Consonance and Dissonance
Cultural and historical perspectives define the concepts of consonanceand dissonance.What is considered to
be consonant (sounds that are pleasing to the ear) and what is considered to be dissonant (sounds displeasing
to the ear) are usually learned responses, dependent on the sounds to which an individual has been exposed.
There are two intervals, the unison and the octave, that all cultures consider to be a consonance; when men and
women sing together they will most often sing an octave apart.
TRACKS 80–86—CLASS DISCUSSIONListen to the following selections. Discuss what sounds consonant and dissonant to you—and why.- “Ting Song,” Chinese erhu (a two-stringed bowed instrument, popular in China)
- “Water Music, Suite No. 2 in D” (G.F. Handel), suite for winds
- “True Life Blues” (B. Monroe), American blues
- “Pizza’s Not for Breakfast” (Skeleton Closet), punk rock
- “Heartsong Aria” (F. Ho, R. Margraff), opera
- “Sabá Medley,” Arab folk improvisation
- “Ka’ililauoleloa,” Hawaiian melody, performed by Leiola Garmon Mitchell and Nalani Garmon
As we proceed through this module, we will continue this discussion on consonance and dissonance—as you
listen to music, compare your responses with the definitions given in this book.
255
INTERVALS?
ww w w
w
w& w
w
Workbook Exercises 10.1 and 10.2