I have no authority for saying so, but from what I’ve read and listened to, this I believe:
- Humans are highly developed pattern recognition engines.
- Human brains react positively to a new pattern when it is repeated.
- Upon repeated exposure to this new pattern, human brains ignore the original pattern and instead focus on subtle differences among the original pattern and it’s repetitions.
If the signal is of musical form, how is this exploited by composers and music arrangers?
Here’s my simplistic take:
One strategy is to alter the “top” (melody) and repeat the “bottom” (harmonic structure). Not unlike classical composers “Theme and Variation” motif. See Mozart, et al.
Another strategy is: alter the “bottom” (harmonic structure), and repeat the “top” (melody). It’s most prevalent in jazz and to some degree in modern rock and hip-hop.
(insert photo of most representative composer here)
Of course this is a sophomoric generalization and a vast over-simplification. But it’s something to think about when inventing an arrangement.
(so many more references to musical works)
unhillbilly 