Chapter 4-8 Vocabulary

Question 1

Half Step

Answer 1

Smallest interval used in the Western system; the octave divides into twelve such intervals; on the piano, the distance between any two adjacent keys, whether black or white. Also Semi Tone

Question 2

Micro-Tones

Answer 2

Musical interval smaller than a semitone (half step), prevalent in some non-Western musics and some twentieth-century music.
Intervals smaller than half steps.

Question 3

Chromatic (Chromatic Scale)

Answer 3

Melody or harmony built from many if not all twelve pitches of the octave. A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending sequence of half steps.

Question 4

Sharp (Sharp Signs #)

Answer 4

Musical symbol (#) that indicates raising a pitch by half a step.

Question 5

Flat (b)

Answer 5

A musical symbol (b) that indicates lowering a pitch by half a step.

Question 6

Whole Step

Answer 6

Interval consisting of two half steps.

Two half steps make a whole step.

Question 7

Key

Answer 7

Defines the relationship of pitches with a common center, or tonic. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind instrument.

Question 8

Diatonic (Diatonic Scale)

Answer 8

Melody or harmony built from the seven pitches of a major or minor scale. A diatonic scale encompasses patterns of seven whole steps and half steps.

Question 9

Pentatonic (Pentatonic Scale)

Answer 9

Five note pattern used in some African, far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism. See also Gapped Scale.

Question 10

Tritonic (Tritonic Scale)

Answer 10

A three note pattern also found in the music of some African cultures.

Question 11

Inflection

Answer 11

Small alteration of the pitch by a microtonal interval. See also Blue Note.

Question 12

Rest Chord/Resting Chord

Answer 12

A chord that achieves a sense of resolution of completion, normally the tonic.

Question 13

Tonic Chord (I Chord)

Answer 13

Triad built on the first scale note, the I chord.

Question 14

Active Chords

Answer 14

In the diatonic system, chords that need to resolve to the tonic chord. These include the dominant and subdominant chords.

Question 15

Dominant

Answer 15

Chord built on the fifth scale step, the V chord.

Question 16

Subdominant

Answer 16

Chord built on the fourth scale step, the IV chord.

Question 17

Modulation

Answer 17

The process of changing from one key to another.

Question 18

Transpose/Transposition

Answer 18

The shifting of a piece of music to a different pitch level.

Question 19

Texture

Answer 19

The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic (vertical) elements in the musical fabric.
Refers to the interweaving of the melodic lines with harmony

Question 20

Monophony (Monophonic)

Answer 20

Single-line texture, or melody without accompaniment.

A single voice or line without accompaniment

Question 21

Heterophony (Heterophonic)

Answer 21

Texture in which two or more voices (or parts) elaborate the same melody simultaneously, often the result of improvisation.

Question 22

Polyphony (Polyphonic)

Answer 22

Two or more melodic lines combined into a multivoiced texture, as distinct from monophonic.
A many-voiced texture with different melodic lines

Question 23

Counterpoint

Answer 23

The art of combining in a single texture two or more melodic lines,

Question 24

Homophony (Homophonic)

Answer 24

Texture with a principal melody and accompanying harmony, as distinct from polyphony.
One melodic voice is prominent over the accompanying lines or voices

Question 25

Homorhythmic (Homorhythm)

Answer 25

A type of homophonic texture in which all voices move together, with the same words.

Question 26

Imitation

Answer 26

Melodic idea presented in one voice or part and then restated in another, each part continuing as others enter. When a melodic idea is presented in one voice, then restated in another-- is a common unifying technique in polyphony

Question 27

Canon

Answer 27

Type of polyphonic composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout.

Question 28

Round

Answer 28

Perpetual canon at the unison in which each voice enters in succession with the same melody (for example: row, row, row your boat).

Question 29

Form

Answer 29

Structure and design in music, based on repetition, contrast, and variation; the organizing principle of music.

Question 30

Repetition

Answer 30

Repetition fixes the material in our minds and satisfies our need for the familiar.

Question 31

Contrast

Answer 31

The use of opposing musical elements to emphasize difference and variety. Contrast stimulates our interest and feeds our desire to change.

Question 32

Strophic Form

Answer 32

Strong structure in which the same music is repeated with every stanza (Strophe) of the poem.

Question 33

Through-Composed/Through-Composed Form

Answer 33

Strong structure that is composed from beginning to end, without repetitions of large sections.

Question 34

Variation

Answer 34

The compositional procedure of altering a preexisting musical idea. See also Theme and Variations.

Question 35

Improvisation

Answer 35

The creation of a musical composition while it is being performed, as in Baroque ornamentation, cadenzas of concertos, jazz, and some non-Western musics.

Question 36

Binary Form (A-B)

Answer 36

Two part (A-B) form with each section normally repeated. Also Two Part Form

Question 37

Ternary Form (A-B-A)

Answer 37

Three part (A-B-A) form based on a statement (A), contrast (B), and repetition (A). Also Three Part Form.

Question 38

Theme

Answer 38

Melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construction of a piece. Also Subject.

Question 39

Thematic Development

Answer 39

Musical expansion of a theme by varying its melodic outline, harmony, or rhythm. Also Thematic Transformation.

Question 40

Sequence

Answer 40

Restatement of an idea or motive at a different pitch level. | When a motive is repeated at a different pitch.

Question 41

Motives

Answer 41

Short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-rhythmic unit.

Question 42

Call-and-Response

Answer 42

Performance style with a singing leader who is imitated by a chorus of followers. Also Responsorial singing.

Question 43

Responsorial Music/Responsorial Singing

Answer 43

Singing, especially in Gregorian chant, in which a soloist or a group of soloists alternates with the choir. See also Call-and-Response.

Question 44

Ostinato

Answer 44

A short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout a work or a section.

Question 45

Movements

Answer 45

Complete, self-contained part within a larger musical work.

Question 46

Tempo

Answer 46

The rate of speed or pace of music. | The rate of speed, or pace, of the music.

Question 47

Dynamics

Answer 47

Element of musical expression relating to the degree of loudness or softness, or volume, of a sound.

Question 48

Nonlexical (Syllable)

Answer 48

Syllable that does not carry specific meaning; a nonsense syllable

Question 49

Scat Singing

Answer 49

A jazz style that sets syllables without meaning (vocables) to an improvised vocal line. Made up syllables

Question 50

Vocalise/Vocalize

Answer 50

A textless vocal melody, as in an exercise or concert piece. | Melodies sung on a neutral sound like "ah"

Question 51

Vernacular

Answer 51

The common language spoken by the people as distinguished from the literary language, or language of the educated elite.

Question 52

Secular (Secular Music)

Answer 52

Nonreligious music; when there is text, it's usually in the Vernacular.

Question 53

Strophe

Answer 53

A unit or verse of poetry; also a Stanza.

Question 54

Stanzas

Answer 54

A unit or verse of poetry; also a Strophe.

Question 55

Refrain

Answer 55

Text or music that is repeated within a larger form.

Question 56

Chorus

Answer 56

Fairly large group of singers who perform together, usually with several on each part. Also a Choral Movement of a large scale work. In jazz, a single statement of the melodic-harmonic pattern.

Question 57

Syllabic

Answer 57

Melodic style of one note set to each text syllable.

Question 58

Neumatic

Answer 58

Melodic style with two or four notes set to each syllable.

Question 59

Melisma (Melismatic)

Answer 59

Melodic style characterized by many notes sung to a single text syllable.

Question 60

Word Painting

Answer 60

Musical pictorialization of words as an expressive device; a prominent feature of the Renaissance madrigal.

Question 61

Sacred/Sacred Music

Answer 61

Religious or spiritual music, for church or devotional use.

Question 62

Latin

Answer 62

The language of the Roman Catholic Church