What is the melodic pattern of Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

Introduction

This is a famous round, although it is not always sung as a round. According to the Fresno State Ballad Index it was published in 1852, but the tune to which it is now associated was not written until 1881.

Sing

The lyrics taken from The Fresno State Ballad Index:

Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream,
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.

This is one case where singing can be more difficult than playing. At first, make sure that everyone can sing the melody independently. Then attempt to sing as a round.

Clap

Sing the song above and clap with the words. This can also be done in a round.

Play

Printable of all sheet music.

Play the piece on the piano. Use the finger number below – top numbers are right hand, bottom numbers are left hand.

Discussion

When sung as a round, this is an example of polyphony. Polyphony is multiple voices singing independently. This type of singing was popular as a kind of game many years ago, although it is less common anymore. It is very helpful with contrapuntal writing to have melody lines that are very different. This melody employs several differences among the four parts of the melody to help make them distinct. Note that distinct voice parts are a cornerstone of contrapuntal writing.

This is an example of polyphony is a canon which is a way of providing accompaniment to melody. In this case, the accompaniment is the melody itself, sung at different time intervals. See the outline below. (Usually two groups is complex enough for young ages.)

It is a good idea to try listening to the round a couple of times before singing it.

Harmony

This is an example of polyphony. This means that multiple melodies occur simultaneously while maintaining their own identity. This is very different from homophony, which we discussed earlier, where there is one melody and an accompaniment. In the case of canon, there are two or more melodies (polyphony) but the different melodies are the same but separated in time

Melody

• Identify the following ways that each part of the round melody are made distinct from each other so that they sound independent even when sung together.
  • Contour: Ask children if they can find the ascending melody and the descending melody.
    (First half has an ascending contour and the second half has a descending contour.)
  • Motion: The first half of the melody is entirely conjunct, while the second half introduces disjunct motion. Show this to students or have them identify this pattern in the motion.
  • Repetition: Have students point to the repeated notes in the music.
    The first half has fewer repeated notes while the second half has a characteristic triple repeat pattern.
• Meter: Identify the number of beats per measure (there are two). Identify the subdivision as simple or compound. (It is compound meaning that the beat is sub-divided into groups of three).

Links

Example of a 4 part round:

Header Image: Theodore Robinson [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

Is Row, Row, Row Your Boat conjunct or disjunct?

What is the tempo mark of Row, Row, Row Your Boat?

What is melody map?