Before we begin our first historical periods, the Middle Ages and the Renaissance, it will be important that you become familiar with some of the basic elements of music.  The next few readings will focus on those basic elements. This information is vital to your understanding of the genres and styles we’ll be studying over the course of the semester.

This section includes the following pages:

• Slideshow: The Elements of Music
• Slideshow: Form
• A Historical Approach to the Elements of Music
• Melody
• Rhythm
• Meter in Music
• Yale Lecture on Rhythm and Meter
• Texture