Contrast
This is even easier than unity. Discuss any changes in
the music! Again this is a chance to show off. Make sure you summarize the easy
musical features and then dive in deep to the interesting features. Make sure
you split the question into headings for each concept. Contrast is basically
the opposite of unity. Enough said! J
While unity in a piece of music gives the listener a sense of ‘togetherness’, binding the musical features or the concepts of music, contrast is what makes the music interesting. Other words that also suggest contrast are variety and diversity, and these terms may also appear in exam questions.
Composers aim to combine contrast and unity in a way that interests and engages the listener as well as maintaining some form of coherence. The average listener can handle only a certain element of change and difference in a piece of music.
While unity in a piece of music gives the listener a sense of ‘togetherness’, binding the musical features or the concepts of music, contrast is what makes the music interesting. Other words that also suggest contrast are variety and diversity, and these terms may also appear in exam questions.
Composers aim to combine contrast and unity in a way that interests and engages the listener as well as maintaining some form of coherence. The average listener can handle only a certain element of change and difference in a piece of music.