Intro to Musics of the World
Melodic contour refers to the shape or outline of a melody as it moves up and down in pitch over time. It captures the overall direction and motion of the melody, illustrating how the notes relate to one another through their ascent and descent. Understanding melodic contour is essential in recognizing patterns within music, especially when examining modal structures like the maqam system, where the movement between specific pitches is integral to the music's expression and character.
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