This is Music

THE CONCEPTS OF SEQUENCE

In music, a sequence is an immediate restatement of a melodic figure in the same instrumental or vocal part at a higher or lower pitch so that the structure of the figure is maintained. It is one of the most common and basic methods of melodic elaboration in music theory and composition. Each separate unit of the sequence is called a segment.

 Characteristics

Some characteristics of sequence follow:

1. A sequence requires at least two segments

2. Most sequences contain no more than three or four segments

3. Sequences usually have only one motion – the segments succeed each other at continuingly higher or lower pitches.

4. Sequence segments usually continue by the same interval distance. For example, if the first segment begins on C, and the next starts with E, then the remainder of the segments will continue in thirds.

 Types

There are about 5 types of sequences in music. We have real sequence, tonal sequence, modified sequence, modulatory sequence, and false sequence.

1. 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

A real sequence contains continuing segments that are exact transposition (all notes are transposed by exactly the same interval) of the first segment.

2. 𝗧𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

A tonal sequence contains continuing segments that are a transposition of the first. However, a tonal sequence accommodates the diatonic scale, so only diatonic notes of the scale may be used.

3. 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗲𝗱 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

In a modified sequence, some of the segments may be decorated or embellished in way that does not destroy their original character. In other words, sequence is said to be modified when some segments are adorned in a way that does not destroy their original character.

4. 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

A modulatory sequence leads from one tonal center to another. Sometimes each segment of the sequence has a temporal tonal center different from that of the first.

5. 𝗙𝗮𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝘀𝗲𝗾𝘂𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

A false sequence is a mixture of sequence and repetition. It repeats part of a figure and states the remainder in sequence.