Fragmentation
Two types of fragmentation may be used to develop a phrase or motive: subtractive fragmentation and motivic fragmentation. The techniques and their effects are completely unrelated
Motivic fragmentation can define the entire structure of a melody. Here are the steps.
1. State the motive or phrase
2. Repeat the motive or phrase
3. Extract a fragment from the motive or phrase
4. Sequence this fragment three times
Now the motive or phrase has been fragmented.
If the original motive or phrase is two measures long, these four steps will create an eight-measure structure. Eight bar melodies are very common in traditional and pop music. Motivic fragmentation was very popular with Classical and Baroque composers.
1. State the motive or phrase
2. Repeat the motive or phrase
3. Extract a fragment from the motive or phrase
4. Sequence this fragment three times
Now the motive or phrase has been fragmented.
If the original motive or phrase is two measures long, these four steps will create an eight-measure structure. Eight bar melodies are very common in traditional and pop music. Motivic fragmentation was very popular with Classical and Baroque composers.
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Subtractive fragmentation is simply a matter of replacing notes with rests. The effect is that the fragmented phrase can become syncopated.
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