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Music - Composition > Composition > Flashcards

Composition Flashcards

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1
Q

Which chord is diminished in a major key?

A

Chord vii is diminished. It has a lot of tension due to the intervals of a minor 3rd and a Tritone.

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2
Q

What is the circle of 4ths chord progression?

A

The circle of 4ths is I, IV, vii, iii, vi, ii, V, I.

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3
Q

In a major key, which chords are major and which are minor?

A

Chords I, IV and V are major. Chords ii, iii and vi are minor.

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4
Q

What is the four chord song progression?

A

I, V, vi, IV

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5
Q

What is a chord inversion?

A

This is where another note from the chord is in the bass, rather than the root note of the chord.

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6
Q

What is a passing note?

A

A passing note moves from one chord tone to another by step within a melody.

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7
Q

What is a chord tone?

A

A chord is a melody note that is also present in the corresponding chord. E.g. If the chord is C major, the chord tones are C, E and G.

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8
Q

What are the elements of music?

A

Melody, Harmony, Rhythm, Dynamics, Texture, Timbre and Form.

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9
Q

What is Rhythm?

A

Rhythm is defined by short and long sounds, but also includes silence (rests). Rhythms are also defined by the pulse or beat in the music, either fast or slow.

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10
Q

What is Pitch?

A

High and low sounds. Combinations of pitches can either be played one after the other to create Melodies or played together to create harmonies or chords.

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11
Q

What are Dynamics?

A

Dynamics, also called expression refers to how the sound is performed, including sound qualities. For example, the relative volume and intensity of sound.

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12
Q

What is Form?

A

Form refers to the structure of a composition or the order in which the different sections of a song are arranged.

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13
Q

What is the interval structure of a major chord?

A

A major chord has a Major 3rd (4semitones) between the bottom and middle note, and a minor 3rd (3semitones) between the middle and top note. You can also measure the distance from the bottom note to the top note as a perfect 5th (7semitones).

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14
Q

What is the interval structure of a minor chord?

A

A major chord has a Minor 3rd (3semitones) between the bottom and middle note, and a minor 3rd (4semitones) between the middle and top note. You can also measure the distance from the bottom note to the top note as a perfect 5th (7semitones).

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15
Q

What is Timbre?

A

The particular tone, colour or quality that distinguishes the sound of different instruments.

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16
Q

What is Texture in music?

A

Texture is how the melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined in a composition, thus determining the overall quality of the sound in a piece. This can also contribute to the overall mood of the piece, E.g. sad, sombre, cheerful, bright, up beat, dark, mysterious, aggressive etc.

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17
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Flute?

A

Smooth, majestic, mellow, gentle, warm. Slightly breathy.

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18
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Violin?

A

The timbre (tone colour) of a violin would be bright, smooth, warm and rich.

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19
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Cello?

A

A Cello that is being bowed has a warm and rich tone colour. It adds depth to the sound.

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20
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Clarinet?

A

The timbre of the Clarinet varies in the register played. The low register is rich and reedy, the middle register can have a more open, hollow sound, good for blending and harmonizing while the high register can be quite clear and piercing.

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21
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Saxophone?

A

Saxophones are generally: smooth, dark, full and rich, but can also produce bright, vibrant, abrasive (esp. growling in rock music) and edgy sound colours.

22
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Trumpet?

A

Words that are often used to describe the timbre of the Trumpet include: brassy, clear, focused, rounded, piercing, mellow, dark, bright, heavy, light, warm, strident and harsh.

23
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Trombone?

A

Trombones can produce a very harsh, very loud sound, or a very smooth warm mellow tone, depending on how they are played.

24
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Piano?

A

The Pianos Timbre can be expressed in terms such as clear, warm, metallic, shimmering, soft, bright, smooth and velvety.

25
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Guitar?

A

The guitar has an almost endless array of tone colours available to it through the use of effects, however some general terms could include jangly, bright, chimey, tinny, bright for the upper register. Warm, full, mellow or open for playing in the lower register.

26
Q

What are some adjectives to describe the Timbre of the Bass Guitar?

A

The Bass Guitars Timbre can vary, depending on the instrument and the techniques used to play it, however some general terms could include: smooth, glossy, deep, defined, punchy, centred, dark, strong, heavy or full.

27
Q

What is the interval structure of a Major 7th chord?

A

A Major chord has a Major 3rd followed by a Perfect 5th and Major 7th between the bottom and top note.

28
Q

What is the interval structure of a Minor 7th chord?

A

A Major chord has a Minor 3rd followed by a Perfect 5th and a Minor 7th between the bottom and top note.

29
Q

What does the term chord substitution mean?

A

In music theory, chord substitution is the technique of using a chord in the place of another - often related - chord, in a chord progression. Jazz musicians often substitute chords in the original progression to create variety and add interest to a piece.

30
Q

What is the interval structure of a Dominant 7th chord?

A

A Dominant 7th chord has a Major 3rd followed by a Perfect 5th and a Minor 7th between the bottom and top note.

31
Q

Explain the following articulations: 1. Staccato 2. Tenuto 3. Accent 4. Marcato

A
  1. Staccato - Short and Detached 2. Tenuto - play full value 3. Accent - emphasis placed on a particular note or set of notes 4. Marcato - be played louder or more forcefully than surrounding music
32
Q

What is the interval structure of a Half Diminished 7th chord?

A

A Half Diminished 7th chord has a Minor 3rd followed by a Tritone and a Minor 7th between the bottom and top note.

33
Q

What is Augmentation?

A

A melody or series of notes is augmented if the lengths of the notes are prolonged, A melody originally consisting of four quavers (eighth notes) for example, is augmented if it later appears with four crotchets (quarter notes) instead.

34
Q

What is Oblique Motion?

A

The relationship between two melodic parts in which one remains stationary or moves relatively little while the other moves more actively.

35
Q

What is Diminution?

A

Repetition or imitation of a subject or theme in notes of shorter duration than those first used.

36
Q

What is Similar Motion?

A

When two or more melodic ideas are moving in the same direction.

37
Q

What is Contrary Motion?

A

When two or more melodic ideas are moving in the opposite directions.

38
Q

What is the difference between Accented and Unaccented Passing notes?

A

Accented Passing Notes will occur on the beat and move to a Chord Tone, while Unaccented Passing Notes will occur off the beat while moving between two passing notes.

39
Q

What does it mean to Delay or Anticipate melodic notes?

A

To Delay a note is to move it back half a beat, whereas to Anticipate a note means to move it forward half a beat.

40
Q

What is Imitation?

A

Imitation occurs when the melodic idea is repeated by another voice/instrument at the same pitch or at a different pitch. To be considered an Imitation, the motive must

41
Q

What does it mean to Invert a melodic idea? (Inversion)

A

Inversion occurs when the motive is turned “upside-down”. The Interval directions (up or down) are reversed, but the interval distances and the note value (the rhythm) stay the same.

42
Q

What is a Sequence?

A

A Sequence is a motive that is repeated one or more times at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice/instrument.

43
Q

What is an Ostinato?

A

An Osinato is a motif or phrase that persistently repeats in the same musical voice, usually at the same pitch and rhythm.

44
Q

What is Fragmentation?

A

Fragmentation is the use of fragments of an already stated musical idea/melody and reused, often then repeated as a sequence or with imitation.

45
Q

What is Chromaticism?

A

This is the use of all semitones between two notes either ascending or descending, E.g. C, C#, D, D# or A, Ab, G, Gb, F.

46
Q

What are the Modes?

A

Ionian: C–D–E–F–G–A–B (Same as the Major) Dorian: D–E–F–G–A–B–C Phrygian: E–F–G–A–B–C–D Lydian: F–G–A–B–C–D–E Mixolydian: G–A–B–C–D–E–F Aeolian: A–B–C–D–E–F–G (Same as the natural minor) Locrian: B-C-D-E-F-G-A

47
Q

Which Modes are Minor Modes?

A

Dorian, Phrygian and Aeolian. As there is a Minor 3rd between the 1st and 3rd note of each of these Modes.

48
Q

Which Modes are Major Modes?

A

Ionian, Lydian and Mixolydian. Because there is a Major 3rd between the 1st and 3rd note of each of these Modes.

49
Q

Is the Locrian Mode considered a Major or Minor Mode?

A

Neither, even though it begins with a minor third, the Locrian mode is not classed as minor, because it has a diminished 5th between the 1st and 5th scale degrees, instead of a perfect fth. It is therefore classed as a diminished mode.

50
Q

What is a Pedal Note?

A

A Pedal Note a sustained tone, typically in the bass, usually based on the Tonic or Dominant note of the Key.

51
Q

What are the technical names for the Scale Degrees?

A
  1. Tonic 2. Super Tonic 3. Mediant 4. Sub-Dominant 5. Dominant 6. Sub-Mediant 7. Leading Note 8. Upper Tonic

Music - Composition (2 decks)

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