Can the idea of “modulation” be applied outside of harmony?

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If you have a "pivot motif", which shares, for example, rhythmic properties of theme A and theme B, and is used to move between the two themes, could you consider this a modulation? What other musical phenomena can be described as a modulation?







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    up vote
    2
    down vote

    favorite












    If you have a "pivot motif", which shares, for example, rhythmic properties of theme A and theme B, and is used to move between the two themes, could you consider this a modulation? What other musical phenomena can be described as a modulation?







    share|improve this question
























      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite









      up vote
      2
      down vote

      favorite











      If you have a "pivot motif", which shares, for example, rhythmic properties of theme A and theme B, and is used to move between the two themes, could you consider this a modulation? What other musical phenomena can be described as a modulation?







      share|improve this question














      If you have a "pivot motif", which shares, for example, rhythmic properties of theme A and theme B, and is used to move between the two themes, could you consider this a modulation? What other musical phenomena can be described as a modulation?









      share|improve this question













      share|improve this question




      share|improve this question








      edited Aug 18 at 22:32









      Richard

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      30.7k566130










      asked Aug 18 at 20:31









      lightning

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          3 Answers
          3






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          up vote
          4
          down vote



          accepted










          Between two motives, the term often used is thematic transformation. This is especially common in the music of Wagner, who often creates new Leitmotive out of (or with heavy reference to) prior motives.



          As for modulation, the notion of metric modulation became relatively common in the twentieth century. (Others called it tempo modulation.) In a metric modulation, composers change the meter and/or subdivision of that meter, and based on whether the beat and/or the subdivision stays constant, the tempo changes.



          Consider the following example:



          enter image description here



          We begin at quarter = 120. In m. 2, the beat stays constant, so we're still at 120bpm, it's just that it's the dotted quarter getting the beat. But in m. 4, it's the eighth notes that stay constant, which means we return to 4/4 time not at the prior 120bpm, but at 180. Thus we've "modulated" the meter (or more accurately, the tempo) by using the eighth notes as a type of "pivot articulation." (This isn't a common term, but I think the metaphor is helpful.)



          You can find metric modulation in music by Elliot Carter, Milton Babbitt, and others.






          share|improve this answer





























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            If 'modulation' didn't already have an accepted 'music theory' meaning, it might be a good term for what you describe. But it does, so I think using it that way would be merely confusing. Find another word to describe it.



            'Modulation' is used in synthesis to describe one waveform affecting another. 'Frequency modulation' and 'Amplitude modulation' are both used (as in radio). Far enough away from 'music theory' to avoid confusion I think.






            share|improve this answer



























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              I would call your "pivot motif" a thematic transition, perhaps? Depending on how long you are using that pivot motif, it might fall into the category of being a development of theme A.






              share|improve this answer




















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                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes








                3 Answers
                3






                active

                oldest

                votes









                active

                oldest

                votes






                active

                oldest

                votes








                up vote
                4
                down vote



                accepted










                Between two motives, the term often used is thematic transformation. This is especially common in the music of Wagner, who often creates new Leitmotive out of (or with heavy reference to) prior motives.



                As for modulation, the notion of metric modulation became relatively common in the twentieth century. (Others called it tempo modulation.) In a metric modulation, composers change the meter and/or subdivision of that meter, and based on whether the beat and/or the subdivision stays constant, the tempo changes.



                Consider the following example:



                enter image description here



                We begin at quarter = 120. In m. 2, the beat stays constant, so we're still at 120bpm, it's just that it's the dotted quarter getting the beat. But in m. 4, it's the eighth notes that stay constant, which means we return to 4/4 time not at the prior 120bpm, but at 180. Thus we've "modulated" the meter (or more accurately, the tempo) by using the eighth notes as a type of "pivot articulation." (This isn't a common term, but I think the metaphor is helpful.)



                You can find metric modulation in music by Elliot Carter, Milton Babbitt, and others.






                share|improve this answer


























                  up vote
                  4
                  down vote



                  accepted










                  Between two motives, the term often used is thematic transformation. This is especially common in the music of Wagner, who often creates new Leitmotive out of (or with heavy reference to) prior motives.



                  As for modulation, the notion of metric modulation became relatively common in the twentieth century. (Others called it tempo modulation.) In a metric modulation, composers change the meter and/or subdivision of that meter, and based on whether the beat and/or the subdivision stays constant, the tempo changes.



                  Consider the following example:



                  enter image description here



                  We begin at quarter = 120. In m. 2, the beat stays constant, so we're still at 120bpm, it's just that it's the dotted quarter getting the beat. But in m. 4, it's the eighth notes that stay constant, which means we return to 4/4 time not at the prior 120bpm, but at 180. Thus we've "modulated" the meter (or more accurately, the tempo) by using the eighth notes as a type of "pivot articulation." (This isn't a common term, but I think the metaphor is helpful.)



                  You can find metric modulation in music by Elliot Carter, Milton Babbitt, and others.






                  share|improve this answer
























                    up vote
                    4
                    down vote



                    accepted







                    up vote
                    4
                    down vote



                    accepted






                    Between two motives, the term often used is thematic transformation. This is especially common in the music of Wagner, who often creates new Leitmotive out of (or with heavy reference to) prior motives.



                    As for modulation, the notion of metric modulation became relatively common in the twentieth century. (Others called it tempo modulation.) In a metric modulation, composers change the meter and/or subdivision of that meter, and based on whether the beat and/or the subdivision stays constant, the tempo changes.



                    Consider the following example:



                    enter image description here



                    We begin at quarter = 120. In m. 2, the beat stays constant, so we're still at 120bpm, it's just that it's the dotted quarter getting the beat. But in m. 4, it's the eighth notes that stay constant, which means we return to 4/4 time not at the prior 120bpm, but at 180. Thus we've "modulated" the meter (or more accurately, the tempo) by using the eighth notes as a type of "pivot articulation." (This isn't a common term, but I think the metaphor is helpful.)



                    You can find metric modulation in music by Elliot Carter, Milton Babbitt, and others.






                    share|improve this answer














                    Between two motives, the term often used is thematic transformation. This is especially common in the music of Wagner, who often creates new Leitmotive out of (or with heavy reference to) prior motives.



                    As for modulation, the notion of metric modulation became relatively common in the twentieth century. (Others called it tempo modulation.) In a metric modulation, composers change the meter and/or subdivision of that meter, and based on whether the beat and/or the subdivision stays constant, the tempo changes.



                    Consider the following example:



                    enter image description here



                    We begin at quarter = 120. In m. 2, the beat stays constant, so we're still at 120bpm, it's just that it's the dotted quarter getting the beat. But in m. 4, it's the eighth notes that stay constant, which means we return to 4/4 time not at the prior 120bpm, but at 180. Thus we've "modulated" the meter (or more accurately, the tempo) by using the eighth notes as a type of "pivot articulation." (This isn't a common term, but I think the metaphor is helpful.)



                    You can find metric modulation in music by Elliot Carter, Milton Babbitt, and others.







                    share|improve this answer














                    share|improve this answer



                    share|improve this answer








                    edited Aug 18 at 22:43

























                    answered Aug 18 at 22:13









                    Richard

                    30.7k566130




                    30.7k566130




















                        up vote
                        0
                        down vote













                        If 'modulation' didn't already have an accepted 'music theory' meaning, it might be a good term for what you describe. But it does, so I think using it that way would be merely confusing. Find another word to describe it.



                        'Modulation' is used in synthesis to describe one waveform affecting another. 'Frequency modulation' and 'Amplitude modulation' are both used (as in radio). Far enough away from 'music theory' to avoid confusion I think.






                        share|improve this answer
























                          up vote
                          0
                          down vote













                          If 'modulation' didn't already have an accepted 'music theory' meaning, it might be a good term for what you describe. But it does, so I think using it that way would be merely confusing. Find another word to describe it.



                          'Modulation' is used in synthesis to describe one waveform affecting another. 'Frequency modulation' and 'Amplitude modulation' are both used (as in radio). Far enough away from 'music theory' to avoid confusion I think.






                          share|improve this answer






















                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote










                            up vote
                            0
                            down vote









                            If 'modulation' didn't already have an accepted 'music theory' meaning, it might be a good term for what you describe. But it does, so I think using it that way would be merely confusing. Find another word to describe it.



                            'Modulation' is used in synthesis to describe one waveform affecting another. 'Frequency modulation' and 'Amplitude modulation' are both used (as in radio). Far enough away from 'music theory' to avoid confusion I think.






                            share|improve this answer












                            If 'modulation' didn't already have an accepted 'music theory' meaning, it might be a good term for what you describe. But it does, so I think using it that way would be merely confusing. Find another word to describe it.



                            'Modulation' is used in synthesis to describe one waveform affecting another. 'Frequency modulation' and 'Amplitude modulation' are both used (as in radio). Far enough away from 'music theory' to avoid confusion I think.







                            share|improve this answer












                            share|improve this answer



                            share|improve this answer










                            answered Aug 18 at 20:48









                            Laurence Payne

                            27k1350




                            27k1350




















                                up vote
                                0
                                down vote













                                I would call your "pivot motif" a thematic transition, perhaps? Depending on how long you are using that pivot motif, it might fall into the category of being a development of theme A.






                                share|improve this answer
























                                  up vote
                                  0
                                  down vote













                                  I would call your "pivot motif" a thematic transition, perhaps? Depending on how long you are using that pivot motif, it might fall into the category of being a development of theme A.






                                  share|improve this answer






















                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote










                                    up vote
                                    0
                                    down vote









                                    I would call your "pivot motif" a thematic transition, perhaps? Depending on how long you are using that pivot motif, it might fall into the category of being a development of theme A.






                                    share|improve this answer












                                    I would call your "pivot motif" a thematic transition, perhaps? Depending on how long you are using that pivot motif, it might fall into the category of being a development of theme A.







                                    share|improve this answer












                                    share|improve this answer



                                    share|improve this answer










                                    answered Aug 18 at 21:44









                                    Heather S.

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