0. Preface
The Generation of Melo-rhythmic Patterns for each melody is quite similar to the Generation of Rhythm and to the Generation of Harmony. 1. One starts from Basic Materials, in this case the Fundamental Melo-rhythmic Cell. 2. Then one applies various forms of Transformations which we call Procedures - Division of large note-values, producing the smaller levels - Multiplication (copy, repeat) of the Fundamental Cell, producing the larger levels - Fission of a cell, dividing it into two identical parts - Fusion of several cells producing a single larger Melo-rhythmic Entity. 3. The Symmetry produced (or destroyed) by these procedures is observed during the generative process as proper equilibirium of this symmetry must be maintained. In the application of this process of generation, transformations will not necessarily be applied in the order given above (and below).
1. The fundamental Melo-rhythmic Cell (at Level 0)
1.1. Definition 1.1.0. The Basic Materials of this generation will be the Fundamental Melo-rhythmic Cell which is indicated KM (a Kinetic Off-beat and a static, Masculine, Beat), and placed at the end of the Melo-rhythmic Pattern, possibly at the end of Melo-rhythmic Entities grouped within the complete Pattern, very much the same way that the Fundamental Melo-harmonic Cell (4, DOMINANT-TONIC) is placed at the end of a Melo-harmonic Pattern. 1.1.1. The Masculine rhyme on its Beat (an undivided ""), static (without movement), offers a maximum amount of final rest (followed by a breath); and 1.1.2. its completely Kinetic Off-beat, without any breath to interrupt its movement, offers a maximum amount of movement before the rest.
1.2. Two variations are already possible at this primitive, basic (0) size 1.2.1. The Off-beat may be preceded by a pick-up of varying length and subdivision - 1.2.1.1. one note (maximum at -2) "", indicated p2, (as in Auld Lang Syne), the largest level amount possible at -2 without displacing the position of 0, 1.2.1.2. three notes (maximum at -3) "", indicated p3, (as in Oh, When The Saints), two notes "", will be indicated p2, like "", (as in She'll Be Coming' Round The Mountain), one note "", will, for the present, be simply indicated p, (as in Oh Where, Oh Where),or 1.2.1.3.seven notes (maximum at -4) " ", indicated p4, (as in Never On Sunday), six notes " ", will be indicated p3, like "", (as in Quando, Quando) five notes " ", will for the present be indicated like six notes p3, (as in The Shadow Of Your Smile), four notes "", will be indicated p2, like "", three notes "", will be indicated as four notes, two notes "", and one note "" will simply be indicated p. 1.2.2. The static quality of the Beat of this fundamental cell M - ' may be diminished, if no Beat of greater static quality precedes it - 1.2.2.1. by substituting the snapped Feminine rhyme F- - . ' (as in London Bridge), which diminishes the static quality slightly, or, less frequently (mostly in 3/4), 1.2.2.2. by substituting the full Feminine rhyme F= - ' (as in Tannenbaum), which diminishes the static quality more. 1.2.3. The fundamental cell may eventually be submitted to the procedures of Division, Fission, and Multiplication.
It is almost impossible to find a case where the Fundamental cell, in its basic state (K1M, possibly pK1M, K1F, or pK1F) remains unchanged by some form of Procedure. However, a simple and approximate example might be better than nothing.
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Polly Put The Kettle On - Fundamental Cell |
We'll |
have |
some |
tea' |
In the fourth and last cell of Polly Put The Kettle On p2K1M - \ / ' we find the Fundamental Cell in a basic form, without the presence of any procedure. However, you will see in the Generations on the next page, that the cell is not as pure and virginal as it might seem.
2. Procedures of Generation
2.0. Intro
Transformations Four processes of Transformation will be applied to this Fundamental Cell, gradually working "backward" toward the beginning of the complete pattern, (as is the case with the Melo-harmonic patterns).
2.1. Division
Definition 2.1.0. The first transformation is the division of the large note-values, especially those of the Off-beat of a cell, and which creates a smaller level with each subdivision. 2.1.1. at -1 in two parts "", indicated "K1" (as in Twinkle, Twinkle),
(this seems the minimal subdivision possible for the Off-beat to possess the required movement) 2.1.2. at -2 in four parts "", indicated "K2" (as in Aura Lee), 2.1.3. at -3 in eight parts " " , indicated "K3" (as in She'll Be Coming ' Round The Mountain), and even 2.1.4. at -4 in sixteen parts " ", indicated "K4" (as in the verse of Never On Sunday). Here is an excellent example of a song whose Melo-rhythm consists uniquely of the Fundamental Cell with Division.
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Never On Sunday (verse) - Fundamental Cell |
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Or |
you |
can |
kiss |
me |
on |
a |
Tues- |
day |
a |
Tues- |
day |
a |
Tues- |
day |
in |
fact |
I |
wish |
you |
would ' |
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In the second and last cell of the verse of Never On Sunday which takes two complete rows of the Box (spread out over three rows), p4K4M - \ / _ ' we find the Fundamental Cell in a basic form, a seven-note pickup, on the first line, a thirteen-note Off-beat, on the second line a masculine rhyme Beat, on the third line. Division was the only procedure applied. Multiplication will evidently be needed to repeat the Fundamental Cell without the slightest changes. This is one of the rare songs where neither Fission nor Fusion are applied.
2.2. Multiplication
2.2.1. Definition The second (simplest and most common) of these transformations, is that of Multiplication, which consists of copying or repeating, which may be applied once or several times, and which creates the larger levels as it doubles the length of the pattern each time. This is the only obligatory procedure.
2.2.2. Number of Repeats 2.2.2.1. Applied once to the Fundamental Cell, producing a two-cell result at +1, This is what must happen to Never On Sunday in order to complete the verse. 2.2.2.2. Applied twice to the Fundamental Cell, producing a four-cell result at +2. 2.2.2.3. It may also be applied after the procedures of Division and Fission have been applied to the Fundamental Cell.
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Never On Sunday (verse) |
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Oh |
you |
can |
kiss |
me |
on |
a |
Mon- |
day |
a |
Mon- |
day |
a |
Mon- |
day |
is |
ver- |
y |
ver- |
y |
good ' |
Or |
you |
can |
kiss |
me |
on |
a |
Tues- |
day |
a |
Tues- |
day |
a |
Tues- |
day |
in |
fact |
I |
wish |
you |
would ' |
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Here is the complete 2-cell verse of Never On Sunday 2x (p4K4M) - 2x ( \ / _ ') with two rows for each cell (four complete rows in all), All that was needed was to Multiply (repeat) the Fundamental Cell once. Still no Fission or Fusion.
2.3. Fission
Definition 2.3.0. The third transformation is that of Fission, where a cell is split into two (usually identical) parts, forming smaller Melo-rhythmic Entities. 2.3.1. This fission usually occurs at the beginning of the Melo-rhythmic Pattern by replacing the Off-beat by a copy of the Beat, but maintaining its pick-up (if there is one), and adding it to the Beat, thus placing a breath in the middle of the cell, between the Off-beat and the Beat, and making the Off-beat and Beat (with their possible pick-ups) of identical Melo-rhythm.
Application 2.3.2. This fission may be applied with any of the possibilities of the fundamental cell - the length and subdivision of pick-up , and any form of rhyme - a masculine rhyme, an MM cell (ex: \ _ ' / _ ' as in Oh, When The Saints) or a feminine rhyme, an FF cell (ex: ' / ' as in Mary Had A Little Lamb or Jingle Bells).
The Off-beat The subdivision of the Off-beat (see 2.1.0.) is not involved here since the pattern of the Off-beat disappears and is replaced by that of the Beat.
Variations of the MM cell There are several variations of the MM cell (see 2.3.2), always with sufficient pick-up (three to six notes) - 2.3.3. p3F=p3M as in The Old Refrain 2.3.4. p3Mp3F- p3Mp3M as in Quando, Quando with the feminine fusion on the Beat of the first cell 2.3.5. p3Mp3F- p3Mp3F- as in Tres Palabras, using only the antecedent of 2.3.4.
The FF cell With or without pick-up, the FF cell is by far the most popular, used extensively as the fusion between cells or sections 2.3.6. without pick-up, as in Jingle Bells, Mary Had A Little Lamb, London Bridge 2.3.7. with pick-up as in Voyage au Canada (Charles Trenet).
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Never On Sunday (chorus) |
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Most |
a- |
ny |
day |
You |
can |
be |
my |
guest |
A- |
ny |
day |
you |
say |
But |
my |
day |
of |
rest |
Just |
name |
the |
day |
That |
you |
like |
the |
best |
On- |
ly |
stay |
a- |
way |
From |
my |
day |
of |
rest |
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Here is the complete 4-cell chorus of Never On Sunday 4x (p3Mp3M) - 2x ( \ _ / _ ' \ _ / _ ') with two rows for each cell (eight complete rows in all). Only the first and fifth ps remain undivided into Still no Fusion, only an uninterupted succession of M rhymes.
2.4 Fusion
2.4.0. The fourth transformation is that of Fusion, where, after Multiplication, two or more cells are tied together to form a larger Melo-rhythmic Entity.
Joining the two cells of +1 (KM KM), with a reduction of the static inertia of the Beat of the first cell, 2.4.1. by placing a Feminine Rhyme in the middle (KF= KM, possibly KF- KM), or 2.4.2. by placing a Pick-up in the middle (KM pKM), or, on occasion, 2.4.3. by using both means (KF= pKM or KF- pKM). This is what we call a Langer Hinge, in the middle of a 2-cell Melo-rhythmic Entity
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Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star - Fusion |
How |
I |
won- |
der |
What |
you |
are' |
Here are the last two cells of Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star { K1F= K1M } - { / ' \ / ' } with a cell in each row. These cells were originally K1M K1M - / ' \ / ' Fusion was achieved by placing a Feminine Rhyme F= on the first cell, thereby reducing the breath and tying the two cells together into one Rhymic Entity.
Joining four cells of +2, 2.4.4. by applying the feminine rhyme (or the pick-up) on the Beat of the second cell (in the middle). There are numerous examples in the following Generation section.
Fusion is normally applied at the end of a pattern, as in the MI-MI-MA contrary to Fission which is normally applied at the beginning, as in Jingle Bells.
3. Symmetry
3.1 Once procedures have been applied, the next step is to observe the Symmetry which exists between different elements of the pattern, and which is essential to the equilibrium of the pattern. 3.2. If the symmetry is insufficient (less than two, in other words, none at all), then a repeat will be required.
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Jingle Bells - Symmetry |
Jin- |
gle |
bells' |
Jin- |
gle |
bells' |
Jin- |
gle |
all |
the |
way' |
Example - with a cell in each row (two rows in all). The first two cells of Jingle Bells were originally identical. K2M - / (as in the last cell). - Once Fusion had changed the Beat of the first cell from Masculine M - to Feminine F= - ' , - and Fission had changed its Off-beat, from Kinetic K - to Feminine F= - ', there was increased Symmetry within the first cell F=F= - ' / ' but there was no symmetry left between the two cells. Repetition was by the fact obligatory.
3.3. If the symmetry is excessive (more than three, in most cases everywhere), then a change is required, usually in the Off-beat of the last cell. Examples include Polly Put The Kettle On.
Three types of Symmetry 3.4. There are three types of symmetry 3.4.1. Between the Off-beats of different cells (indicated "ObOb") resulting from Fusion at +1. Example - In Twinkle, Twinkle, with the pattern K1F= K1M - / ' \ / ' the Off-beats () have the same Melo-rhythm. - In Aura Lee, with the pattern K2F= K2M - / ' \ / ' the Off-beats () have the same Melo-rhythm. - In Red River Valley, with the pattern p2K3F-- p2K3M - \ / ._' \ / . ' the Off-beats ( ) have the same Melo-rhythm. 3.4.2. Between complete cells, with Off-beats the same and Beats the same (indicated "cell") resulting from Fusion at +2. Examples include Mary Had A Little Lamb, between the first and third cells. 3.4.3. Between the Off-Beat and the Beat of the same cell (indicated "ObB") resulting from Fission of a cell. Example - In Jingle Bells, with the pattern F=F= - ' / ' both the Off-beat and the Beat ( ') had the same Melo-rhythm. 3.5. Another important element in the equilibrium of the pattern is the process of increasing level size. This consists of a gradual evolution, during a Melo-rhythmic Pattern, passing from smaller to larger levels. The main actor in this progressive operation seems to be the breath, its depth and the frequency of its occurence. Although the levels do not actually change, the breaths draw the attention of the listener from 0 (which has a breath after the beat of each cell) the normal point of focus, to -1 (with a breath after the Off-beat as well as one after the Beat of a split cell) at the beginning of the song, and eventually to +1 (with two cells tied together and the breath only after the second cell) at the very end of the song.
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