Elements of music + medieval Flashcards

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1
Q

Disjunct Motion

A

Melodic Motion of pitches by leap

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2
Q

Soprano, Bass

A

highest voice and lowest voice of the range

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3
Q

Variation

A

An altered restatement of musical idea; also used to designate a form consisting of multiple variations in succession.

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4
Q

word-music relationships

A

The way a text influences our hearing of the music, and the way music affects our perception of the words.

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5
Q

Measure

A

A rhythmic unit, indicated by bar lines in notated music, that presents one complete statement of the meter.
- durations of notes (long versus short) can vary within an underlying meter.

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6
Q

Downbeat

A

The first note of a measure, which is usually emphasized in relation to the notes on other beats of the measure.

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7
Q

Register

A

The range of a pitch or series of pitches, usually described as high, middle, or low.

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8
Q

Key

A

The central note and mode on which a melody or piece is based.

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9
Q

Major mode

A

A type of scale produced by singing ”do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do,” or by playing the white keys of the piano between C and C, in which half steps occur between notes 3 and 4 and notes 7 and 8. The sound of the major mode is often described as ”bright” or ”happy,” in contrast to the minor mode.

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10
Q

Tonic

A

The note that establishes a key, based on its distinctive relationship with a particular set of harmonies or other notes in the underlying scale. Also, the chord based on the first scale degree.
- primary key area of a piece

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11
Q

Phrase

A

A brief musical statement

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12
Q

Orchestra

A

A large ensemble that consists of several different kinds of instruments, usually of different families (strings, woodwinds, brass, percussion).

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13
Q

Tenor

A

A voice range between base and alto, the higher range of the male voice

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14
Q

Octave

A

The interval between two pitches of the same name (C to C, G to G, etc.). The frequency of the higher pitch is twice that of the lower pitch.

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15
Q

Rhythm

A

The ordering of music through time.

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16
Q

Meter (of music)

A

An underlying pattern of beats that maintains itself consistently throughout a work. See also ”duple meter”; ”triple meter.”

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17
Q

Polyphony

A

A musical texture consisting of multiple lines of equal importance.

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18
Q

Melody

A

A single line of notes heard in succession as a coherent unit.

  • constructed from subphrases and phrases, which form complete statements ending with a cadence.
  • notes form into phrases separated by breaths or pauses
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19
Q

Chord

A

Three or more notes played or sung at the same moment.

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20
Q

Mezzo-soprano

A

A voice range between soprano (the highest) and alto.

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21
Q

Baritone

A

A voice range between bass (the lowest) and tenor.

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22
Q

Duple meter

A

An underlying pattern of rhythm in which each unit (measure) consists of one accented (strong) beat followed by one unaccented (weak) beat (1 2 I 1 2 I 1 2 I etc.) or some multiple of two (such as four or eight). A unit of four beats per measure, for example, in which the first is the strongest and the third is the next-strongest (1-2-3-4 I 1-2-3-4 I 1-2-3-4 I etc.), is a type of duple meter.

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23
Q

Note

A

The smallest unit of musical notation, indicating a specific pitch and duration, or the sounded pitch itself.

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24
Q

Triple Meter

A

An underlying pattern of rhythm in which each unit (measure) consists of one accented (strong) beat followed by two unaccented (weak) beats (1-2-3, 1-2-3, 1-2-3, etc.).

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25
Q

Homophony

A

A musical texture in which a melody is performed with a supporting accompaniment.

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26
Q

Cadence

A

A point of arrival signaling the end of a musical unit.

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27
Q

Unison

A

More than one performer playing or singing the same pitch or pitches at the same time.

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28
Q

Timbre

A

The character or quality of a sound.

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29
Q

Minor Mode

A

A type of scale produced by playing the white keys on the piano between A and A, in which half steps occur between notes 2 and 3 and notes 5 and 6, but often with the seventh note raised so that a half step also occurs between notes 7 and 8. The sound of the minor mode is often described as ”dark” or ”sad,” in contrast to the major mode.

30
Q

Alto

A

A voice range between soprano (the highest) and tenor; the lower range of the female voice.

31
Q

Scale

A

A series of notes that provide the essential pitch building blocks of a melody.

32
Q

Dynamics

A

The volume of sound, determined by the size (amplitude) of each sound wave.
- term used to indicate relative volume, ranges from very soft to very loud.

33
Q

Interval

A

The distance between two pitches.

34
Q

Monophony

A

A musical texture consisting of a single melodic line.

- most Native American music is monophonic

35
Q

Melodic Motion

A

The movement of pitches within a melody up or down, either by step (conjunct motion) or by leap (disjunct motion).

36
Q

Tempo

A

The speed at which a piece of music is performed.

37
Q

Harmony

A

The sound created by multiple voices playing or singing together.
- uses different chords to create variety

38
Q

Form

A

The structure of a musical work; the way in which its individual units are put together.
ABBA …
based on 3 categories: repetition, variation, contrast

39
Q

Pitch

A

The position of a sound on a range from very low to very high, determined by the frequency of its sound waves.

40
Q

Genre

A

The category of a work, determined by a combination of its performance medium and its social function.

41
Q

Conjunct motion

A

Melodic motion of pitches by step

42
Q

Texture

A

The number and general relationship of musical lines or voices to one another.

43
Q

Middle ages

A

The historical period in music extending from ~500 to 1420.

  • between the fall of the Roman Empire and the Renaissance
  • churches were monuments to God
  • inspired by Gothic architecture
  • Different instruments than we have today
  • music transmitted orally until the 10th century, then it had to be written and copied by hand
  • Notes are called neumes
  • texture: monophonic and polyphonic
  • Melody: flowing, largely conjunct, , - they use modes unlike the major and minor
  • rhythm= free, plainchant
44
Q

Gregorian Chant

A

Monophonic vocal music in the medieval church, designed to project religious textx. So called because it was alleged to have been written mostly by Pope Gregory I, in the late sixth century. Also known as Plainchant

45
Q

Melisma

A

A syllable of text sung to many notes.

  • highlight the beauty of the music over the intelligibility of the text
  • to add variety and emphasize an important word or phrase
46
Q

Melismatic

A

A style of setting a text to music so that there is more than one note per syllable.

47
Q

Mode

A

A type of scale on which a melody is based. Since the Baroque era (1600 onward), the term is used to distinguish between major and minor modes.

48
Q

Plainchant

A

monophonic vocal music in the medieval church designed to project religious texts.
- In general, the two differing approaches performers today can take to the rhythm of plainchant are free and measured

49
Q

Syllabic

A

A style of setting a text to music so that there is one note per syllable

50
Q

Powwow

A

An intertribal gathering where Native Americans of mixed tribes express their mutual bond and identity,
- flag processions, various dances, and performance contests are likely to occur

51
Q

Terraced Contour

A

The motion of a melody that moves up or down through a series of stages, remaining in one general area a while before moving up or down to the next.

52
Q

Vocables

A

Meaningless sung syllables that take the place of song lyrics.

53
Q

Courtly love

A

A code of behavior in medieval courts in which the knight worshipped a lady from afar.

54
Q

Stanza (Strophe)

A

A verse of poetry, or the music corresponding to that verse (see also “strophe”)

55
Q

Pianissimo pp

A

very soft

56
Q

Piano p

A

Soft

57
Q

Mezzo Piano mp

A

medium soft

58
Q

Mezzo forte mf

A

medium loud

59
Q

forte f

A

loud

60
Q

fortissimo ff

A

very loud

61
Q

Play of virtues

A
  • medieval time
  • By Hildegard von Bingen
  • It would be called Gregorian chant
  • composed 1150
  • written for voices alone
62
Q

liturgical chant

A

Jewish Chant

63
Q

Which of the following best sums up Hildegard’s message to religious authorities who had banned music from her convent?

A

“The Bible calls on us to praise God with music.”

64
Q

Hildegard von Bingen

A

1098-1179
- a woman
- most prolific composer before 1500
- became a Benedictine nun at 16
wrote on theology, medicine, botany, and lives of saints
- music works consisted of chants for religious service, which took place throughout the day in the convent
- Play of vitues.

65
Q

The Eagle Dance

A
  • portrays the life cycle of the eagle (connects heaven to earth)
    3 sections: ABA
    -melodic contour of it is terraced.
  • in duple meter
  • Eagle is a symbol of Virility
  • The Eagle dance is performed after a long dry period.
    they sing in unison
    -native American music
  • Native Americans decided on which vocables to sing, they believe they are transmitted from the spirit world through dream or revelation
66
Q

Chant

A

many cultures employ chant in their religious ceremonies

67
Q

Grand Entry

A

The opening of a powwow in which all participants enter into the arena

68
Q

Behold Spring

A
  • by Francesco Landini
  • 2 voices singing independent and equally important lines (polyphony)
    -triple meter
    ABAA
  • melismatic
    -based on love poetry
  • Courtly love: stylized interactions between knight and lady
  • 2-voice Ballata- genre of secular song based in dance
    -largely syllabic
69
Q

Fransesco Landini

A
Most famous and prolific Italian composer of the fourteenth century
Blinded at young age by smallpox
Also known as organist and poet
Poet–composers common during Middle Ages
Wrote more than 150 secular songs
Lavishly praised by contemporaries
70
Q

Heterophony

A

Two voices singing the same melody simultaneously but with different establishments.

71
Q

Metered Rhythm

A

Rhythm structured around a fixed metrical pattern, allowing polyphonic voice to coordinate

72
Q

instrumental music

A

Medieval performers could and did play vocal music on a variety of different instruments, such as the shawm