Making Musical Connections Flashcards
S = STYLE M/H = MELODY HARMONY R/T = RHYTHM TEMPO T/S/F = TEXTURE STRUCTURE FORM T/D = TIMBRE DYNAMICS L = LITERACY
what 4 group of singers are in a SATB chorus.?
M/H
Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses, it is an SATB chorus. The chorus are also the group of singers heard in a musical/opera.
Listen to Story of my Life from Shrek the Musical.
what does A cappella mean?
M/H
A cappella means a singer or a group of singers are singing with no accompaniment.
Listen to RANGE singing excerpts from the 2016 Tony nominations.
what does accompanied mean?
M/H
accompanied is where singers are supported by other instruments.
Listen to RANGE singing excerpts from the 2016 Tony nominations.
what is 1 type of word setting?
it begins with s
M/H
Syllabic means every syllable of the word is given its own note.
Listen to Rend Collective singing Ding Dong Merrily on High. ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ is syllabic; ‘gloria’ is melismatic.
what is 1 type of word setting?
it begins with m
M/H
Melismatic means some syllables of the word are stretched out over several notes.
Listen to Rend Collective singing Ding Dong Merrily on High. ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ is syllabic; ‘gloria’ is melismatic.
what is a descant?
M/H
A descant is a melody sung above the main melody. They are mostly heard in the last verse.
Listen to King’s College Choir singing the ‘sing choirs of angels’ verse in O Come All Ye Faithful.
what is scat singing?
M/H
Scat singing is a type of vocal improvisation found in jazz, where the singer uses made up words.
Listen to the ending of Feeling Good performed by Nina Simone.
describe what A riff (or an ostinato) is
M/H
A riff (or an ostinato) is a short repeated pattern played over and over and over and over…
Listen to the bass riff in Summer Nights from Grease.
describe what unison means
M/H
When singers or instrumentalists play the same notes at the same time, they are in unison.
Listen to One Vision from We Will Rock You.
describe what harmony means
M/H
When they play or sing different notes at the same time, they are in harmony.
Listen to Revolting Children from Matilda the Musical.
what is the highest female voice?
T/D
Soprano
what is the middle female voice?
T/D
Mezzo Soprano
what is the lowest female voice?
T/D
Alto
what is the highest male voice?
T/D
Counter Tenor
what is the 2nd highest male voice?
T/D
Tenor
what is the middle male voice?
T/D
Baritone
what is the lowest male voice?
T/D
Bass
what is homophonic?
T/S/F
homophonic, you will hear many sounds moving at the same time.
Listen to At the End of the Day from Les Miserablès.
what is polyphonic?
T/S/F
polyphonic, you will hear many sounds weaving in and out of each other.
Listen to Will I? from Rent.
what is contrapuntal?
T/S/F
contrapuntal, you will hear several melodies at the same time.
Listen to One Day More from Les Miserablè
what is strophic?
T/S/F
strophic, it uses the same tune for each verse/chorus.
Listen to So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music.
what is opera ?
S
opera is a large-scale production featuring soloists, a chorus and an orchestra.
Listen to Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici from La Traviata.
what is an aria?
S
Individual pieces in an opera are known as arias. You will hear a soloist singing with an orchestra.
> Listen to the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute.
what is recitative?
S
Between arias you might hear recitative, where singers ‘half-speak/half-sing’ to move the story along. The accompaniment strips back to minimum.
Listen to the ‘there was a time when men were kind’ opening of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserablès.
what is Gospel ?
S
Gospel is usually sung by a choir. The lyrics will have a Christian theme.
Listen to the FBCG Combined Gospel Choir singing O Happy Day.
what is Musical Theatre?
S
Musical Theatre features soloists, chorus and an accompanying band or orchestra.
Listen to Idina Menzel performing Defying Gravity from Wicked.
what is Folk music?
S
Folk music is traditional music that is passed down through families.
Listen to Glasgow Madrigirls performing The Circle March.
what is Hymns?
S
Hymns are usually sung in church for Christian worship by a choir and congregation. The texture will be homophonic.
Listen to Eternal Father, Strong to Save.
what does Accelerando mean?
R/T
Accelerando means the music is becoming gradually faster.
what does Rallentando/ritardando mean?
R/T
Rallentando or ritardando means the music is becoming gradually slower.
