Fundamentals of music theory: W3

Question 1

MT: What is a semibreve?

Answer 1

A whole note. full duration of a whole bar in 4/4 meter

Question 2

MT: What are tuplets? What are the most common?

Answer 2

Any arbitrary division of a note. The most common are the triplets

Question 3

MT: How can you identify tuplets in sheet music?

Answer 3

A number in a beam or brackets above notes

Question 4

MT: Explain 4/2 time

Answer 4

4=how many beats per bar; 2= beat type

Question 5

MT: What is the difference between a simple and a compound meter?

Answer 5

Simple means that each of the beats can be divided by two. Beats in compound meter are divided into three.

Question 6

MT: What is Anacrusis?

Answer 6

The start of a piece or section starts without a full bar. It uses a pickup beat

Question 7

MT: What are phrases?

Answer 7

A part of a melody. A melodic unit that feels complete (harmony). most of the times 4 bars.

Question 8

MT: What is the motif or motive?

Answer 8

Short musical statements. that are repeated a lot. e.g. opening of beethoven fifth symfony.

Question 9

MT: What does duple, triple and quadruple mean?

Answer 9

They refer to the number of beats in a measure. e.g. 2/4 => duple

Question 10

MT: What is the binary form

Answer 10

Two sections (AB).

Question 11

MT: What are sections?

Answer 11

collections of phrases.

Question 12

MT: What is the Ternary Form?

Answer 12

Three sections (ABA) or ABA` when there is a variation in the last section.

Question 13

MT: What is the rondo form?

Answer 13

ABACA

12 bar blues