However in a narrative like La Belle, it is more lyrical as it tells a story, that's the bottom line. The key factors are melody, harmony and rhythm. To be rhythmic it needs to be strong and conditioned. More prominent in non-western music. I shared this experience with Ravi Shankar and we travelled a lot, in particular in Asia where I studied rhythm structure as the basis of music.
Harmonic factor can be stylistic.
My approach to harmony is not traditional. The relationship of major thirds or even organic fourths or triads situation creates a tonality, a harmonic language more than a classical harmony. A melody is much more operatic. Vocal lines are handled by voices, determined by the applied text. La Belle displays melodic material as it is closely associated with the harmony.