Definition

Noun: A short, distinct, and often memorable succession of musical notes; a tune or melody. It refers to a recognizable series of tones that form a complete musical idea within a larger piece of music.

Usage

A "melodic phrase" is a fundamental unit of musical construction. It is typically a few measures long and has a sense of completeness, like a musical sentence. It is used to describe a recognizable tune or theme.

Examples

• The composer developed the entire symphony from a single, simple melodic phrase.
• The violinist played the beautiful melodic phrase with great emotion.
• Can you identify the melodic phrase that repeats throughout the song?

Advanced Usage

• Phrase structure: In music theory, a "melodic phrase" is often analyzed in terms of its structure, such as antecedent and consequent phrases, which create question-and-answer patterns in music.
• Motivic development: A short melodic phrase, sometimes called a or , can be repeated, varied, and developed to build an entire musical work.

Variants and Related Words

• Melody (n): The main tune in a piece of polyphonic music; often used interchangeably with "melodic phrase," though "melody" can imply a longer, more complete line.
• Tune (n): A simple, easily remembered melody.
• Air (n): An old-fashioned or formal term for a melody or tune, especially a simple, song-like one.
• Theme (n): A melodic phrase that forms the basis for a musical composition or a section of it.
• Motif / Motive (n): A short, recurring, and significant melodic phrase.

Synonyms

• Tune
• Melody
• Theme
• Air
• Strain

Antonyms

• Discord
• Cacophony
• Noise

Related Phrases and Idioms

• To carry a tune: To be able to sing a melody accurately.
  • He can't carry a tune to save his life.
• A catchy tune: A melody that is easy to remember.
  • The commercial has a very catchy tune.

Noun

1. a succession of notes forming a distinctive sequence
   • she was humming an air from Beethoven