Notes \text{(Which built over intervals)}, Time, Space\} \) by definition, as basic units.
Now, using these parts, we can construct a two dimensional object, where \(X=Time\), \(Y=Space\). As result, we get:
- Melody: A distribution of Notes (Function \(X=F(Z,0)\)), over Time, where Space is always equal the unity (Because it is the main note at such time1).
- It output: \((Note, Time, Space=Unity)\)
- Harmony: A distribution of Notes with time (Function \(Y=F(Z,T)\)), over Space (Unbounded).
- It output: \((Note, Time, Space\))
So, from the definitions, it clear that Melody is the core, meanwhile Harmony is the sweet. Harmony actually, is Sweeting for The Sweet.
Ironically, Just few weeks ago, I was watching a movie about Beethoven, there was a scene it idea is "Composer can read The Score (Notes Sheet) and listen (By imagination) to the piece. He / She don't need to play". I thought at first it a movie selling scene, even I know it possible, however, It happened to me. Once I understand what Melody really is.
Melody, is the piece, when you hear it at any scale, variation, instrument, you can instantly figure it out, like Turkish March for Mozart, Moon Light of Beethoven, Tchaikovsky Swan Lake, If you change it, the piece is no longer the piece.
This concept, as far, as my point of view, is a sensual, metaphysical, intuitionistic, naïve, and natural. You can't learn it, because it there all the time. Just develop it. It has shapes, where it flow like a river over time on the sheet, sounding it writer's will, raising slowly, falling apart, duplicate, with repetition, and circulation, giving the opportunity to question the soul, cutting the edges, unleashing the hearts, and delivering the message at climax.
I wouldn't regard the Melody as sound. I regard it as voices. Voices of characters, ideas, emotions, battles, where they engage in an existence crisis. Their Cadence is the theatre curtains moment. So, before flying to, let's agree on a critical point:
A Melody, is a consistent object, where it parts complement each other, and it ideas are connected in logical manner.
It like a Mathematical Proof. In the physical world. There are "forms" of it, depending on the piece, and here we reach the Sonata, Rondo, Binary, Ternary..etc. A convention made already.
That's it, for today!
© Random Thoughts, by Fares AlHarbi.