Exam 1 Flashcards

1
Q

define music:

A

an expression of organized sound in time

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2
Q

define sound:

A

“that which is perceived by the ears”

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3
Q

how is sound produced?

A

when a physical object vibrates, causing small variances in air pressure. these sound waves travel through the air

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4
Q

define frequency:

A

vibrations / second

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5
Q

how is frequency measured?

A

Hertz or “Hz”

- simply means “cycles per second”

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6
Q

the higher the frequency, the ____ the pitch:

A

higher!

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7
Q

define pitch:

A

represents the perceived fundamental frequency

e.g. “A” = 440 Hz

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8
Q

“A 440 Hz” is ___ middle C (above/below?)

A

above!

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9
Q

Going 1 octave up == __x the frequency:

Going 2 octave down == __x the frequency:

A

1 up == 2x the frequency (higher)

1 down == 1/2x the frequency (lower)

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10
Q

define amplitude:

A

in terms of sound, this is “volume” or “loudness”

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11
Q

define dynamics:

A

the musical term of volume (pp, p, mp, m, mf, f, ff)

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12
Q

define overtones (Harmonics):

A

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

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13
Q

what happens when there are no overtones?

A

sounds very computerized

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14
Q

on the piano, every key is a ____ step whether it is black or white

A

1/2 step

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15
Q

What are the 4 instrumental families?

A

+ Strings
+ Woodwind
+ Brass
+ Percussion

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16
Q

how do string instruments produce sound?

A

rubbing the string with something

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17
Q

how do woodwind instruments produce sound?

A

has a bunch of holes to change notes, air is buzzed on wood?

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18
Q

how do brass instruments produce sound?

A

they buzz their lips into the mouth piece

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19
Q

how do percussion instruments produce sound?

A

you just hit those things

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20
Q

Name the 4 structural elements of music:

A
  1. Melody
  2. Harmony
  3. Rhythm
  4. Texture
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21
Q

Define Melody:

A

organized set of notes

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22
Q

Define Harmony:

A

two (or more) notes played at the same time use to accompany melody

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23
Q

Define Rhythm:

A

the beat and/or speed of the notes

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24
Q

Define Texture:

A

the organization of all the different notes.

includes the Timbre (tone color) of the different sounds

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25
Q

Melody includes these 5 parts:

hint: T.P.T.M.D.

A
\+ Tune
\+ Phrase
\+ Theme
\+ Motive
\+ Dynamics
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26
Q

Define:

  • pp
  • p
  • mp
  • mf
  • f
  • ff
A

pp: pianissimo - very soft……
p: piano - soft..
mp: mezzo piano – medium soft
mf: mezzo forte - Medium loud
f: forte - Loud!
ff: fortissimo - VERY LOUD

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27
Q

Harmony includes these 2 parts:

A

+ Consonance

+ Dissonance

28
Q

Define Consonance:

A

sounds “at rest”; resolved

29
Q

Define Dissonance:

A

sounds unstable; unresolved

30
Q

“Harmony is a flow of ____ and ____ sounds.”

A

consonant and dissonant sounds

31
Q

What are the 6 common tempo indications?

A

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!!!

32
Q

Define meter:

A

organization of pulses

33
Q

What are the 4 main Texture types?

A
  1. Monophony
  2. Homophony
  3. Polyphony
  4. Heterophony
34
Q

Define Monophony:

A

a single unaccompanied melody

35
Q

Define Homophony:

A

a single main melody, combined with other sounds (harmony)

36
Q

Define Polyphony:

A

two or more melodies are played or sung simultaneously

37
Q

Define Heterophony:

A

subtly different version of the same melody played at the same time

ex: everyone singing happy bday - everyone sings in a different melodyq

38
Q

What is MR BC RIM?

A
Medieval 
Renaissance
Baroque
Classical 
Romantic
Impressionistic
Modern
39
Q

What time period is Bach from?

A

Baroque time period

40
Q

Summarize the Baroque style:

A
  • time of flamboyant lifestyle
  • “fills the space”
  • visual art: implies motion, busy, sensory overload
41
Q

What was Johann Sebastian Bach’s main instrument?

A

Organ/Violin

42
Q

What was JS Bach’s occupation?

A

Court/Church Musician

43
Q

Name the 2 important collections by JS Bach:

A
  1. The Well-Tempered Clavier

2. The Art of Fugue

44
Q

What does “Well-Tempered” mean?

A

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

45
Q

How was “The Well-Tempered Clavier” organized?

A

collection of 24 preludes/fugues. for the profit of the music youth, desirers of learning

46
Q

What was JS Bach’s last job?

A

The Art of the Fugue?

47
Q

Name the 7 important Baroque forms:

A
  1. Concerto
  2. Concerto Gross
  3. Ritornello Form
  4. Fugue
  5. Continuo/Basso continuo/Figured bass
  6. Improvisation
  7. Suite
48
Q

Define Concerto:

A

piece for soloist and orchestra

ex: Vivaldi’s La Primavera: solo violin + orchestra

49
Q

Define Concerto Gross:

A

piece for a group of solo instruments and orchestra

ex: Brandenburg: flute, violin, harps accord are all soloists

50
Q

Define Ritornello Form:

A

piece with contrasting parts between the ritornello (full orchestra theme) and the soloist(s) parts

51
Q

Define Fugue:

A

a polyphonic texture is several voices that uses a melodic subject which is then imitated in the other voices

ex: Bach’s “Little” Fugue

52
Q

Define Continuo / Basso continuo / Figured bass:

A

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

53
Q

Define Improvisation:

A

y’all already know what this is. bonus info:

  1. Melodic
  2. Duals (battles lol, Bach would win a lot)
54
Q

Define Suite:

A

instrumental music written as a set of dance-inspired movements (Allemande, Courante, Bourrée, Saraband, Gigue)

55
Q

List the Rhythm characteristics of Baroque music:

A

+ repeated throughout
+ motor rhythms
+ steady tempos
+ single meter

56
Q

List the Harmony characteristics of Baroque music:

A

Functional Harmony!

57
Q

Define Functional Harmony:

A

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

58
Q

List the Melody characteristics of Baroque music:

A

+ repeating melodic fragments
+ asymmetrical
+ complicated but scalar
+ continuous expanding of melodic sequence

59
Q

List the Dynamics characteristics of Baroque music:

A

+ CONSTANT
+ no crescendos or decrescendos
+ btw, w/ abrupt changes: Terraced Dynamics

60
Q

List the Texture characteristics of Baroque music:

A
\+ 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
61
Q

Define Oratorio:

A

music setting of a religious libretto for solo voice, chorus, and orchestra. Performed as a drama without scenery or costumers OUTSIDE OF CHURCH.

62
Q

Define Cantata:

A

a musical setting of a religious libretto for solo voices, chorus, and instruments. Performed as a part of CHURCH SERVICE.

63
Q

Define Libretto:

A

text of an oratorio, cantata, or opera

64
Q

Define Castrato:

A

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

65
Q

Why was Vivaldi’s Four Seasons so innovative?

A

It made use of descriptive music (program music) so it tried to imitate sounds like bird chirps, thunderstorms, dogs barking, etc.