In
music
Music is the arrangement of sound to create some combination of Musical form, form, harmony, melody, rhythm, or otherwise Musical expression, expressive content. Music is generally agreed to be a cultural universal that is present in all hum ...
, tension is the anticipation music creates in a listener's mind for relaxation or release. For example, tension may be produced through
reiteration, increase in
dynamic level, gradual motion to a higher or lower
pitch, or (partial)
syncopations between
consonance and dissonance.
Experiments in music perception have explored perceived tension in music and perceived emotional intensity.
The balance between tension and
repose are explored in
musical analysis
Musical analysis is the study of musical structure in either compositions or performances. According to music theorist Ian Bent, music analysis "is the means of answering directly the question 'How does it work?'". The method employed to ans ...
—determined by contrasts that are, "...of great interest to the style analyst," and can be analyzed in several, even conflicting layers—as different musical elements such as harmony may create different levels of tension than rhythm and melody.
Heavy metal and rock musicians adapted tension-building techniques originally developed by classical composers.
Van Halen
Van Halen ( ) was an American rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1973. Credited with restoring hard rock to the forefront of the music scene, Van Halen was known for their energetic live performances and the virtuosity of their guit ...
has been noted for incorporating harmonic tension and release in the guitar solo
Eruption:"Van Halen continually sets up implied harmonic goals, and then
achieves, modifies, extends or subverts them...ringing harmonics and gradual fade make this an ambiguous closure". Music that alternates quiet-loud-quiet like
Joseph Haydn
Franz Joseph Haydn ( ; ; 31 March 173231 May 1809) was an Austrian composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. He was instrumental in the development of chamber music such as the string quartet and piano trio. His contributions ...
's so-called "
Surprise Symphony" attempted to create tension through dynamics variation. Emphasis on music
accent is a tension and anticipation building device seen in
heavy metal that was typical of
Stravinsky.
See also
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Conclusion (music)
*
Musical argument
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Variation (music)
In music, variation is a musical form, formal technique where material is musical repetition, repeated in an altered form. The changes may involve melody, rhythm, harmony, counterpoint, timbre, orchestration or any combination of these.
Vari ...
References
Music theory
Musical analysis
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