Question about the motif (music)

[Zasdg]

I would like to ask you if in music a motif can consist of only one note (or only one rest)?

[fmr]

I would like to ask you if in music a motif can consist of only one note (or only one rest)?

No, it cant'. A motif is a small rhythmical/melodic cell with a character that makes it easily recognizable. Like the famous motif from Beethoven 5th symphony, which is just four notes.

Actually, all of a sudden. the shortest motifs I can think of are all built with four notes.

What you show in the image may be called a period with two phrases - antecedent and consequent.

[Zasdg]

Could you show me which are the phrases and which sentences and which motives (on my image)?

[fmr]

Could you show me which are the phrases and which sentences and which motives (on my image)?

There are no motifs in the image you posted. The antecedent is the phrase that ends with the dotted half-note D, and the consequent the phrase that ends with the dotted half-note C

A good example of motif and motivic phrases development as the 1st movement of Brahms 4th symphony. The motif is composed of four notes heard right from the beginning. These four notes vary melodically, but with similar interval direction. Take a listen.

[jancivil]

I believe short short short long is enough to call a rhythmic motif there. Whether it leads to much development is another story. Melodically there's not a lot there.

[fmr]

I believe short short short long is enough to call a rhythmic motif there. Whether it leads to much development is another story. Melodically there's not a lot there.

Usually, motif based music leads to a different development. IMO the image shows clearly an antecedent/consequent musical period (which, BTW, is the most common way of making music, especially pop music).

Besides, the "short shot short long" you refer to only appears once. A motif would have to be repeated with a similar structure more than once.

[Zasdg]

I believe short short short long is enough to call a rhythmic motif there. Whether it leads to much development is another story. Melodically there's not a lot there.
Youtube

Whether this division is correct?

Image20_2.jpg

[fmr]

I believe short short short long is enough to call a rhythmic motif there. Whether it leads to much development is another story. Melodically there's not a lot there.
Youtube

Whether this division is correct?
Image20_2.jpg

No, it's not. Those are not motifs. Look at the examples I gave. A motif is a rhythmic/melodic cell that has distinct and easily recognizable characteristics and repeats several times, like in the Brahms example i quoted. You don't have that. You have two melodic phrases, and that's it. Nothing wrong with that.

https://www.8notes.com/scores/9867.asp

[jancivil]

There is no rhythm or form inhering in three quarters or a single durational value. There is no melodic motif to speak of there, but short short short long happens and recurs, so it's a feature of the line.

[Zasdg]

Then what is the name of the segment between one bar and the other?

Image20_3.jpg

[Harry_HH]

I believe short short short long is enough to call a rhythmic motif there. Whether it leads to much development is another story. Melodically there's not a lot there.

One example of the one note motif may be the end of Sibelius 5th Symphony finale: the 5 one (same) note staccato notes (9:39->) are identifiable, even if I hear these one-notes without the context. The 6th note of the serie finishes the piece. In addition the 5+1 notes, the two timpany hits in the end, of course, are essential part of the "motif".
(P. s. Worth to listen - not only the whole III part finale - but the whole symphony. Best conductor-interpretations: Paavo Berlund, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, Hannu Lintu, Herbert von Karajan, Simon Rattle.)

[jancivil]

there is a 1-3-1 intervallic recurrence (2nd time 3-5-3, I just mean in 3rds) in the image of the OP. You can develop anything.

[Zasdg]

Ok., thank you.

[jancivil]

So, if you do C E C D as short/short/short/long then E G E F also 3 short/long you have, in that kind of resemblance in shape a sort of building block. To extend or reflect or manipulate however.

[TribeOfHǫfuð]

Then what is the name of the segment between one bar and the other?

Bar lines.

As @fmr wrote: A motif is a distinct recognizable repeated melodic and rhythmical line. In some disciplines it is important to understand the difference between a melody as a whole and the development of a motif like e.g. a fugue whose basic motif, called the subject, is imitated and varied all through the piece by so called answers to the subject.