Concepts Flashcards
What is the definition of an oratorio?
Usually a story from the bible set to music for soloists, chorus and orchestra.
What might oratorios include?
Recitatives, arias, duets and chorus
What is the definition of impressionist?
A term borrowed from painting in which brief musical ideas merge and change to create a rather vague and blurred outline
What is the definition of musique concrete?
Recorded natural sounds which are transformed using simple editing techniques such as cutting and re-assembling, playing backwards,slowing down and speeding up.
What is the definition of plainchant?
Unaccompanied melody set to words of the Roman Catholic liturgy, such as Mass. Plainchants are modal and have no regular metre.
What are plainchants also known as?
Plainsong or Gregorian chant
What rhythm do plainchants follow?
The rhythm of Latin words
What is the definition of Mass?
In the Renaissance era the Mass was a sacred choral work using the five main sections of the Roman Catholic Church liturgy.
What does features of Mass include?
Latin text and polyphonic texture, and is usually sung acapella.
When is Mass used?
Originally used in church worship, but in later years became a large-scale work for chorus, soloists and orchestra.
What is the definition of recitative?
A type of writing where the music follows the rhythm of speech.
What is recitative used for?
It is used in operas and oratorios to move the story or plot on
What is the definition of chamber music?
Music written for a small instrumental ensemble with one player to a part.
What is the definition of jazz funk?
A combination of jazz improvisation and the amplified instruments and character of Rock.
What is the definition of a string quartet?
A musical ensemble of four string players. It is one of the most prominent chamber ensembles in classical music
What instrumentalists do string quartets consist of?
Two violin players, a viola player and a cellist.
What is the definition of soul music?
A style of Afro-American popular music including elements of blues and gospels conveying strong emotions.
What is the definition of mode?
Usually refers to any of the early scales called modes, eg Dorian mode. It can also be used more generally as a reference to major mode or minor mode.
What is the definition of modal?
Term used to describe music based on a mode, a type of early scale used before major and minor keys were developed. Modes are used in jazz and pop music for improvising.
What is the definition of relative major?
A change from minor to major key with the same key signature found three semitones higher
What is the definition of relative minor?
A change from major to minor key with the same key signature found three semitones lower
What is the definition of an interval?
The distance in pitch between two notes eg C-F is a 4th.
What is the definition of obbligato?
Prominent solo instrument in place of vocal music.
What is the definition of acciaccatura and what does it sound like?
An ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it
What is the definition of a mordent and what does it sound like?
An ornament which sounds the main note, the main note above and then the main note again.
What does an inverted mordent sound like?
Sounds the main note, the note below and then the main note again
What is the definition of a plagal cadence?
A cadence is formed by two chords at the end of a phrase. A plagal cadence is the subdominant to tonic chords (IV-I). In the key of C major, chords F to C.
What is the definition of an interrupted cadence?
A cadence is formed at the end of a phrase. An interrupted cadence is usually formed by chords V-VI. Known as the surprise cadence.
What is the definition of tierce de picardie?
The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key changed to major
What is the definition of dominant 7th?
Chord built on the dominant (5th) note of a key which adds the 7th note above its root.
What is the definition of diminished 7th?
A chord consisting of three intervals of a minor 3rd built one on top of the other, the interval between the lower and top note being diminished 7th.
What is the definition of added 6th?
Root, 3rd and 5th of a chord with the 6th added. This chord is used frequently in jazz and popular music.
What is the definition of harmonic minor scale?
Scale which shares the same key signature as its relative major but raises the 7th note by a semitone.
What is the definition of melodic minor scale ?
Scale which shares the same key signature as its relative major but raises the 6th and 7th notes by a semitone ascending, and similarly lowers them descending
What is the definition of 3 against 2?
One line of music may be playing quavers in groups of two whilst at the same time another line of music will be playing triplets. Other note values can be similarly used
What is the definition of time changes?
Composers, particularly in the 20th century often make use of changing time signatures frequently in a piece of music.
Why is the definition of irregular time signatures?
In simple time music is easily grouped into crochets whilst in compound time the groupings are of quavers
What is the definition of augmentation?
And increase in the length of notes. The music will sound slower when imitated or repeated
What is the definition of diminution?
A decrease in the length of notes. The music will sound faster when imitated or repeated
What is the definition of through-composed?
A vocal/choral composition in which there is little or no repetition of the music
What is the definition of da capo aria?
An aria in ternary form (ABA) used in opera and oratorio in the 17th and 18th centuries. The third section is not written out but the instruction Da Capo (from the beginning) is given instead. The repeat of the A section was performed with the solo ornamented