FA Section V Flashcards
The first 5 pieces in the Fine Arts Pentathlon Music Selection are fairly _____________.
objective
What piece by Vivaldi was inspired by the seasons?
“The Four Seasons”
Are emotions always joyful?
No
Who wrote “Winterreise”?
Franz Schubert
When was “Winterreise” written?
1827
What does “Winterreise” mean in English?
winter journey
What is “Winterreise” about?
a heartbroken man who wandered the winter countryside
Who wrote “The Lonely One in Autumn”?
Gustav Mahler
What feelings does the song “The Lonely One in Autumn” capture?
feelings of isolation as the days grow colder
What seasons usually bring joy?
spring and summer
When did the first attempts to write music begin?
the 9th century
Who was the instigator of the attempt to write music down?
the Catholic Church
Why did the Catholic Church want to write music down?
because it was hard to keep the chants consistent from place to place
How did people remember songs prior to notation?
they had to memorize them
What does secular mean?
non-religious
The earliest surviving written music is entirely ____________.
sacred
The earliest surviving written music is meant to support what?
religious services and activities
Why did the Catholic Church’s chants only need to have melodies transcribed?
because they were monophonic and only had voices
The Catholic Church’s chants were __________________.
monophonic
What is the earliest form of counterpoint?
composers of sacred music experimenting with ways for people to sing different melodies simultaneously
Early counterpoint is like what in today’s time?
sampling, where older works are used in newer pieces
How do children learn songs lullabies and other songs?
by ear or by rote
Were writing materials in the Middle Ages expensive?
Yes
How is Reading in Reading, England pronounced?
“Redding”
What is an abbey?
a religious building where Catholic monks or nuns lived
“Sumer is icumen in” was preserved in an abbey near where?
Reading, England
Is “Sumer is icumen in” secular or non-secular?
secular, since it is non-religious
When was “Sumer is icumen in” thought to be made?
the mid-12th century
What does “Sumer is icumen in” mean?
Summer has come
What was “Sumer is icumen in” preserved in?
a manuscript
What is a manuscript?
a handwritten document
“Sumer is icumen in” is a celebration of what?
the arrival of summer
What is the medieval term for round?
rota
Why is “Sumer is icumen in” called Reading Rota?
because of the abbey that preserved the manuscript
What is a synonym for round?
canon
What is Reading Rota a nickname for?
“Sumer is icumen in”
What is Summer Canon a nickname for?
“Sumer is icumen in”
How many lines does the staff in the original notation of “Sumer is icumen in” have?
6 lines, different than the 5 we have today
How many lines on the staff do modern musical notations have?
5
What letter is put on the 4th line of “Sumer is icumen in”?
a capital C
What does the capital C on the 4th line of “Sumer is icumen in” tell the singers to do?
read the pitches on that line as C
What clef does the notation of “Sumer is icumen in” most likely use?
tenor clef
What should singers in “Sumer is icumen in” sing the B’s as?
B-flats
What are the shapes of the noteheads in “Sumer is icumen in”?
squares and diamonds
What language is “Sumer is icumen in” sung in?
Olde English
What does “Llude sing cuccu” mean?
loudly sing cuckoo
What does “Groweth sed and bloweth med” mean?
The seed grows and the meadow blooms
What does “And springth the wode nu” mean?
And the woods spring anew
What does “Sing cuccu” mean?
Sing cuckoo
What does “Awe bleteth after lomb” mean?
The ewe bleats after lamb
What does “Lhouth after calve cu” mean?
The cow lows after her calf
What does “Bulluc sterteth, bucke verteth” mean?
The bull jumps, the buck leaps
What does “Murie sing cuckoo” mean?
Merrily sing cuckoo
What does “Wel singes thu cuccu” mean?
Well sing you cuckoo
What does “Ne swik thu naver nu” mean?
Nor stop thou never now
How many parts are layered in “Sumer is icumen in”?
4
What does the plus sign in “Sumer is icumen in” mean?
it means to start when the previous singer reaches that point
In “Sumer is icumen in”, the first voice to start singing will be the _______ to stop singing.
stop
What does “Sumer is icumen in” imitate? (musical style)
polyphony
In “Sumer is icumen in”, there is a second layer of musical activity called what?
the rondellus
When was the rondellus popular?
the Middle Ages
What is a rondellus?
a polyphonic genre for 2 or more voices
How many motifs does the rondellus in “Sumer is icumen in” have?
2
What are the motifs in the rondellus of “Sumer is icumen in”?
a motif and b motif
What is the harmony motif in “Sumer is icumen in”?
the b motif
What is another term for rondellus?
voice-exchange
Is the a or b motif in “Sumer is icumen in” higher pitched?
the b motif (harmony) is higher pitched
What is the rondellus in “Sumer is icumen in” labeled as?
pes
What does pes mean?
foot or ground
The melody for the pes in “Sumer is icumen in” is most likely sampled from what chant?
an older, sacred chant called “Regina caeli laetare”
How do the first 5 pitches of “Sumer is icumen in” compare to “Regina caeli laetare”?
they are the same
“Sumer is icumen in” uses what medieval writing method?
square notation
Why is “Sumer is icumen in” known as square notation?
because of the noteheads, which are squares and diamonds
What is the starting pitch of “Regina caeli laetare”?
F
How many voices are used in “Sumer is icumen in”?
6
What motivated religious monks to create “Sumer is icumen in” when manuscript materials were so costly?
We don’t know for sure
How old was Armstrong when he was first arrested
9
How old was Armstrong when his father abandoned his mother?
an infant
Why was Armstrong arrested for the first time?
for being a dangerous and suspicious character
After Armstrong was arrested for the first time, where was he sent?
to the Colored Waifs Home in New Orleans
After being sent to the Colored Waifs Home, which relative of Armstrong agreed to take him?
his aunt
When was Armstrong arrested for the 2nd time?
New Year’s Eve in 1912
Why was Armstrong arrested for a 2nd time?
for shooting a gun into the air
When was Armstrong sent to the Colored Waifs Home for the 2nd time?
1913
Who were the proprietors of the Colored Waifs Home when Armstrong was there?
Joseph and Manuela Jones
What change had occurred the second time Armstrong went to the Colored Waifs Home?
they hired a new band director, Peter Davis
Who was the new band director at the Colored Waifs Home?
Peter Davis
What instrument did Peter Davis teach Armstrong?
cornet
How long did Armstrong stay at the Colored Waifs Home for the 2nd time?
18 months
Louis Armstrong would likely not have been famous without whom?
the Joneses
Who took interest in Armstrong in his early days and gave him a cornet?
Joe “King” Oliver
What did Oliver persuade Armstrong to do?
move to Chicago and join his band
What instrument did Joe “King” Oliver play?
cornet
Where was Armstrong’s playing first recorded?
Chicago, IL
Who did Armstrong marry in 1924?
Lillian Hardin
When did Armstrong marry Hardin?
1924
What did Hardin play in Oliver’s band?
piano
How did Hardin help Armstrong improve as a musician?
she taught him music theory and musical notation
What did Hardin persuade Armstrong to do?
she persuaded him to pursue a solo career
Why was Armstrong called “Satchmo”?
because his mouth was as big as a satchel
What work by Armstrong climbed to No. 1 on the 1964 Billboard charts?
“Hello Dolly”
What early work by Armstrong was a huge hit?
“Hello Dolly”
How old was Armstrong when he recorded “Hello Dolly”?
63
Who was the oldest person to reach a No. 1 Billboard ranking?
Louis Armstrong
According to Joseph Laredo, people did what to try to imitate Armstrong’s gravelly voice?
they would purposefully catch colds
Who said people would catch colds in order to try to imitate Armstrong’s gravelly singing voice?
Joseph Laredo
How were Armstrong’s works distributed in Nazi Germany during WWII when they were banned?
people would give them under fake titles
What was the Cold War?
Post-WWII tensions between communist and capitalist nations
Which countries led the Cold War?
the Soviet Union and the US
How did repressive governments see jazz as during the Cold War?
they saw it as deeply threatening
Why did repressive governments during the Cold War find jazz threatening?
because of its emphasis on the free expression of the individual
How did Armstrong’s fans react when he went on his 1955 tour?
they went crazy and he was mobbed everywhere he went
Where was Armstrong’s 1957 tour sanctioned to?
South America
When did Armstrong travel to Africa as an official state ambassador?
1960
Why did Bob Thiele use an alias on published copies of “What a Wonderful World”?
because of an industry bias against record producers who make their own compositions
What was Thiele’s alias for “What a Wonderful World”?
George Douglas
How did Thiele choose George Douglas as his screen name for “What a Wonderful World”?
from the first names of 2 of his cousins
Was it hard to convince Armstrong to make “What a Wonderful World”?
No
What did Armstrong not like about “What a Wonderful World”?
its simple melody
Who was Armstrong’s 4th wife?
Lucille
Where did Armstrong move to after marrying his 4th wife?
Corona, NY
When did Armstrong start recording “What a Wonderful World”?
August 16, 1967, at 2 AM
Armstrong went to record “What a Wonderful World” after what?
his midnight performance at the Tropicana Hotel
Where did Armstrong record “What a Wonderful World”?
United Studios, Las Vegas
How much was the minimum union rate for the performers for “What a Wonderful World”?
$250
Before recording “What a Wonderful World”, Armstrong had recently signed with what record company?
ABC-Paramount Records
Who was the head of ABC-Paramount Records when Armstrong was there?
Larry Newton
What did Newton think about Armstrong recording “What a Wonderful World”?
he thought he was crazy for not recording an uptempo song like his hit Dolly
Who was the only man to throw Armstrong out of a recording studio?
Larry Newton
How did they get Newton to stop interfering with the recording of “What a Wonderful World”?
they had to lock him out of the recording studio
Who was the publisher of “What a Wonderful World”?
Frank Military
What other disruption occurred during “What a Wonderful World”?
the loud noises of nearby trains
Who was the music arranger for “What a Wonderful World”?
Artie Butler
How did Butler describe the disruptions at the recording of “What a Wonderful World”?
the epitome of Murphy’s Law
What does Murphy’s Law state?
anything that can go wrong will go wrong
At what time did they get a recording of “What a Wonderful World” they liked?
6 AM
How did Newton get his revenge on “What a Wonderful World”?
he refused to promote it
Where did “What a Wonderful World” get really popular?
Britain
How long did “What a Wonderful World” stay No.1 on Britain’s top music list?
4 weeks
Where did “What a Wonderful World” go silver?
England
What does it mean for a song to go silver?
it means it sold 500,000 copies
Who accepted the award for “What a Wonderful World” on Armstrong’s behalf?
Larry Newton
Why did Armstrong not accept the award for “What a Wonderful World”?
because he was ill and hospitalized
When did Newton agree to promote “What a Wonderful World”?
after “Good Morning, Vietnam” was released using the song
When was “Good Morning, Vietnam” released?
1988
Who was the director of “Good Morning, Vietnam”?
Barry Levinson
What song listed in the Fine Arts Pentathlon Music Selection is used in “Good Morning, Vietnam”?
“What a Wonderful World”
When did “What a Wonderful World” reach the Top Forty?
1988
When did Armstrong die?
1971
When was “What a Wonderful World” added to the Grammy Hall of Fame?
1999
What form is “What a Wonderful World”?
32-bar form with A-A-B-A architecture
What is a common nickname for the 3rd phrase of a 32-bar form?
bridge
The A phase of “What a Wonderful World” is similar to what lullaby?
“Twinkle Twinkle Little Star”
What form is “Twinkle Twinkle Little Star” in?
ternary form, with A-B-A
What sounds does the background choir in “What a Wonderful World” make?
vowel sounds
What meter is “What a Wonderful World” in?
12/8 meter
Who made “Global Warming”?
Michael Abels
“Global Warming” is an example of _________ __________.
blended cultures
How is Abels of mixed heritage?
his mother is white and his father is black
Where was Abels born?
Phoenix, Arizona`
Who adopted Abels soon after he was born?
his grandparents from his mom’s side
Where did Abel’s grandparents take him after they adopted him?
a farm in South Dakota
At the age of 4, what instrument was Abels fascinated by?
the piano
How old was Abels when he became fascinated by his family’s piano?
4
How many times was Abels hospitalized due to allergies before he was 6?
2 times
Before what age was Abels hospitalized twice due to allergies?
6
Why was Abels sent back to Phoenix?
because the desert air would be better for his allergies
Who took in Abels after being sent to Phoenix?
his aunt and uncle
How old was Abels when he started dabbling in composition?
8
Did Abels like his grandparents?
Yes, according to him, they were “great, great people”
What important person did Abels befriend in 2nd grade?
Mark Russell Smith
What choir did Mark’s father conduct?
the Phoenix Boys Choir
How old was Abels when he attended a music summer camp?
13
Where was the summer music camp Abels went to when he was 13?
Northern Arizona University
How old was Abels when he completed his first symphonic work?
13
What type of composition was Abels’ first symphonic piece?
a piano concerto
Where did Abels premiere his first composition?
the summer camp at Northern Arizona University
Who was the conductor of Abels’ premiere of his first work?
Mark Russell
Who was the pianist of Abels’ premiere of his first work?
himself, Michael Abels
Where did Mark Russell go to college?
Julliard
What did Mark Russell study at Julliard?
cello
Did Abels want to attend a conservatory?
No
What is a conservatory?
a school that focuses exclusively on training in the arts
Is Julliard a conservatory?
Yes
Why did Abels not want to attend a conservatory?
because he wanted to be around people who weren’t just musicians
Where did Abels go to college?
USC, University of Southern California
How old was Abels when he first visited LA?
9
When Abels was at USC, what genre of music was being defined in popular music?
World music
During his undergrad years, what did Abels shine at?
composing music
What piece earned Abels the Oustanding Senior award?
“Queries”
When was “Queries” released?
1984
What instruments are used in “Queries”?
2 pianos and 1 prepared piano
What is a prepared piano?
a piano with objects inserted within it to alter its timbre
What choir did Abels join while at USC?
a church’s gospel choir
After completing his undergraduate degree at USC, where did Abels attend?
Cal Arts
What did Abels study at Cal Arts?
West African Drumming
Why did Abels study West African drumming at Cal Arts?
because he wanted to have more experience being around a Black community, as he grew up around white people
What was Abels’ first job?
he was a music teacher at New Roads
Where did Abels teach?
New Roads
What type of school is New Roads?
a private school
Where is New Roads?
Santa Monica, CA
While teaching at New Roads, where did Abels publish his music?
YouTube
The videos Abels posted on YouTube caught the eye of which director?
Jordan Peele
How did Jordan Peele find out about Abels?
by watching his videos on YouTube
When did Peele first call Abels?
2017
Why did Peele call Abels in 2017?
because he wanted him to contribute to the soundtrack of his movie, “Get Out”
When Peele called Abels in 2017, asking him to contribute to the soundtrack of “Get Out”, what did Abels think?
he thought he was being punked
How did Abels prove Peele was legit about his offer in 2017?
he got the script for the movie
What award did “Get Out” receive?
an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay
What famous director told Peele to stick with Abels?
Steven Spielberg
Steven Spielberg compared Peele and Abels to whom?
him and John Williams
When was “Us” released?
2019
When was “Nope” released?
2022
Who did Abels co-author “Omar” with?
Rhiannon Giddens
What genre is “Omar”?
opera
When was “Omar” released?
2022
What award did “Omar” receive?
a Pulitzer Prize
When did “Omar” get a Pulitzer Prize?
2023
What organizations have supported the work of Abels?
National Endowment for the Arts, Meet the Composer, and the Sphinx Organization
What is the Sphinx Organization dedicated to?
promoting the work of Black and Latino artists
What piece launched Abels’ professional career?
“Global Warming”
When was “Global Warming” released?
1990
What type of orchestral work is “Global Warming”?
an overture
What did Abels find in himself as a composer with the piece “Global Warming”?
he found his own voice as a composer
How is an overture different than a symphony?
an overture is shorter than a symphony
Who commissioned “Global Warming”?
Mark Russell and the Phoenix Symphony Guild
What was the Phoenix Symphony Guild later renamed to?
the Phoenix Youth Symphony
Who conducted “Global Warming” on its premiere?
Mark Russell
When was the premiere of “Global Warming”?
May 7, 1991
Was “Global Warming” popular after its release?
Yes, the piece quickly skyrocketed into fame
What did the Detroit Symphony Orchestra perform “Global Warming” for?
their 1992 African-American Composers Forum
What event did the Chicago Sinfonietta play “Global Warming” for?
their African Heritage Symphonic Series
By 2023, “Global Warming” had been performed by more than ________ ensembles.
200
After the election of what South African president was “Global Warming” played by the National Symphony of South Africa?
President Nelson Mandela
According to Abels, who has been the longest advocate of his music?
Mark Russell Smith
What was “Global Warming” inspired by?
the fall of the Berlin Wall, and post Cold War thaw that occurred
When did the fall of the Berlin Wall begin?
Nov. 9, 1989
What did the fall of the Berlin Wall symbolize?
the collapse of many Communist governments
What 2 world leaders ended the Cold War?
US President George H.W. Bush and USSR leader Mikhail Gorbachev
When did Gorbachev and Bush reach an agreement on ending the Cold War?
Dec. 3, 1989
What is the opening section of “Global Warming” a vision of?
the traditional idea of global warming, with a hot desert
What is depicted in the opening section of “Global Warming”?
a scorching hot desert with relentless heat
How does the desert portion of “Global Warming” suggest the buzzing of cicadas?
using a guiro
How many environments are depicted in “Global Warming”?
3
Cadenzas for what instruments occur in “Global Warming”?
violin and cello
During the transition into the A-section of “Global Warming”, what do the cellos play?
3 grace notes
Grace notes are common in ______________ playing.
bagpipe
What ethnic music commonly features the bagpipe?
Irish ethnic music
What ethnic music is played in the A section of “Global Warming”?
Irish
How is the A section of “Global Warming” marked?
lively
Western music used a wide array of modes until what era?
the Baroque era
Irish music often uses what mode?
Dorian mode
What special Irish drum accompanies the A section of “Global Warming”?
the bodhran
What is a bodhran?
a single-head Irish drum
What is it called when French horn players block the bell of their horn with their fist?
stopped horn
How does the stopped-horn technique sound?
nasally and buzzy
The full orchestra does not play together in “Global Warming” until how many minutes have passed?
4 minutes
When the full orchestra plays together for the first time in “Global Warming”, what dynamic is it at?
fortissimo
The sudden stop of the orchestra in “Global Warming” except for the tambourine signals what?
the start of the B section
In “Global Warming”, at the end of the A section, all the instruments stop except for which one?
the tambourine
What type of music is played in the B section of “Global Warming”?
Middle Eastern music
What is the initial instrument in the B section of “Global Warming”?
the oboe
In “Global Warming”, what mode is the B section in?
Mixolydian mode
The Mixolydian mode is widely used in what music?
Middle Eastern music
The shifting accentuations and note placement in the B section of “Global Warming” is called ___________.
hemiola
What is hemiola?
grouping notes within measures to change the listener’s sense of pulse
Has “Global Warming” received positive reviews?
Yes
According to Abels, how has the term global warming changed in recent years?
it has become more politically charged
What pattern is the Dorian mode in?
U-V-U-U-U-V-U
What pattern is the Mixolydian mode in?
U-U-V-U-U-V-U
