About Something Like Riffs

Hi

I have a question and I need
to know the answer . it will be appreciated if you could tell me about. In some
song specially classics. We have violins play together and they repeat and
repeat a short melody till end of song. What is the name of technique or what
is this short melody name. In rock band we have something like riffs. “Smoke on the
water” is one of best example I need to know about it in classic songs.thanks for your considerations.

Best regards
 

Touradj

ostinato. music on which the technique is based can be called a passacaglia or chaconne depending on the role of the ostinato and other things.

if other parts copy the same figure at a different beat or pace and each part plays repetitively it's called a canon.

Actually I've never noticed this technique in classical music, although there is something called a Coda, which is a sort of short recap, or punctuation at the end. But for jazz and pop music, these riffs as you call them are sometimes called a vamp, or just repeat and fade, if this is the case. One example that comes to mind is "King of Pain" by the Police.

stretto probably, in that case.

You could think of it like as a motif, such as the "and-two-and-one" rhythmic motif from Beethoven's 5th.

ostinato is what i was looking for.

thanks

OK. Yes, ostinato is a repeated phrase, but in classical music - music produced from 1750 to 1830, not ALL orchestral music - it is usually a line that supports a more primary melody. It is not the melody itself. There are exceptions  of course. Not quite as banal as Smoke on the water (apologies to Deep Purple fans). If you have an example from classical music, please share it.

Listen to the violins in the background here playing an ostinato pattern against the melody

my exmples was in pop music because i didnt know what the name is in classic. Ravel's Boléro.

^{is a good exmple look at wiki here.}

^{http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ostinato}

thanks

nothing about the term ostinato suggests it shouldn't be the melody itself. on a trivial level perhaps, where the phrase lasts no more than two beats and where the rhythm primarily forms the basis as in your example, can your conclusion be applicable. a passacaglia uses as support what a chaconne uses as melody. the opposite may be true; opinions differ among theorists. ostinato being the generic name for ground/lead/subject of the respective genre that uses a repeated figure. for examples look up the genres.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_9S1wTuRdgw&feature=player_detailpage#t=448s
here the ostinato switches voice at practically every restatement. inner to bass to melody.

I think made a generalization and an opinion, not a conclusion.

Your examples are correct. But consider the usefulness of such a broad definition that encompasses any sort of repetition of any length with any and all musical elements. Add to that phrases like "may or may not have" and Wiki's definition loses precision. I have always thought of ostinati as predominantly rhythmic, usually obvious and not synonymous with every type of "repetition." Probably the way I was taught.

Similarly, If an Eskimo asks you what the weather is like outside, and you say wet, he might look at you funny and say, Yes, but what kind of wet? Same with repetition.

i think you're thinking of something else instead of the riff. i always thought of ostinato as a repeating chunk of tune which is pretty obvious and specific. the famous riff in question struck me as the chunk. like your example it's tied to a rhythmic motif only longer. not so much of a stretch from your interpretation is it? wiki's definition essentially means a loop. i think that's pretty specific as well.

Exactly I am composing a song as a workshop needs a short
rhythmic melody that keep a rhythm pattern along the song. ok? And I want to
know about it more. I think ostinato is a good explanation. Why the riff is not
my aim ? Because riff is repeatable melody that the song is known by . Something
like “smoke on the water” . But I think ostinato is a repeatable motif that
only helps to rhythm. One of great characteristics of ostinato may be variety
along the song. You can make many variety of a short melody and apply it to your
song. Sorry I am not English native so I have many mistakes in my writing and
speaking. I am trying to tell what I am thinking. If I am not in a right way
please tell me. Thanks for your consideration