A melody usually consists of repetitions of one or two motive ideas. A figure is like a motive but has less thematic impact and less distinct closure. Used repetitiously in accompaniments or perpetual motion lines. See Motive Variants . An elision occurs if the closing note of one phrase coincides with the first down beat of the following phrase, an overlapping.
Cadences articulate form.
The punctuation strength of a cadence helps to form the multi-phrase patterns of the melody. A self-contained melodic unit punctuated by a cadence. A series of phrases need not be equal in length. A sub-phrase might consist of two or three motives, or be a particularly long motive with stronger than usual closure. A phrase followed by its copy or ornamented copy.