Sonic Units
(Language Types)

as used in Sonic Chains

1. Long Sound
Single pitches, held for a long time (full breaths, full bows, etc.) Timbral evolution definitely allowed.
7. Short Attacks
Isolated sounds with short attacks, like the diagram.
2. Accented Long Sound
Long sounds, as above, but with an accented, assertive attack.
8. Angular Attacks
(Like the diagram?)
3. Trills
Quickly alternate two pitches, not necessarily adjacent, not necessarily regular rhythm.
9. Legato Formings
Melodic lines with legato articulation.
4. Staccato Line Formings
Melodic lines with staccato articulation. (Not a single pitch, despite the diagram!)
10. Diatonic Formings
Melodic lines made up of notes chosen from a scale (of your choice.)
5. Intervallic Line Formings
Melodic lines made up of large intervals.
11. Gradient Formings
One or more musical elements--volume, tempo, pitch, timbre--gradually changes.
6. Multiphonics
If your instrument doesn't really do multiphonics, any other sort of skronky noises will do.
12. Sub-identity Formings
Something begins as a part of something else, then digresses into an independent identity--for example, a snatch of some familiar tune develops as a submotif out of a diatonic forming, ends and then yields to the latter; or a section of trills set within a piece primarily comprising long tones.