Exam 1 Flashcards
define music:
an expression of organized sound in time
define sound:
“that which is perceived by the ears”
how is sound produced?
when a physical object vibrates, causing small variances in air pressure. these sound waves travel through the air
define frequency:
vibrations / second
how is frequency measured?
Hertz or “Hz”
- simply means “cycles per second”
the higher the frequency, the ____ the pitch:
higher!
define pitch:
represents the perceived fundamental frequency
e.g. “A” = 440 Hz
“A 440 Hz” is ___ middle C (above/below?)
above!
Going 1 octave up == __x the frequency:
Going 2 octave down == __x the frequency:
1 up == 2x the frequency (higher)
1 down == 1/2x the frequency (lower)
define amplitude:
in terms of sound, this is “volume” or “loudness”
define dynamics:
the musical term of volume (pp, p, mp, m, mf, f, ff)
define overtones (Harmonics):
natural parts of any pitch heard when it is sounded.
e.g. each pitch we hear contains addition pitches within it that are termed overtones or harmonics
THIS IS WHY NO TWO INSTRUMENTS (ex, clarinet/flute) SOUND ALIKE
what happens when there are no overtones?
sounds very computerized
on the piano, every key is a ____ step whether it is black or white
1/2 step
What are the 4 instrumental families?
+ Strings
+ Woodwind
+ Brass
+ Percussion
how do string instruments produce sound?
rubbing the string with something
how do woodwind instruments produce sound?
has a bunch of holes to change notes, air is buzzed on wood?
how do brass instruments produce sound?
they buzz their lips into the mouth piece
how do percussion instruments produce sound?
you just hit those things
Name the 4 structural elements of music:
- Melody
- Harmony
- Rhythm
- Texture
Define Melody:
organized set of notes
Define Harmony:
two (or more) notes played at the same time use to accompany melody
Define Rhythm:
the beat and/or speed of the notes
Define Texture:
the organization of all the different notes.
includes the Timbre (tone color) of the different sounds
Melody includes these 5 parts:
hint: T.P.T.M.D.
\+ Tune \+ Phrase \+ Theme \+ Motive \+ Dynamics
Define:
- pp
- p
- mp
- mf
- f
- ff
pp: pianissimo - very soft……
p: piano - soft..
mp: mezzo piano – medium soft
mf: mezzo forte - Medium loud
f: forte - Loud!
ff: fortissimo - VERY LOUD
Harmony includes these 2 parts:
+ Consonance
+ Dissonance
Define Consonance:
sounds “at rest”; resolved
Define Dissonance:
sounds unstable; unresolved
“Harmony is a flow of ____ and ____ sounds.”
consonant and dissonant sounds
What are the 6 common tempo indications?
Adagio, Lento, Grave –> slow
Andandte –> somewhat slow; walking tempo
Moderato –> Moderate tempo
Allegretto –> on the fast side but not too fast
Allegro –> fast
Presto, vivace –> very fast!!!
Define meter:
organization of pulses
What are the 4 main Texture types?
- Monophony
- Homophony
- Polyphony
- Heterophony
Define Monophony:
a single unaccompanied melody
Define Homophony:
a single main melody, combined with other sounds (harmony)
Define Polyphony:
two or more melodies are played or sung simultaneously
Define Heterophony:
subtly different version of the same melody played at the same time
ex: everyone singing happy bday - everyone sings in a different melodyq
What is MR BC RIM?
Medieval Renaissance Baroque Classical Romantic Impressionistic Modern
What time period is Bach from?
Baroque time period
Summarize the Baroque style:
- time of flamboyant lifestyle
- “fills the space”
- visual art: implies motion, busy, sensory overload
What was Johann Sebastian Bach’s main instrument?
Organ/Violin
What was JS Bach’s occupation?
Court/Church Musician
Name the 2 important collections by JS Bach:
- The Well-Tempered Clavier
2. The Art of Fugue
What does “Well-Tempered” mean?
beforehand, keyboards were tuned so that they keys were limited. Well-Tempered tuning was dividing an octave so that everything wasn’t right but it was bearable.
Keys such as B flat minor were now possible
How was “The Well-Tempered Clavier” organized?
collection of 24 preludes/fugues. for the profit of the music youth, desirers of learning
What was JS Bach’s last job?
The Art of the Fugue?
Name the 7 important Baroque forms:
- Concerto
- Concerto Gross
- Ritornello Form
- Fugue
- Continuo/Basso continuo/Figured bass
- Improvisation
- Suite
Define Concerto:
piece for soloist and orchestra
ex: Vivaldi’s La Primavera: solo violin + orchestra
Define Concerto Gross:
piece for a group of solo instruments and orchestra
ex: Brandenburg: flute, violin, harps accord are all soloists
Define Ritornello Form:
piece with contrasting parts between the ritornello (full orchestra theme) and the soloist(s) parts
Define Fugue:
a polyphonic texture is several voices that uses a melodic subject which is then imitated in the other voices
ex: Bach’s “Little” Fugue
Define Continuo / Basso continuo / Figured bass:
improvised supporting harmonic part played by a keyboard (harpsichord/organ) and a bass instrument (cello/bassoon)
concept is similar to today’s jazz chord symbols
Define Improvisation:
y’all already know what this is. bonus info:
- Melodic
- Duals (battles lol, Bach would win a lot)
Define Suite:
instrumental music written as a set of dance-inspired movements (Allemande, Courante, Bourrée, Saraband, Gigue)
List the Rhythm characteristics of Baroque music:
+ repeated throughout
+ motor rhythms
+ steady tempos
+ single meter
List the Harmony characteristics of Baroque music:
Functional Harmony!
Define Functional Harmony:
Two Principles:
1) chords are NOT used equally:
- 1, 5, 4, 2, 6, 7, 3
2) chord movement is governed by rules:
- usually by leaps (4th)
- 3-6-2-5-1
List the Melody characteristics of Baroque music:
+ repeating melodic fragments
+ asymmetrical
+ complicated but scalar
+ continuous expanding of melodic sequence
List the Dynamics characteristics of Baroque music:
+ CONSTANT
+ no crescendos or decrescendos
+ btw, w/ abrupt changes: Terraced Dynamics
List the Texture characteristics of Baroque music:
\+ late Baroque is mostly Polyphonic \+ extensive use of imitation \+ Timbre: no piano, no clarinet, no tuba - only percussion is timpani! - uses Basso continuo - smaller orchestra \+ Unity of Mood: expresses ONE mood per ONE piece
Define Oratorio:
music setting of a religious libretto for solo voice, chorus, and orchestra. Performed as a drama without scenery or costumers OUTSIDE OF CHURCH.
Define Cantata:
a musical setting of a religious libretto for solo voices, chorus, and instruments. Performed as a part of CHURCH SERVICE.
Define Libretto:
text of an oratorio, cantata, or opera
Define Castrato:
a castrated male singer used to sing female roles
operation took place when they were kids? I think. No wait, it was before they bit puberty.
Earlier in history the Catholic Church didn’t allow female singers to perform
Why was Vivaldi’s Four Seasons so innovative?
It made use of descriptive music (program music) so it tried to imitate sounds like bird chirps, thunderstorms, dogs barking, etc.
