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MUS 215: Appreciation of Music > Elements of Music (Chpts. 1-13) > Flashcards

Elements of Music (Chpts. 1-13) Flashcards

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1
Q

What is pitch?

A

The perceivable and measurable frequency of the music. Determined by the length and size of the vibrating object. ex: A short string has a faster vibration and higher frequency.

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2
Q

What is a musical note?

A

A symbol placed on a staff (a set of five lines and four spaces) that designates the music’s duration and pitch.

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3
Q

How are the lines of a staff labeled in the bass clef?

A

Bottom-Top: G, B, D, F, A.

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4
Q

How are the lines of a staff labeled in the treble clef?

A

Bottom-Top: E, G, B, D, F.

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5
Q

How are the spaces labeled in the bass clef?

A

Bottom-Top: A, C, E, G.

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6
Q

How are the spaces labeled in the treble clef?

A

Bottom-Top: F, A, C, E.

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7
Q

What is timbre?

A

The tone color of the music and its distinct sound quality. Why we can distinguish between voices and instruments.

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8
Q

What does a grand staff look like?

A

A treble clef above a bass clef. Separated by middle C.

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9
Q

What is melody?

A

A horizontal aspect of music that is described as a tune/ cohesive thought/ succession of single pitches that are recognizable as a whole.

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10
Q

What is a range in music?

A

The distance between the lowest and highest notes in a piece. Divided into narrow (children), medium, and wide (associated with vocal range).

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11
Q

What is the contour of the music?

A

The music’s overall shape when a line is traced through all the notes. Divided into ascending, descending, arch, wave, and/or static.

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12
Q

What is a musical interval?

A

The distance between two pitches. Start at the first note and count all the lines AND spaces to the next note.

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13
Q

What are conjunct melodies?

A

Melodies that progress by small, connected intervals.

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14
Q

What are disjunct melodies?

A

Melodies that progress by large, disconnect intervals.

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15
Q

What is a musical phrase?

A

A unit within the larger structure of melody.

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16
Q

What is cadence?

A

The endpoint of a phrase. A musical punctuation mark.

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17
Q

What is the climax?

A

The high point in a melodic line. Peak of intensity and range.

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18
Q

What is rhythm?

A

The most fundamental element of music that encompasses the movement of music in time.

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19
Q

What is beat?

A

The basic unit of rhythm in music. A regular pulse that equally divides the time.

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20
Q

What is musical meter?

A

An organized group of beats. Organizes the flow of rhythm.

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21
Q

What is syncopation?

A

When notes are accented on offbeats (weak beats between stronger beats). Common in jazz.

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22
Q

What is polyrhythm?

A

Simultaneous conflicting rhythmic patterns. Common in drum ensembles in Ghana and Uganda. Also, gamelan music in Indonesia

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23
Q

What are additive rhythms?

A

Groupings of irregular numbers of beats that add up to a larger pattern. Common in Indian Classical music and modern western music. ex: 2, 1, 3, 2 = 8.

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24
Q

What is nonmetric?

A

Music with no strong meter or beat. ex: Most early music.

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25
Q

What is harmony in music?

A

The simultaneous combination of sounds that adds depth due to being a vertical aspect of music.

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26
Q

What is a musical chord?

A

Three or more musical notes that are sounded together.

27
Q

What do chord progressions create?

A

Unity and order.

28
Q

What are chords built from?

A

Scales.

29
Q

What are scales?

A

A collection of pitches arranged in ascending or descending order.

30
Q

What is a musical octave?

A

An interval spanning eight notes of a scale.

31
Q

What is a major triad?

A

A three-note chord built on 1, 3, and 5th degrees of a scale. The most common chord in Western music.

32
Q

What is a dissonant chord?

A

A musical chord that needs to be resolved.

33
Q

What is a consonant chord?

A

A musical chord that resolves itself.

34
Q

What is tonality?

A

Music organized around the tonic (the home base to all other notes/ first note of a scale).

35
Q

What is musical dissonance?

A

A discordant combination of notes that needs a resolution due to being unstable. Introduces conflict and tension.

36
Q

What is musical consonance?

A

An agreeable combination of notes that has a natural resolution and is stable. Introduces fulfillment and relaxation.

37
Q

What are pitches in music?

A

The unique sound of each “letter” of the musical alphabet (A-G).

38
Q

What is a chromatic scale composed of?

A

The 12 half-steps of an octave.

39
Q

What makes a note sharp?

A

When it is raised in tone by 1/2 step.

40
Q

What makes a note flat?

A

When it is lowered in tone by 1/2 step.

41
Q

What is a whole step?

A

When a note is raised or lowered in tone by 2 half-steps.

42
Q

What notes do the black keys on a piano produce?

A

Sharps or flats.

43
Q

What is monophony?

A

Music composed of a single voice or instrument. One line of music w/o accompaniment.

44
Q

What is heterophony?

A

When a melody is combined with an ornamented version of itself. When multiple voices/instruments sing/play the same line of music, each with a slight variation.

45
Q

What is polyphony?

A

When two or more melodic lines are combined. A principal line and another line are different by 1 octave or in 5ths.

46
Q

What is homophony?

A

When the melody (the primary focus) combines with the harmonies (chords that support the principal line).

47
Q

What is tempo?

A

The rate of speed in a piece of music. Has emotional and theatrical implications.

48
Q

What language is tempo often marked in?

A

Italian, initially.

49
Q
  1. Grave?
  2. Largo?
  3. Adagio?
  4. Andante?
  5. Moderato?
  6. Allegro?
  7. Vivace?
  8. Presto?
A
  1. Solemn, very, very, slow.
  2. Broad, very slow.
  3. Quite slow.
  4. Walking pace.
  5. Moderate.
  6. Fast, cheerful.
  7. Lively.
  8. Very fast.
50
Q
  1. Molto?
  2. Meno?
  3. Pocco?
  4. Non Trappo?
A
  1. Very.
  2. Less.
  3. A little.
  4. Not too much.
51
Q
  1. Accelerando?
  2. Ritardando?
  3. A Tempo?
A
  1. Getting faster.
  2. Holding back, getting slower.
  3. In time, returning to the original pace.
52
Q

What are dynamics?

A

Words, abbreviations, and symbols that denote volume.

53
Q
  1. Pianissimo (pp)?
  2. Piano (p)?
  3. Mezzo Piano (mp)?
  4. Mezzo Forte (mf)?
  5. Forte (f)?
  6. Fortissimo (ff)?
A
  1. Very soft.
  2. Soft.
  3. Moderately soft.
  4. Moderately loud.
  5. Loud.
  6. Very loud.
54
Q
  1. Crescendo (<)?
  2. Decrescendo (>)?
A
  1. Growing louder.
  2. Growing softer.
55
Q

When did the amount of tempo and dynamic markings increase?

A

When the printing press was invented, musicians had to be very clear about how their music was to be played.

56
Q

What is timbre related to?

A
  1. Size of the instrument.
  2. Shape of the instrument.
  3. Proportions of the instrument.
  4. Material the instrument is made of.
  5. The manner in which the vibration is produced.
57
Q

What is the vocal range from lowest to highest?

A
  1. Bass (lowest).
  2. Baritone.
  3. Tenor.
  4. Alto (contralto).
  5. Mezzo-soprano.
  6. Soprano.
58
Q

How are instruments categorized?

A

By how they make sound.

59
Q

What is the size of an average chamber group?

A

2-12 performers.

60
Q

What is an orchestra?

A

A heterogeneous performing body composed of different instruments.

61
Q

What is a symphony orchestra?

A

A western orchestra/ensemble composed of brass, strings (heart of the orchestra), woodwind, and percussion. 100+ members.

62
Q

What is the role of the conductor?

A
  1. To interpret the music.
  2. Keep the performers together.
  3. Execute conducting patterns to direct the orchestra.
  4. Lead rehearsals.
  5. To use a baton to beat standard metric patterns.
63
Q

What is the origin of the marching band?

A

The military.

64
Q

How many members does a concert band (Wind ensemble ) have?

A

40-80 people.

MUS 215: Appreciation of Music (7 decks)

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