Melodilinje

Melodilinje is the sequence of pitches and rhythms that constitutes the melody of a musical work. It is the horizontal line in a piece’s texture that listeners typically recognize as the tune, and it may be carried by one voice or instrument or divided among several voices in a polyphonic texture.

Key features of a melodic line include contour (the overall shape, whether rising, falling, or arching), range (the span from lowest to highest notes), and motion (stepwise movement versus leaps). A melody often rests on a motif or a short melodic cell that is developed through repetition, variation, and phrase structure. Phrases usually end with cadences that give a sense of closure or pause, contributing to the work’s overall form and coherence.

In musical texture, the melodic line interacts with harmony and rhythm. In homophony, the melody is prominent while the accompaniment underpins it. In polyphony, several melodic lines weave together, each with its own contour and rhythm, creating counterpoint. The melodic line can also be the focus of interpretation and expressive performance, shaping phrasing, dynamics, and articulation.

Notationally, the melodic line is typically notated as a single voice in a score, though in practice it may be distributed across parts in ensembles or orchestras. Across genres—from classical and folk to popular music—the concept of the melodic line remains central to how music is organized, performed, and remembered.