FA Section I (Music) Flashcards
What is music?
sound organized in time
What is required to make music?
a time frame, sound waves, and a cognizant mind to perceive and interpret those sounds
Who is the person who first imagines a piece of music?
the composer
What is a composer?
the person who first imagines a piece of music
What is necessary for music to exist?
some degree of human intention and perception
What is sound?
a wave of energy
What are the attributes of a sound wave?
amplitude and frequency
What is amplitude?
how loud or soft a sound is, the volume
What is frequency?
the pitch of a sound
What is amplitude measured in?
decibels
What is frequency measured in?
cycles per second (Hz)
What is Hz?
cycles per second
What does the frequency of a sound wave have to be in order for humans to be able to hear?
20-20,000 cycles per second
When the frequency of a sound wave is between 20 and 20,000 cycles per second, what do we hear?
a single, sustained tone
What does a pure sine wave at 440 Hz sound like?
an A above middle C
What do musicians in the US tune their instruments to?
A-440, or 440 Hz
What are the two types of musical sound?
pitched and non-pitched
What instrument group provides most of the non-pitched sounds?
percussion
What are non-pitched sounds?
Sounds with no discernable pitch that sounds irregular and short
What type of sound would be dropping a book on the ground?
non-pitched
What are scholars who study the music of cultures called?
ethnomusicologists
What are ethnomusicologists?
scholars who study the music of cultures
Who created the Sachs and Hornbostel categorization of instruments?
Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel
When did Sachs and Hornbostel create their instrument classifications?
the late 19th century
What were the 4 groups of instruments categorized by Sachs and Hornbostel?
chordophones, aerophones, membranophones, and idiophones
How do chordophones produce sound?
by striking a string to create a vibration that produces sound waves
How do aerophones produce sound?
by creating a vibrating column of air
What instrument families are included in aerophones?
the woodwinds and brass
How do membranophones produce sound?
by striking a membrane that vibrates to produce sound
What do membranophones have that the player strikes to create sound?
a membrane, sometimes made of skin
How do idiophones produce sound?
by striking the body of the instrument
What was the 5th Sachs and Hornbostel category that was added later?
electrophones
How do electrophones produce sound?
by using an oscillator to produce sound waves
What are electrophones dependent upon?
electricity
How were instruments grouped before the Sachs and Hornbostel categories?
they were grouped into families
What are the instrument families?
strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and keyboards
What are brass instruments made of?
metal
What are reeds usually made of?
wood
What instrument family are idiophones and membranophones?
percussion
How do brass instruments create sound?
through the buzzing lips of the performer
How do woodwind instruments create sound?
by moving a column of air or the vibrating of reeds
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the violin in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the piccolo in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the timpani in?
membranophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the marimba in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the trumpet in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the piano in?
varies
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the viola in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the harpsichord in?
varies
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bass drum in?
membranophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the flute in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the xylophone in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the trombone in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the vibraphone in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the french horn in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the cello in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the oboe in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the snare drum in?
membranophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the organ in?
varies
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the double bass in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the clarinet in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification are the tubular bells in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the celesta in?
varies
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the tuba in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification are the gongs in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the guitar in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bassoon in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the flugelhorn in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the lute in?
chordophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the baritone in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the triangle in?
idiophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the tambourine in?
membranophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bugle in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the saxophone in?
aerophones
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the wood block in?
idiophones
When did the first electronic instruments begin to appear?
the early 20th century
What is one of the best-known early electronic instruments?
the theremin
When playing the theremin, what does the performer use their hands for?
they use their hands to regulate frequency and amplitude
How does the performer play the theremin?
by using their hands to disturb electrical fields that surround the bars
Who invented the theremin?
Leon Theremin
At the end of what war did electronic instruments advance a lot?
World War II
By the end of World War II, advances in what technology had been made?
radio technology and electronics
After WWII, studios made for wartime were used for what?
making music
Composition where recordings are edited, manipulated, and recombined is known as what?
musique concrete
What is musique concrete?
where recordings of music are edited, manipulated, and recombined to form collages of sound
Why is musique concrete a French word?
because many of the early practitioners of this style were based in Paris
What are the basic techniques of tape music?
looping and splicing
What cities in particular had famous postwar centers for electronic music?
Rome, Paris, Cologne, and NYC
A musical sound has what 4 properties?
pitch, duration, volume, and timbre
What is pitch?
the highness or lowness of a sound
How does a tuba’s pitch compare to a piccolo’s pitch?
the tuba has a much lower pitch
What do musicians refer to when they speak of a pitch?
a single tone whose pitch doesn’t change
A piano keyboard provides excellent visual aid for understanding ____________ and _____________.
pitch and harmony
Where are the higher-sounding pitches on a piano located?
to the right
Where are the lower-sounding pitches on a piano located?
to the left
What is moving from left to right on a keyboard called?
moving up the keyboard
What is moving from right to left on a keyboard called?
moving down the keyboard
What is moving up the keyboard?
moving from left to right
What is moving down the keyboard?
moving from right to left
What note on a piano is equidistant from both ends?
middle C
How are the black keys arranged on a piano?
in alternating groups of 3 and 2
What is the distance between 2 adjacent keys on a piano called?
a half-step or semitone
What is another word for half-step?
semitone
What are the basic intervals of a scale?
whole and half steps
What is a whole step?
the distance between every other key
What is a scale?
a sequence of pitches in ascending or descending order
What are the white keys on a keyboard referred to as?
the natural keys
What letters do notes span?
A-G
What do musicians assume if there is no natural sign?
the pitch is natural
What is the symbol for a sharp?
#
What is the symbol for a flat?
♭
What does a sharp sign indicate in music?
to raise the pitch a half-step, ex: C becomes C#
What does a flat sign indicate in music?
to lower the pitch a half-step, ex: B becomes B-flat
What is m2?
a half-step
What is M2?
a whole step
What is m3?
a minor third
What is M3?
a major third
What is P4?
a perfect fourth
What is aug4, d5, or TT?
augmented fourth, diminished fifth, and tritone
What is P5?
a perfect fifth
What is m6?
a minor sixth
What is M6?
a major sixth
What is m7?
a minor seventh
What is M7?
a major seventh
What is P8?
an octave
How many half-steps are in m2?
1
How many half-steps are in M2?
2
How many half-steps are in m3?
3
How many half-steps are in M3?
4
How many half-steps are in P4?
5
How many half-steps are in aug4, d5, and TT?
6
How many half-steps are in P5?
7
How many half-steps are in m6?
8
How many half-steps are in M6?
9
How many half-steps are in m7?
10
How many half-steps are in M7?
11
How many half-steps are in P8?
12
What interval is C-D-flat?
m2
What interval is C-D?
M2
What interval is C-E-flat?
m3
What interval is C-E?
M3
What interval is C-F?
P4
What interval is C-F#?
aug4
What interval is C-G-flat?
d5
What interval is B-F?
TT
What interval is C-G?
P5
What interval is C-A-flat?
m6
What interval is C-A?
M6
What interval is C-B-flat?
m7
What interval is C-B?
M7
What interval is C-C?
P8
What is an interval?
the distance between any 2 pitches
What is the distance between any 2 pitches called?
an interval
Intervals can be performed to be what?
harmonic or melodic
What are melodic intervals?
intervals occurring in succession
Melodic intervals are either ______________ or _______________.
ascending or descending
What are harmonic intervals?
2 pitches of the interval occurring simultaneously to form harmony
What are the intervals that exceed an octave?
m9, M9, m10, M10
What is the most common scale?
the major scale
What is the second most common scale?
the minor scale
What are the 3 types of minor scales?
natural (pure), harmonic, and melodic
What are natural minor scales also referred to as?
pure minor scales
What do all minor scales feature?
a lowered 3rd scale degree
What are relative scales?
scales that use the same pitches but on different tonics
E-flat major and C natural minor scales are ____________ scales.
relative
What are scales that use the same pitches but on different tonics called?
relative scales
Scales with blue inflection combine elements of which other scale types?
minor and major scales
What is a melody?
a series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole
How many pitches usually occur at a time in a melody?
1
Why would there be 2 or more pitches in a melody?
to form harmony or counterpoint
What is a series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole?
melody
What is the way music is organized in time?
rhythm
What is rhythm
the way music is organized in time
What is the steady pulse that underlies most music?
beat
What is beat?
the steady pulse that underlies most music
What is the speed of the beat?
tempo
What is tempo?
the speed of the beat
What language are words for tempo in?
Italian
Why are Italian terms used to mark tempo?
because the terms predate the invention of actual timekeeping
What do the Italian names for tempo indicate?
mood or other expressive qualities related to tempo
What does Allegro mean?
cheerful
What does Allegro mean in terms of tempo?
fast
What is called when the tempo slows down?
ritardando
What is called when the tempo speeds up?
accelerando
What is called when the tempo changes gradually?
poco a poco
What is called when the tempo changes suddenly?
subito
What is called when the tempo changes for expressive effect?
rubato
What is a piece that doesn’t have a steady beat considered to be?
unmetered
Are all beats of equal length?
Yes
Are all beats of equal importance?
No
What are beats grouped into?
measures
What are measures separated by?
bar lines
What is usually the strongest beat of a measure?
the first beat, or downbeat
What is the first beat of a measure called?
the downbeat
What is meter?
the pattern of emphasis on certain beats
What are the main meters in music?
duple, triple, quadruple, or irregular
What is another term for irregular meter?
asymmetrical meter
How many beats per minute is Presto?
200 bpm
How many beats per minute is Allegro?
120 bpm
How many beats per minute is Moderato?
108 bpm
How many beats per minute is Andante?
84 bpm
How many beats per minute is Adagio?
72 bpm
How many beats per minute is Lento or Grave?
40 bpm
What does Presto mean in terms of tempo?
very fast
What does Moderato mean in terms of tempo?
moderate
What does Andante mean in terms of tempo?
at a walking tempo
What does Adagio mean in terms of tempo?
slow
What does Lento or Grave mean in terms of tempo?
very slow
What is the pattern of emphasized beats in duple meter?
STRONG-weak-STRONG-weak
What is the pattern of emphasized beats in triple meter?
STRONG-weak-weak-STRONG-weak-weak
What meter is this pattern in: STRONG-weak-STRONG-weak?
duple meter
What meter is this pattern in: STRONG-weak-weak-STRONG-weak-weak?
triple meter
What is the longest note symbol used today?
the whole note
What does a dot behind a note indicate?
to add half its value
What does a tie in music do?
it ties the values of the notes together
What are symbols for silence?
rests
What are rests in music?
symbols for silence
What is harmony?
2 or more tones sounding simultaneously
What is it called when 2 or more tones are sounding simultaneously?
harmony
What is a chord?
3 or more pitches sounding simultaneously
What is 3 or more tones sounding simultaneously?
chord
What is the key of a piece?
the set of 7 notes, or scale, selected for the piece
Unless specified, the key of C is assumed to be what?
the key of C major
What is form in music?
how music is organized on a larger time scale, the architecture of music
Form is the ______________ of music?
architecture
What is the smallest unit form?
motive
What is a motive?
the smallest identifiable recurring musical idea
A motive has a distinctive _____________ and ____________ profile.
melodic, rhythmic
What is a motive that is repeated many, many times in immediate succession?
an ostinato
Ostinato comes from the Italian word for what?
obstinate
What is a cohesive musical thought?
a phrase
What is a phrase?
a cohesive musical thought
What is a theme?
a set of phrases that make a complete melody
A theme is a set of phrases that make a complete ___________.
melody
What does a theme play a prominent role in?
a longer piece of music
What do many pieces of music begin with?
an introduction
What is an introduction in music?
music that precedes the first main theme
What do many pieces end with?
a coda
What is coda Italian for?
tail
How does a coda sound?
conclusive, like it’s wrapping up the piece
What do codas and introductions serve as in music?
an outer frame for the central piece
Why are codas and introductions usually disregarded when analyzing form in music?
because they mainly serve as the outer frame for the main music
What does musical form control?
larger spans of time
What operate in musical form?
balance, proportion, drama, climax, and denouement
What are the most basic formal processes in music?
repetition, variation, and contrast
What is repetition in music?
the repeating of musical material
What is a musical idea repeated at a different pitch level?
sequence
What is a sequence in music?
musical idea repeated at a different pitch level
What are sections of music labeled with?
capital letters
What is variation?
repetition with enough alterations that the listener senses continuity and contrast
