Final - Terms Flashcards
Rhythm
The heartbeat of the music, the ordered flow of music through time.
Pitch
The highness or lowness of a sound
Melody
A series of single notes, which at up to a recognizable whole.
Theme
Melody which serves as the starting point for an extended piece of music.
Climax
The emotional focal point of the melody.
Harmony
Refers to the ways the chords are constructed and how they follow each other.
Consonance
A combination of tones that is pleasing and restful
Dissonance
Tones or combinations that give the feeling of unrest and require resolution in some other tone or chord.
Tone color
The quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.
Form
The organization of musical ideas in time
Dynamics
Degrees of loudness or softness in music
Monophonic textures
One melody without accompaniment, or a single unaccompanied melodic line- one sound
Homophonic textures
Melody accompanied by chords
Polyphonic textures
A simultaneous performance of two or more melodies of relatively equal interest.
Male voices?
Tenor, baritone, bass. (Describing the sound of male voice)
Female voice?
Soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto & contralto (describing the sound of female voice)
Gregorian chant
The official music of the Roman Catholic Church.
Ars Nova
A new system of music notation in which rhythm could be notate more precisely.
Middle Ages
Used no instruments, 450-1440
Renaissance
1450-1600
Baroque
Organ/harpsichord, 1600-1750
Classical
Age of Enlightenment, 1750-1825
Fugue
A polyphonic composition based on one main theme.
Suite
A set of dance - inspired movements, all in the same key, but different in meter, tempo, and character.
Symphony
An extended ambitious composition usually in 4 movements, typically lasting 20-40 minutes for a full orchestra.
Concerto
A type of musical composition for a small group of solo instruments and an orchestra usually in 3 movements.
Rondo
A form of a single movement featuring a main theme. (And more)
Sonata
A composition for one or two instruments usually in 3 or 4 movements.
Oratorio/opera
A large scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists and orchestra usually set to a narrative text.
Texture of an unaccompanied- flute, violin, or voice
Monophonic
