Concepts Flashcards
What is Homophonic Texture?
All parts move together at the same time
What is Alberti Bass?
Simple broken chords played in the left hand under the melodies, supporting the harmonies
What is Ground Bass?
A theme in the bass which is repeated many times in the left hand while variations are played over the top.
What is an Opera?
A play set to music.
Features soloists, chorus and orchestra.
Costumes, scenery and lighting.
Can be either serious at comedic.
What is an Aria?
Sung by a soloist accompanied by an orchestra.
What is a Chorus?
A large group of singers with several people to each part (SATB)
What is a Descant?
A very high counter melody which is sung above the main melody.
What does Syllabic mean?
One note per syllable.
What does Melismatic mean?
Many notes per sylable.
Highest to Lowest voice types.
Soprano Mezzo-soprano Alto Tenor Baritone Bass
What is a Symphony?
A piece of music for an orchestra.
What is a Concerto?
A piece of music for a soloist and orchestra.
You will always be able to hear the prominent soloist instrument.
What is a Cadenza?
A showy passage within a Concerto where a soloist plays.
It is based on what has been played earlier.
What is Binary?
The movement begins with the first section, followed by a new second section.
A-B
What is Ternary?
The movement begins with the first section, followed by a new second section, then the first section again.
A-B-A
What is Rondo?
The opening section keeps returning with new sections in-between.
A-B-A-C-A-D-A
What are different the forms in music?
Binary
Ternary
Rondo
What are Themes and Variations?
A main theme is preformed once and the changed into many different versions (variations)
Theme - V1 - V2 - V3
What is a Coda?
A passage of music which is played to finish off a piece of music at the end of a movement .
Theme - V1 - V2 - V3 - Coda
What are Intervals?
The distance between notes.
What is a Semitone?
Teh distance from one note to the next possible note
What is a Tone?
The distance between two notes, 2 semitones.
What is an Octave?
The distance of 8 notes.
What is a Whole Tone Scale?
A scale made up of whole tones which sounds dream-like quality to it.
Often used in impressional music.
What is Chromatic Scale?
A scale of notes which move by an interval of a Semitone.
Every note is played.
What is a Glissando?
A playing technique where the player slides from one note to another, playing all notes in between where possible.
What is Contrary Motion?
Two parts move in opposite directions.
One part ascends, the other part descends.
What is Pedal?
A low note which is held or repeated continuously.
What is Inverted Pedal?
A high note which is held or repeated continuously.
What is Rubato?
The music slightly sleds up and slows down throughout to allow for expression.
What is a Cluster Chord?
A group of close together notes which creates a dissonant (discordant) sound.
What is Major?
Happy sounding music
What is Minor?
Sad sounding music
What is Atonal?
No feeling of major or minor
What does Minimalist mean?
Music which is based on simple rythmic and melodic patters which are constantly repeated with slight changes each time
What are Cross Rythms?
Contrasting Rythms being played at the same time
What is a Pitch Bend?
Changing the pitch of a note slightly.
By pushing a guitar string upwards.
What is a Grace Note?
A note or notes played quickly, usually before the beat.
What is a Trill?
Rapidly alternating between two consecutive notes.
What does Polyphonic mean?
Two or more independent parts/melodies sound together, weaving in and out of one another.
What is another name for Polyphonic Music?
Contrapuntal
What are Cadences?
Progressions of chords at the end of a phrase.
What is a perfect cadence?
Chord V to 1 and sounds finished
Returns to the home chord of the key
What is an Imperfect Cadence?
Phrase ends of chord V, doesn’t sound finished
Sounds like it should continue
What is Imitation?
A musical phrase which is played and repeated in another part.
What does ff mean?
Fortissimo
Very loud
What does f mean?
Forte
Loud
What does mf mean?
Mezzo-forte
Moderately loud
What does mp mean?
Mezzo-piano
Moderately quiet
What does p mean?
Piano
Quiet
What does pp mean?
Pianissimo
Very quiet
What does crescendo mean?
Gradually getting louder
What does diminuendo mean?
Gradually getting quieter.
What is a Drone?
A low sound made by a bagpipe, one note
What is a Pentatonic Scale?
A 5 note scale, feature in scottish music
What is a Vamp?
A single note then chord
What are Ornaments?
Extra features to music
Grace Note, trill
What is a Riff?
A short phrase or melody that is repeated many times, mainly on bass and guitar
What is Ostinato?
A short phrase or melody that is repeated many times, mainly on bass and guitar
What is another name for a Riff?
Ostinato
What is another name for Ostinato?
Riff
What does Contrapuntal mean?
Two or more independent parts/melodies sound together, weaving in and out of one another.
What is another name for Polyphonic?
Contrapuntal
What does Strophic form mean?
Verse and chorus
What is Modulation?
A key change
