Repetition has appeared in music from all over the world for such a long time. On the radio, we usually discover hit songs that include a catchy chorus playing several times, and we still listen to these already repetitive songs again and again. In addition, many iconic symphonies and operas get built on the patterns that repeat. When we listen to repetitive music, we usually notice that every composition uses repetition differently. In other words, there is no systematic way of using repetition in music.
Music utilizes repetition to different extents. First, some pieces of music do not use repetition at all. For example, a TED talk, “ The beautiful math behind the ugliest music, ” introduces a non-repetitive musical piece in which the relationship of every pair of notes is distinct and never repeated. Second, some music may include plenty of repeat patterns. For instance, “Glassworks” by Philip Glass features repetitions in almost all sections of the piece. However, each repetitive section features subtle changes of intensity and note arrangement to keep the sound interesting to listeners. Finally, some musical compositions even have more unique repetition arrangements. “We Are Young” by Fun. is a compelling example. While its verses get played only once, its chorus gets repeated multiple times.
Repetition appears commonly in music since it and of itself makes music more beautiful. Repetition first allows musical compositions to sound more cohesive. Compared to human language, music is more abstract and harder to comprehend. Repetition addresses this limitation by highlighting how different parts of the music are connected to form specific rhythms, thus allowing listeners to grasp the structure of a musical piece. Next, repetition allows music to be more in-depth. When we listen to repeated patterns, we usually compare them and discover that they do not sound identical. In repetitive music, subtle variations can occur among repeated patterns. These variations create more depth to the composition while still maintaining its cohesive structure. As a result, repetition makes music more beautiful.
For many people, including myself, a musical piece will be most effective if it offers a balance of repetitions and surprises. First, a musical composition should not have too many repeated sections. It would be psychological abuse for listeners to go through a song with three musical phrases repeated for more than five minutes. Second, a musical piece should have elements of surprise both within and among repeated sections. Among repeated patterns, it is a good idea to introduce new music phrases, such as different bridges, to keep our listeners engaged. Within a repeated section, such as a second verse, introducing artful and subtle differences is beneficial. If the second verse is an exact repetition of the first one, listeners might lose interest because there’s nothing unexpected. However, if we introduce a new intriguing bass at the second verse, we not only maintain our listeners’ excitement but also allow them to join our performance, because they have a picture of what the upcoming notes could be.
Ultimately, repetition is a significant aspect of music. Using repetition appropriately is a key to unlock the beauty of music, where rhythms will stick to human minds like memories.
Repetition
has appeared in
music
from all over the world for such a long time. On the radio, we
usually
discover hit songs that include a catchy chorus playing several times, and we
still
listen to these already
repetitive
songs again and again.
In addition
,
many
iconic symphonies and operas
get
built on the
patterns
that repeat. When we listen to
repetitive
music
, we
usually
notice that every
composition
uses
repetition
differently
.
In other words
, there is no systematic way of using
repetition
in music.
Music utilizes
repetition
to
different
extents.
First
,
some
pieces
of
music
do not
use
repetition
at all.
For example
, a TED talk,
“
The
beautiful
math behind the ugliest
music
,
”
introduces a non-repetitive
musical
piece
in which the relationship of every pair of notes is distinct and never repeated. Second,
some
music
may include
plenty
of repeat
patterns
.
For instance
, “
Glassworks
” by Philip Glass features
repetitions
in almost all
sections
of the
piece
.
However
, each
repetitive
section
features subtle
changes
of intensity and note arrangement to
keep
the sound interesting to listeners.
Finally
,
some
musical
compositions
even have more unique
repetition
arrangements. “We Are Young” by Fun.
is
a compelling example. While its
verses
get
played
only
once, its chorus
gets
repeated multiple times.
Repetition appears
commonly
in
music
since it and of itself
makes
music
more
beautiful
.
Repetition
first
allows
musical
compositions
to sound more cohesive. Compared to human language,
music
is more abstract and harder to comprehend.
Repetition
addresses this limitation by highlighting how
different
parts of the
music
are connected
to form specific rhythms,
thus
allowing listeners to grasp the structure of a
musical
piece
.
Next
,
repetition
allows
music
to be more in-depth. When we listen to repeated
patterns
, we
usually
compare them and discover that they do not sound identical. In
repetitive
music
, subtle variations can occur among repeated
patterns
. These variations create more depth to the
composition
while
still
maintaining its cohesive structure.
As a result
,
repetition
makes
music
more
beautiful
.
For
many
people
, including myself, a
musical
piece
will be most effective if it offers a balance of
repetitions
and surprises.
First
, a
musical
composition
should not have too
many
repeated
sections
. It would be psychological abuse for listeners to go through a song with three
musical
phrases repeated for more than five minutes. Second, a
musical
piece
should have elements of surprise both within and among repeated
sections
. Among repeated
patterns
, it is a
good
idea
to introduce new
music
phrases, such as
different
bridges, to
keep
our listeners engaged. Within a repeated
section
, such as a second
verse
, introducing artful and subtle differences is beneficial. If the second
verse
is an exact
repetition
of the
first
one, listeners might lose interest
because
there’s nothing unexpected.
However
, if we introduce a new intriguing bass at the second
verse
, we not
only
maintain our listeners’ excitement
but
also
allow
them to
join
our performance,
because
they have a picture of what the upcoming notes could be.
Ultimately
,
repetition
is a significant aspect of
music
. Using
repetition
appropriately
is a key to unlock the beauty of
music
, where rhythms will stick to human minds like memories.