Music Flashcards
Also
known as the Middle Ages or
―Dark Ages that started with
the fall of the Roman Empire.
Medieval period
Historical events during the Middle Ages
The Great Famine, Black Death/Plague
Originally known as “plainchant”, was named after Pope Gregory I, who made this the approved music of the Catholic Church. Pope
Gregory’s action made monophonic plainchants popular
Gregorian Chant
Texture refers to the layers of music. The monophonic texture consists of one layer (single melody).
Characteristics of Gregorian Chant
Describes a melody that moves in distinct steps or intervals, smoothly,
and in a connected way.
Conjunct melody
The opposite of Conjunct Melody.
Disjunct Melody
The relationship
between the melody of the chant and the text.
This is divided into four classifications.
Text Setting
It means one syllable of the text is set
to one note of the chant melody. It means when
you use a syllabic style of singing. This is the easiest to use.
Syllabic
It means one syllable of the text is set
to a few notes of the chant melody.
Neumatic
One syllable of the text is set to many
notes of the chant melody. It is similar to NEUMATIC
but with more notes, usually 5 or more notes. The
genres like RNB, Hip hop, Pop, and Soul commonly
uses this type of singing.
Melismatic
It means numerous syllables of the
text are set to only one repeated note of the chant
melody. This the most different out of the four types
of text setting because it only uses a single note but
with many syllables.
Psalmodic
They were a little different in that not all of their
music or poetry was religious. They perform
for the nobles at feasts and for everyone at
tournaments and festivals.
Troubadour
Usually monophonic
Characteristics of Troubadour music
Also known as Adam dela Bossu (Adam the Hunchback) was a
French-born troubadour. He was a composer, poet, musician, and an innovator of
the earliest French secular theatre. He’s one of the few composers from the
middle ages who are important part of the medieval culture.
Adam dela Halle
The word comes from the word renaitre which means “rebirth, revival, and rediscovery.
It is a period of looking back to the Golden Age of Greece and Rome.
As a result, Western civilization had to begin again during the Medieval Period.
Renaissance Period
The invention of ______ in the 1400’s paved the way for a wide distribution of renaissance compositions.
Printing
The prominent instrument of the renaissance era.
Any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity,
usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
Lute
Songs that are not bound by any religious themes. It usually
talks about love, friendship, real-life experiences, heroes, etc.
Secular music
Mostly polyphonic
- Polyphonic means multiple layers of melody.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
A form of sacred musical composition that sets texts of the Eucharistic liturgy into
music.
Mass
Characteristics of the Mass:
• Polyphonic
• May be sung a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
• Text may be syllabic (one note set to each syllable), neumatic (a few notes set to one syllable),
or melismatic (many notes to one syllable)
Five sections of the Mass
Kyrie (Lord Have Mercy) • Gloria (Glory to God in the Highest) • Credo (I Believe in One God) • Sanctus and Benedictus (Holy, holy and Blessed Is He) • Agnus Dei (Lamb of God)
A secular vocal polyphonic music composition which originated from Italy. It is written and
expressed in a poetic text and sung during courtly social gatherings. It is the most
important secular form during the Renaissance period.
Madrigal
Polyphonic • Sung a cappella • Through–composed (not based on repeated sections or verses, especially having different music for each verse) • Frequently in 3 to 6 voices
Characteristics of Madrigal:
It is derived from the Portuguese word ― “barroco” which means ―pearl of irregular shape. They thought of its music as rough, highly decorated, and bizarre.
Baroque
Melodies sound elaborate and ornamental
• Melodies are not easy to sing or remember
Characteristics of Baroque Music
melody and accompaniment have the same rhythm but doesn’t have the same tune.
Homophony
two completely different melodies playing together at the same time
Contrapuntal
Music Genres of Baroque Music
Concerto Grosso, Concerto
A form of orchestral music that employs a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra.
Concerto
A form of orchestral music during the Baroque Period wherein the music is between a
small group of solo instruments called concertino and the whole orchestra called tutti.
Concerto Grosso
His personal and deep faith is shown in
his sacred music. He was known for his compositions for organ,
orchestra, and oratorio. His most important and long – term
position was as ―cantor” at St. Thomas Church.
Johann Sebastian Bach
Also called “Age of Reason”, is the period from 1750-1820.
· The cultural life was dominated by the aristocracy (rich people)
The Classical Era
Patrons of musicians and artists, generally influenced the arts.
Aristocrats
A traditional style of art, literature, music, architecture, etc., (of ancient Greece and Rome) that is usually graceful and simple with parts that are organized in a pleasing way.
Classicism
Texture is generally homophonic
· Homophony: melody and accompaniment have the same rhythm but doesn’t have the same tune.
Characteristics of Classical Music
Use of crescendo ()
· The sound of their music is dynamic – utilizing soft and loud volume of sound
Crescendo means “soft to loud” and Decrescendo means “loud to soft”
Characteristics of Classical Music
A style of broken chord accompaniment called, Alberti Bass was invented
This style is used particularly for piano – the left hand plays each note of a chord one by one instead of simultaneously.
Characteristics of Classical Music
“Big Three” of Classical Era
· Franz Joseph Haydn
· Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
· Ludwig Van Beethoven
A child prodigy and the most amazing genius in musical history. He is among the most enduringly popular of all classical composers and is the most recorded composer in history.
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
He was the composer who bridged the late Classical era and the early Romantic era.
He was a talented pianist and composer. His famous compositions include 32 piano sonatas, 21 set of variations, 9 symphonies, 5 concertos for piano, 16 string quartets and choral music.
He began to go deaf in 1796 but this did not become a hindrance. He continued composing through the help of an assistant and hearing gadget. Some of his famous compositions were made when he was deaf.
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Imitation among the voices is common
- It means on a choir set up, singers can imitate other voices, like tenors singing the voice of alto,
altos singing tenor voice, etc.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
Use of word painting in texts and music.
- It means applying a certain tune or melody on a song depending on the meaning of the story or
lyrics.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
Melodic lines move in a flowing manner.
- Melodies are not hard to sing.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
Melodies are easier to perform because these move along a scale with a few large leaps.
Characteristics of Renaissance Music
Primarily contrapuntal textures with some homophony
Characteristics of Baroque Music
Dynamic contrast – alternation between loud and soft
Characteristics of Baroque Music
Orchestra consists of strings and continuo
Characteristics of Baroque Music
- Usually performed without instrumental accompaniment or acapella.
- It has a monophonic texture.
Characteristics of Gregorian Chant
-Monophonic texture can be created by one or many musicians as long as they are all singing or
playing the exact same note at the same time.
-It has a limited range (which means it doesn’t have high notes).
Characteristics of Gregorian Chant
- It was sung in Latin
- It’s Unmetered (it doesn’t have a specific beat).
- It has a Conjunct melody.
Characteristics of Gregorian Chant
Sometimes with improvised accompaniment
Characteristics of Troubadour music
Tells of chivalry and courtly love
Characteristics of Troubadour music
Originated in France
Characteristics of Troubadour music
Written in the French language
Characteristics of Troubadour music
