https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma The concept of repetition examined en-us 2017-10-08 22:54:46 UTC 2026-01-12 08:10:14 UTC hello@padlet.com saadjshahab https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195066951
Repetition is an important element in music where sounds or sequences or even verses are repeated to reinforce the main theme or message behind it. According to the author of "Every song ever", Ben Ratcliff in chapter one of his book, there's a general belief that music is divided into to two orientations: variations and repetitions and according to him they coexist in music as they coexist in music. Furthermore, Ratcliff states that musical repetitions are used to complement variations or in his exact words - "Repetitions is a smart psychological operation - a way to make you focus on all that is non-repetitive. The music stays put while you (or your perceptions) change". Repetitions are commonly deployed in modern day music, especially in popular music and R&B where certain verses, beats, and sounds are repeated giving it a "catchy" tune which is why pop and R&B music is quite popular because of the music that sticks to your head, and the media also use repetition methods in exposing the public to certain types of musics repeatedly. Many popular songs as examined by Ratcliff in his book "Every Song Ever",  have employed repetitive sounds and verses. One such example is Benny Goodman's "Sing Sing Sing" (1937), this song uses a repetitive drum beat and trumpet sound, and while the sound eventually changes it keeps on repeating the new sound created by the drums and trumpet. 
The music sheet of "Sing Sing Sing" - Benny Goodman at the bottom.

Repetitions as Ratcliff puts it, comes from life as repetitive practices and habits come from a desire of having "getting something out of it" and in the case of music, the artist is trying to distinguish between the variation in music by using repetitive verses, sounds and/or beats. It's also way of reasserting what they're trying to convey through their music. It's sort of like "bolding" words in an essay or paper, it highlights your most important message yet at the same time contrasts with the unbolded words in your paper.

]]> 2017-10-09 00:59:30 UTC https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195066951 saadjshahab https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195090509 Video of the then popular song "Sing Sing Sing" by Benny Goodman (1937). This song extensively employs the repetition tool.]]> 2017-10-09 04:29:39 UTC https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195090509 saadjshahab https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195090696 Even the legendary Beethoven used repetitive methods in his musical masterpieces such as his "Piano Sonata No.6"

The following picture is the music sheet for "Piano Sonata No.6" and was taken from wikimedia.

]]> 2017-10-09 04:31:48 UTC https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195090696 saadjshahab https://padlet.com/saadjshahab/akwwju682sma/wish/195090987 Apparent use of repetitions.


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