Exam #1 vocab Flashcards
vibrations that are transmitted, usually through air, to the eardrum, which sends impulses to the brain
sound
4 main properties of musical sounds
pitch, dynamics, tone color, duration
the relative highness or lowness we hear in a sound
Determined by the frequency of its vibrations
Faster the vibrations, the higher the pitch (short string)
Slower the vibrations, the lower the pitch (long string)
pitch
a sound that has a definite pitch
tone
The ‘distance’ between any two tones
interval
Interval between two tones in which the higher tone has twice the frequency of the lower tone
ex. Somewhere over the rainbow: tone of -where sounds like the tone of -some, even though it is higher. An ____ lies between them
octave
The distance between the lowest and highest tones hat a voice or instrument can produce
pitch range
A noise that the listener finds to have little harmony or hard to identify a specific pitch
ex. such as those made by a bass drum or cymbals
Some percussion instruments, gongs, cowbells, and woodblocks, come in different sizes and produce higher or lower ____ pitches
Indefinite pitch
A pitch which the listener can discern into a specific pitch and has harmony
definite pitch
Degrees of loudness or softness in music
Dynamics
Related to the amplitude of the vibration that produces the sound
Loudness
Emphasis of a note, which may result from its being louder, longer, or higher in pitch that the notes near it
accent
very soft dynamic
pp (pianissimo)
soft dynamic
p (piano)
loud dynamic
f (forte) / fortissimo (FF)
gradually softer >
descrescendo
gradually louder <
crescendo
Quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another
Described by words such as bright, dark, mellow, and rich
timbre (tone color)
Western system of dividing octave into 3 types of sounds
(major, minor, and chromatic)
Key
8 notes, has a brighter tone
major
8 notes, has a ‘sad’ tone
minor
First note of scale which defines the key
keynote
Successive ascending or descending leaps in pitches
arpeggio
Multiple pitches played simultaneously (chord) consonant or dissonant intervals/harmony
Harmony
(voice) vibrate around main pitch
vibrato
rapidly alternate main and a higher pitch
trill
smooth ‘glide’ from low to high pitch
glissando
(strings) Bow ‘trembles’ quickly
tremolo
(strings) pluck string with finger
pizzicato
(strings) two strings at one
double stops
(strings) produce specific overtones/whistles
harmonics
A pattern of sound and silence flowing through time
Rhythm
Measurement of musical time; A regularly, recurring pulse
beat
Rhythmic increment smaller than a beat/divides beat
subdivision
relative speed of beat (and rhythm)
tempo
Acceleration of beat/rhythm
acclereando
Deceleration of beat/rhythm
ritardando/rallentando
Elastic stretching or increase of tempo for expressive highlight (expressive performance technique)
Rubato
Regular grouping of beats (strong and weak)
Meter
first beat of measure, followed by weaker beats
downbeat
beat/note before downbeat
up-beat/pick up
A dynamically stressed note or beat
Accent
An accent in between beats or on “off” beats
synchopation
Long - short pattern (used in marches)
dotted rhythm
An organized combination of pitch and rhythm , typically containing shape/contour, climax, and cadence; may be either consonant or dissonant, long or short, etc
melody/tune
Shape of melodic line (pitch), conjunct or disjunct
Contour
High or low point of melody: in pitch, dynamically, rhythmically
climax
resting point at end of melody (pitch and rhythm)
cadence
sub sections of melody, which sub-cadences (a, b, c)
phrases
A small rhytmic or melodic cell/building block
motive
repetition of a motive at different pitch levels
sequence
Repitiion, contrast, sequence, and vibration
Binary (a, b) and ternary (a, b, c, a, b, c) Forms are common
melodic form
A melody which is the basis of a large piece of music
Theme
Combination (vertical) of multiple melodies or harmony
texture
One melodic line (one or many unison voices)
Monophonic
Multiple melodic lines, simultaneously parallel or imitative, non imitative counterpoint
Polyphonic
A main melody accompanied by harmony (chordal) Harmony supports melody, vertically, provides, direction
homophonic
guitar and violin, viola, cello, and double bass
Vary in tone color, size, and range. Have the greatest versatility and expressive range
string
flute and clarinet, oboe, bassoon
Named because they produce vibrations of air within a tube that traditionally was made of wood
Can only produce one note at a time
woodwind
trumpet and trombone, french horn, tuba, cornet, baritone horn, and euphonium
Uses valves and slides to change length of tube through which the air vibrates
brass
bass drum and cymbals, triangle, gong, xylophone (definite pitch)
Vibrations are stretched by membranes or by plates or bars.
Used to emphasize rhythm and to heighten climaxes.
percussion
organ and piano (can play melody and accompaniment at same time), accordion
Permits player to play several tones at the same time easily and rapidly
keyboard
synthesizer is an example of this instrument (tape studio)
electronic
part of the total range
register
the principal first violinist
concertmaster
WHen a player presses their finger to the fingerboard to change the pitch
stopping
systems of electronic components that generate, modify, and control sound (manipulate pitch, color tone, loudness, and duration)
synthesizer
very slow, broad
largo
slow
adagio
moderately slow, a walking pace
andante
fast
allegro
very fast
presto
What group dominated, politically and intellectually during the Medieval Period/Middle Ages?
Roman Catholic Church
3 classes of society
noblemen, clergy, Peasants (serfs)
Among the classes of society that were not illiterate
clergy
How was music passes down in the Medieval periods?
rote tradition; later by clergy/scribes
Gregorian chant
Catholic religious texts/liturgy, set melodically and sung in Latin by Clergy. Based on church Modes, not modern major/minor scales
(instruments generally not allowed in church)
Church modes
One of the eight scales prevalent in medieval music each utilizing a different pattern of intervals and beginning on a different tone
Chant
meter less, calm, fluid, otherworldly melodies with generally conjunct shape and narrow vocal range.
Texture and which position phrasing comes in chant
Phrasing follows text. Monophonic texture with some responsorial setting. Later develops into early polyphonic textures through use of drones and organum
secular music
Troubadour songs (notated ballads, love songs), accompanied by harp, fiddle, drum with clear meter and beat
Instrumental dance music with modest accompaniment (drones) and clear meter/beat
1450-1600
Renaissance period
Advances in science, art (realism/depth perspective), music (polyphony, word painting and instrumental music) philosophy and secular literature.
rise of humanism
Artists in the Renaissance period
Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Chaucer, Galileo
Generaly vocal, sacred text, polyphonic, complex
motet
Vocal, secular text, polyphonic clear beat; Instrumental dance music, introduction of keyboard instruments - organ/harpsichord
Madrigal
Multiple pitches under syllable
melissma
