Examples of musical periods
Here are examples of periods, primarily from video game music.
Pallet Town Theme
See here.
Super Mario Bros 2 Overworld (B Section)
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- Parallel period with a 4-bar basic idea
- Lowest note occurs in the resolution
- Resolution ends on the tonic + scale degree 1
Super Mario Bros 3 Overworld (A Section)
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 2-bar basic idea
- The lowest note occurs in the resolution
- Resolution ends on the tonic + scale degree 1
Super Mario World Athletic (A Section)
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 2-bar basic idea
- The only Bb (scale degree 4) occurs in the resolution
- Resolution ends on the tonic + scale degree 1
Good Egg Galaxy (A Section)
From Super Mario Galaxy.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 2-bar basic idea
- Chromaticism occurs in the resolution
- The tension vs resolution is mostly handled by the rhythm
- basic idea and contrasting idea are both very syncopated
- resolution is not as syncopated and ends on a whole note
- Ends on sc.deg. 5
Good Egg Galaxy (C Section)
From Super Mario Galaxy.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, Green = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 4-bar basic idea
- This almost looks like an 8-bar period done twice, but you can say it’s a 16-bar period too :)
- The contrasting idea ends harmonically on the V chord though so it’s easier to say it’s 16-bar period
- The scale degree 1 moves to scale degree 7, which is a 4-3 suspension for V
- Resolution ends on a whole note + tonic + sc.deg. 1
Conkdor Canyon (A Section)
From Mario 3D World.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 4-bar basic idea
- Or if rewritten to 4/4 it would be 2-bar :)
- Highest pitch occurs in the resolution
- You could argue the resolution occurs in m8 but when you zoom out to look at all 16 bars it definitely feels more resolved at m16
- Ends on sc.deg. 1 and on the tonic
Shifty Boo Mansion (A Section)
From Mario 3D World.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, White = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 4-bar basic idea
- Lowest pitch occurs in the resolution
- You could argue the resolution occurs in m8 but when you zoom out to look at all 16 bars it definitely feels more resolved at m16
- Ends on sc.deg. 1 and on the tonic
Sprawling Savannah (A Section)
From Mario 3D World.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, Green = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 2-bar basic idea
- Highest pitch occurs just before the resolution
- Ends on sc.deg. 1 and on the tonic
Super Bell Hill (A Section)
From Mario 3D World.
- Blue = basic idea, Orange = contrasting idea, Green = resolution
- This is a parallel period with a 2-bar basic idea
- Ends on sc.deg. 1 and on the tonic
