The Three Components of Merriam’s Model of Music

1. Introduction:

Classical music is a genre of music that dates back to the medieval period. It is one of the oldest genres of music that is still prevalent today. The term ‘classical music’ was first used in the early 19th century to describe a particular type of art music that was distinguished from popular music and folk music. Classical music has undergone a number of transformations over the centuries, each era adding its own unique elements to the genre.

2. Merriam’s Tripartite Model of Music:

In his book “The Anthropology of Music,” ethnomusicologist Alan P. Merriam proposed a tripartite model of music which states that music consists of three components: sound, behavior, and concept. This model is still used today by many scholars and researchers to study various aspects of music.

3. The Three Components of Merriam’s Model:

Sound:

Music as sound refers to the physical properties of sound waves and how they are perceived by the human ear. It includes aspects such as pitch, loudness, and timbre. This component of music is often studied by scientists and engineers who are interested in the physical properties of sound waves.

Behavior:

Music as behavior refers to the ways in which people interact with music. It includes aspects such as performance, listening, and composition. This component of music is often studied by psychologists and sociologists who are interested in how music affects human behavior.

Concept:

Music as concept refers to the meaning and purpose of music. It includes aspects such as culture, history, and emotion. This component of music is often studied by historians and anthropologists who are interested in the origins and significance of music in different cultures.

4. Music as Sound:

As mentioned above, music as sound refers to the physical properties of sound waves and how they are perceived by the human ear. One of the most important aspects of music as sound is pitch. Pitch is the highness or lowness of a sound and is determined by the frequency of the sound waves. The higher the frequency, the higher the pitch. Loudness is another important aspect of music as sound. Loudness is determined by the amplitude of the sound waves. The greater the amplitude, the louder the sound. Timbre is the third important aspect of music as sound. Timbre is the quality of a sound that makes it distinguishable from other sounds. It is determined by the waveform of the sound waves.

5. Music as Behavior:

Music as behavior refers to the ways in which people interact with music. One of the most important aspects of music as behavior is performance. Performance is the act of playing or singing music. It can be either solo or group performance. Listening is another important aspect of music as behavior. Listening is the act of paying attention to music. It can be either active or passive listening. Composition is the third important aspect of music as behavior. Composition is the act of creating music. It can be either original composition or arrangement of existing pieces.

6. Music as Concept:

Music as concept refers to the meaning and purpose of music. One of the most important aspects of music as concept is culture. Culture is the customs, beliefs, and values that define a group of people. History is another important aspect of music as concept. History is the study of past events that have shaped the present. Emotion is the third important aspect of music as concept. Emotion is a feeling that can be positive or negative. Music can evoke different emotions in different people.

7. Conclusion:

In conclusion, Merriam’s tripartite model of music states that music consists of three components: sound, behavior, and concept. Each component contributes to our understanding and appreciation of music.

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