Music - (15% of Exam) Flashcards
1
Q
Key Figure
A
Details
2
Q
Hildegard von Bingen
A
Time Period: Medieval
Contribution: One of the earliest known female composers, known for sacred monophonic music and visionary texts.
3
Q
Guillaume de Machaut
A
Time Period: Medieval
Contribution: French composer and poet, known for Messe de Nostre Dame, one of the earliest complete polyphonic mass settings.
4
Q
Josquin des Prez
A
Time Period: Renaissance
Contribution: Master of polyphony, known for works such as Ave Maria… Virgo Serena.
5
Q
Giovanni Palestrina
A
Time Period: Renaissance
Contribution: Composer of sacred choral music, known for Missa Papae Marcelli, which influenced the Counter-Reformation.
6
Q
Claudio Monteverdi
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: Pioneer of opera, composer of L’Orfeo, one of the earliest operas.
7
Q
Henry Purcell
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: English composer known for Dido and Aeneas and his contributions to early Baroque opera.
8
Q
Johann Sebastian Bach
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: German composer known for The Well-Tempered Clavier, Brandenburg Concertos, and Mass in B Minor.
9
Q
George Frideric Handel
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: Known for Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks.
10
Q
Antonio Vivaldi
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: Italian composer famous for The Four Seasons, a set of violin concertos.
11
Q
Domenico Scarlatti
A
Time Period: Baroque
Contribution: Composed over 500 keyboard sonatas, influencing later classical piano styles.
12
Q
Christoph Willibald Gluck
A
Time Period: Classical
Contribution: Opera reformer known for Orfeo ed Euridice.
13
Q
Franz Joseph Haydn
A
Time Period: Classical
Contribution: Known as the ‘Father of the Symphony’ and ‘Father of the String Quartet’, composed The Creation and London Symphonies.
14
Q
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
A
Time Period: Classical
Contribution: Prolific composer of symphonies, operas, and chamber music, including The Magic Flute, Don Giovanni, and Symphony No. 40.
15
Q
Ludwig van Beethoven
A
Time Period: Classical/Romantic
Contribution: Bridged Classical and Romantic periods, known for Symphony No. 9, Moonlight Sonata, and Eroica Symphony.
16
Q
Franz Schubert
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Austrian composer known for Erlkönig, Unfinished Symphony, and Winterreise.
17
Q
Hector Berlioz
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Known for Symphonie fantastique, which introduced new orchestral techniques.
18
Q
Felix Mendelssohn
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Revived interest in Bach’s music, known for A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture.
19
Q
Frédéric Chopin
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Polish composer known for piano works like Nocturnes, Polonaises, and Études.
20
Q
Johannes Brahms
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Composer of Hungarian Dances and A German Requiem.
21
Q
Richard Wagner
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Composer of epic operas such as The Ring Cycle, Tristan und Isolde, and The Flying Dutchman.
22
Q
Giuseppe Verdi
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Italian opera composer known for La Traviata, Aida, and Rigoletto.
23
Q
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
A
Time Period: Romantic
Contribution: Russian composer known for The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and 1812 Overture.
24
Q
Claude Debussy
A
Time Period: Impressionist
Contribution: French composer known for Clair de Lune and Prélude à l’après-midi d’un faune.
25
Igor Stravinsky
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: Russian composer known for *The Rite of Spring*, *Firebird*, and *Petrushka*.
26
Arnold Schoenberg
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: Developed the twelve-tone technique, known for *Pierrot Lunaire*.
27
Dmitri Shostakovich
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: Russian composer known for *Symphony No. 5* and *String Quartet No. 8*.
28
George Gershwin
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: American composer known for *Rhapsody in Blue* and *Porgy and Bess*.
29
Aaron Copland
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: American composer known for *Appalachian Spring* and *Fanfare for the Common Man*.
30
John Cage
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: Avant-garde composer known for experimental works like *4'33"*.
31
Philip Glass
Time Period: Contemporary
Contribution: Minimalist composer known for *Einstein on the Beach* and *Glassworks*.
32
Leonard Bernstein
Time Period: 20th Century
Contribution: American composer and conductor known for *West Side Story*.
33
John Williams
Time Period: Contemporary
Contribution: Film composer known for *Star Wars*, *Jaws*, and *Schindler’s List*.
34
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Time Period: Contemporary
Contribution: Composer of musical theater hits like *The Phantom of the Opera* and *Cats*.
35
Duke Ellington
Time Period: Jazz
Contribution: Jazz composer and bandleader known for *Take the 'A' Train*.
36
Louis Armstrong
Time Period: Jazz
Contribution: Trumpeter and singer known for *What a Wonderful World* and *Hello, Dolly!*.
37
Miles Davis
Time Period: Jazz
Contribution: Jazz trumpeter and innovator, known for *Kind of Blue*.
38
Charlie Parker
Time Period: Jazz
Contribution: Saxophonist and key figure in the bebop movement.
39
John Coltrane
Time Period: Jazz
Contribution: Saxophonist known for *A Love Supreme* and *Giant Steps*.
40
Bob Dylan
Time Period: Folk/Rock
Contribution: Singer-songwriter known for *Blowin' in the Wind* and *Like a Rolling Stone*.
41
The Beatles
Time Period: Rock
Contribution: One of the most influential rock bands, known for *Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band* and *Abbey Road*.
42
Title
Details
43
Gregorian Chant
Composer: Anonymous
Time Period: Medieval
Synopsis: A form of plainchant used in Roman Catholic liturgy, characterized by monophonic melody and free rhythm.
44
Messe de Nostre Dame
Composer: Guillaume de Machaut
Time Period: Medieval
Synopsis: One of the first complete settings of the Mass Ordinary by a single composer, demonstrating early polyphony.
45
Ave Maria... Virgo Serena
Composer: Josquin des Prez
Time Period: Renaissance
Synopsis: A motet showcasing Renaissance polyphony and imitative counterpoint.
46
Missa Papae Marcelli
Composer: Giovanni Palestrina
Time Period: Renaissance
Synopsis: A Mass that helped demonstrate polyphony’s compatibility with clear textual expression, aiding the Counter-Reformation.
47
L’Orfeo
Composer: Claudio Monteverdi
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: One of the earliest operas, blending Renaissance and Baroque elements with expressive recitative and instrumental color.
48
Dido and Aeneas
Composer: Henry Purcell
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: An English opera featuring the famous lament 'When I Am Laid in Earth'.
49
The Well-Tempered Clavier
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: A collection of keyboard works exploring all major and minor keys, demonstrating counterpoint and harmony.
50
Brandenburg Concertos
Composer: Johann Sebastian Bach
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: A set of six concertos showcasing Baroque instrumental forms and techniques.
51
Messiah
Composer: George Frideric Handel
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: A sacred oratorio famous for the 'Hallelujah' chorus, combining biblical texts and grand choral writing.
52
The Four Seasons
Composer: Antonio Vivaldi
Time Period: Baroque
Synopsis: A set of violin concertos depicting seasonal changes through musical imagery.
53
Orfeo ed Euridice
Composer: Christoph Willibald Gluck
Time Period: Classical
Synopsis: An opera reforming Baroque conventions with simpler, more expressive melodies and dramatic unity.
54
Symphony No. 94 'Surprise'
Composer: Franz Joseph Haydn
Time Period: Classical
Synopsis: A symphony known for its unexpected loud chord in the second movement.
55
Don Giovanni
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Time Period: Classical
Synopsis: An opera blending comedy and drama, portraying the legendary seducer Don Juan.
56
Symphony No. 40 in G minor
Composer: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Time Period: Classical
Synopsis: A symphony known for its urgent, dramatic themes and rich orchestration.
57
Symphony No. 9 'Choral'
Composer: Ludwig van Beethoven
Time Period: Classical/Romantic
Synopsis: The first symphony to include a choral finale, featuring 'Ode to Joy'.
58
Erlkönig
Composer: Franz Schubert
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: A lied (art song) depicting a supernatural chase through dramatic piano accompaniment and vocal expression.
59
Symphonie fantastique
Composer: Hector Berlioz
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: A programmatic symphony depicting a young artist’s hallucinations and obsessive love.
60
A Midsummer Night’s Dream Overture
Composer: Felix Mendelssohn
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: An orchestral work capturing Shakespeare’s play’s magic and whimsy.
61
Nocturnes
Composer: Frédéric Chopin
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: A set of piano pieces exploring lyrical, expressive melodies and delicate harmonies.
62
The Ring Cycle
Composer: Richard Wagner
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: A four-opera epic drawing from Norse mythology, using leitmotifs and expanded orchestration.
63
La Traviata
Composer: Giuseppe Verdi
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: An opera exploring love and sacrifice through emotionally charged melodies.
64
Swan Lake
Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Time Period: Romantic
Synopsis: A ballet telling the tragic story of Odette, a princess transformed into a swan.
65
Clair de Lune
Composer: Claude Debussy
Time Period: Impressionist
Synopsis: A piano piece evoking moonlight through delicate harmonies and fluid rhythms.
66
The Rite of Spring
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A ballet featuring primal rhythms and dissonant harmonies, causing riots at its premiere.
67
Pierrot Lunaire
Composer: Arnold Schoenberg
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A song cycle employing Sprechstimme, blending speech and song in an atonal setting.
68
Symphony No. 5
Composer: Dmitri Shostakovich
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A politically charged symphony balancing tension and triumph.
69
Rhapsody in Blue
Composer: George Gershwin
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A fusion of jazz and classical styles, showcasing American musical innovation.
70
Appalachian Spring
Composer: Aaron Copland
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A ballet incorporating folk influences and evoking the American frontier spirit.
71
4'33"
Composer: John Cage
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A conceptual piece where performers remain silent, highlighting ambient sounds as music.
72
Einstein on the Beach
Composer: Philip Glass
Time Period: Contemporary
Synopsis: A minimalist opera featuring repetitive structures and abstract narratives.
73
West Side Story
Composer: Leonard Bernstein
Time Period: 20th Century
Synopsis: A musical adaptation of *Romeo and Juliet*, exploring gang rivalry in 1950s New York.
74
Star Wars Theme
Composer: John Williams
Time Period: Contemporary
Synopsis: A film score combining orchestral grandeur with memorable leitmotifs.
75
Take the 'A' Train
Composer: Duke Ellington
Time Period: Jazz
Synopsis: A jazz standard and signature tune of the Duke Ellington Orchestra.
76
What a Wonderful World
Composer: Louis Armstrong
Time Period: Jazz
Synopsis: A timeless jazz ballad celebrating the beauty of life.
77
Kind of Blue
Composer: Miles Davis
Time Period: Jazz
Synopsis: A seminal album introducing modal jazz.
78
A Love Supreme
Composer: John Coltrane
Time Period: Jazz
Synopsis: A spiritual jazz suite reflecting Coltrane’s personal awakening.
79
Blowin’ in the Wind
Composer: Bob Dylan
Time Period: Folk
Synopsis: A protest song questioning social justice and war.
80
Like a Rolling Stone
Composer: Bob Dylan
Time Period: Rock
Synopsis: A revolutionary rock song breaking lyrical and musical conventions.
81
Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band
Composer: The Beatles
Time Period: Rock
Synopsis: A concept album pioneering studio effects and thematic cohesion.
82
Bohemian Rhapsody
Composer: Queen
Time Period: Rock
Synopsis: A rock opera blending ballad, opera, and hard rock elements.
83
Thriller
Composer: Michael Jackson
Time Period: Pop
Synopsis: A groundbreaking pop album featuring iconic dance beats and production.
84
Movement
Details
85
Medieval Music
Definition: Music from 500-1400 CE, primarily sacred Gregorian chant and early polyphony.
Key Works: *Messe de Nostre Dame* (Machaut)
Key Figures: Hildegard von Bingen, Guillaume de Machaut
86
Renaissance Music
Definition: Polyphonic and harmonically rich music, emphasizing vocal and choral works.
Key Works: *Missa Papae Marcelli* (Palestrina)
Key Figures: Josquin des Prez, Giovanni Palestrina
87
Baroque Music
Definition: Ornamented, expressive music with basso continuo, counterpoint, and opera.
Key Works: *The Four Seasons* (Vivaldi), *Messiah* (Handel)
Key Figures: Bach, Handel, Vivaldi
88
Classical Music
Definition: Balanced and structured music emphasizing clarity, form, and symmetry.
Key Works: *Symphony No. 40* (Mozart), *The Creation* (Haydn)
Key Figures: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven
89
Romantic Music
Definition: Emotionally expressive music with expanded forms and harmonic complexity.
Key Works: *Symphonie fantastique* (Berlioz), *The Ring Cycle* (Wagner)
Key Figures: Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Wagner
90
Impressionism
Definition: A movement focused on tone color and atmosphere rather than formal structure.
Key Works: *Clair de Lune* (Debussy), *Boléro* (Ravel)
Key Figures: Claude Debussy, Maurice Ravel
91
Expressionism
Definition: A movement using dissonance and atonality to express deep emotions.
Key Works: *Pierrot Lunaire* (Schoenberg)
Key Figures: Arnold Schoenberg, Alban Berg
92
Neoclassicism
Definition: A return to classical forms and structures with modern harmonies.
Key Works: *Pulcinella* (Stravinsky)
Key Figures: Igor Stravinsky, Paul Hindemith
93
Serialism
Definition: A 20th-century approach to music based on a strict ordering of pitches (twelve-tone technique).
Key Works: *Variations for Orchestra* (Schoenberg)
Key Figures: Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern
94
Minimalism
Definition: Music featuring repetition, gradual change, and simple harmonies.
Key Works: *Music for 18 Musicians* (Reich), *Einstein on the Beach* (Glass)
Key Figures: Steve Reich, Philip Glass
95
Aleatoric Music
Definition: Also called 'chance music,' where some elements are left to chance.
Key Works: *4'33"* (Cage)
Key Figures: John Cage, Karlheinz Stockhausen
96
Electronic Music
Definition: Music created or manipulated using electronic technology.
Key Works: *Poème électronique* (Varèse)
Key Figures: Edgard Varèse, Karlheinz Stockhausen
97
Film Score
Definition: Music written specifically for film soundtracks, enhancing mood and storytelling.
Key Works: *Star Wars Theme* (Williams)
Key Figures: John Williams, Ennio Morricone
98
Jazz
Definition: A genre originating in African American communities, characterized by swing, improvisation, and syncopation.
Key Works: *Take the 'A' Train* (Ellington), *Kind of Blue* (Davis)
Key Figures: Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Miles Davis
99
Blues
Definition: A genre rooted in African American spirituals and work songs, often using a twelve-bar structure.
Key Works: *Cross Road Blues* (Robert Johnson)
Key Figures: Robert Johnson, B.B. King
100
Ragtime
Definition: A syncopated piano-based genre that influenced jazz.
Key Works: *Maple Leaf Rag* (Joplin)
Key Figures: Scott Joplin
101
Swing
Definition: A jazz subgenre with a strong rhythmic 'swing' feel, popular in the 1930s-40s.
Key Works: *Sing, Sing, Sing* (Goodman)
Key Figures: Benny Goodman, Count Basie
102
Bebop
Definition: A fast, complex jazz style focusing on improvisation and virtuosity.
Key Works: *Ko-Ko* (Parker)
Key Figures: Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie
103
Cool Jazz
Definition: A relaxed, smooth jazz style emerging in the late 1940s.
Key Works: *Take Five* (Brubeck)
Key Figures: Miles Davis, Dave Brubeck
104
Hard Bop
Definition: A blues and gospel-influenced style of jazz.
Key Works: *Moanin'* (Blakey)
Key Figures: Art Blakey, Horace Silver
105
Free Jazz
Definition: An avant-garde movement emphasizing free improvisation and atonality.
Key Works: *Free Jazz* (Coleman)
Key Figures: Ornette Coleman, John Coltrane
106
Rock and Roll
Definition: A genre blending blues, country, and rhythm & blues, emerging in the 1950s.
Key Works: *Johnny B. Goode* (Berry)
Key Figures: Chuck Berry, Elvis Presley
107
Psychedelic Rock
Definition: A rock subgenre influenced by hallucinogenic experiences and surreal sounds.
Key Works: *Purple Haze* (Hendrix)
Key Figures: Jimi Hendrix, The Beatles
108
Progressive Rock
Definition: Rock music incorporating classical influences, complex structures, and virtuosity.
Key Works: *Close to the Edge* (Yes)
Key Figures: Pink Floyd, Yes
109
Punk Rock
Definition: A raw, fast-paced rock movement rejecting mainstream trends.
Key Works: *Anarchy in the UK* (Sex Pistols)
Key Figures: The Ramones, Sex Pistols
110
Heavy Metal
Definition: A loud, aggressive rock genre with distorted guitars and intense drumming.
Key Works: *Paranoid* (Black Sabbath)
Key Figures: Black Sabbath, Metallica
111
Alternative Rock
Definition: A broad genre encompassing non-mainstream rock styles.
Key Works: *Smells Like Teen Spirit* (Nirvana)
Key Figures: Nirvana, Radiohead
112
Hip-Hop
Definition: A genre featuring rap, DJing, and beat-based music, originating in the Bronx.
Key Works: *Rapper’s Delight* (Sugarhill Gang)
Key Figures: Grandmaster Flash, Tupac Shakur
113
Funk
Definition: A rhythm-driven genre combining soul, jazz, and R&B influences.
Key Works: *Superstition* (Wonder)
Key Figures: James Brown, Stevie Wonder
114
Reggae
Definition: A Jamaican music genre emphasizing offbeat rhythms and social themes.
Key Works: *One Love* (Marley)
Key Figures: Bob Marley, Peter Tosh
115
Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
Definition: A broad category of dance music created using electronic production techniques.
Key Works: *Around the World* (Daft Punk)
Key Figures: Daft Punk, Deadmau5
116
Term
Definition
117
Melody
Definition: A sequence of musical notes arranged in a meaningful pattern.
118
Harmony
Definition: The combination of different musical notes played or sung simultaneously.
119
Rhythm
Definition: The pattern of beats or time values in music.
120
Tempo
Definition: The speed at which a piece of music is played.
121
Dynamics
Definition: The variations in loudness and softness in a piece of music.
122
Timbre
Definition: The characteristic tone color or quality of a musical sound.
123
Texture
Definition: How different musical lines interact, such as monophony, homophony, and polyphony.
124
Form
Definition: The overall structure or plan of a piece of music, such as binary, ternary, or sonata form.
125
Scale
Definition: A sequence of musical notes arranged in ascending or descending order.
126
Mode
Definition: A type of scale used in different musical traditions, such as major, minor, or modal scales.
127
Chord
Definition: A group of three or more notes played together.
128
Cadence
Definition: A sequence of chords that concludes a musical phrase.
129
Key
Definition: The tonal center of a piece of music, based on a specific scale.
130
Modulation
Definition: The process of changing from one key to another within a piece of music.
131
Counterpoint
Definition: The relationship between two or more independent melodic lines.
132
Fugue
Definition: A compositional technique featuring a main theme that is introduced and developed in multiple voices.
133
Oratorio
Definition: A large-scale musical work for orchestra and voices, typically religious in theme but performed without staging.
134
Opera
Definition: A theatrical work combining music, singing, and drama.
135
Recitative
Definition: A style of singing that imitates speech, used in opera and oratorio.
136
Aria
Definition: A solo vocal piece in an opera or oratorio, often showcasing virtuosity.
137
Chorale
Definition: A harmonized hymn tune, often associated with Lutheran church music.
138
Sonata
Definition: A multi-movement instrumental composition, typically for solo piano or another instrument with piano accompaniment.
139
Symphony
Definition: A large orchestral composition typically consisting of multiple movements.
140
Concerto
Definition: A musical composition featuring a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra.
141
Suite
Definition: A set of instrumental pieces often based on dance forms.
142
Canon
Definition: A musical form where a melody is repeated in different voices at different times.
143
Ostinato
Definition: A repeated musical phrase or rhythm.
144
Syncopation
Definition: The placement of rhythmic accents on weak beats or offbeats.
145
Polyrhythm
Definition: The simultaneous use of multiple contrasting rhythms.
146
Twelve-Tone Technique
Definition: A method of composition developed by Arnold Schoenberg using a series of all twelve pitches in a fixed sequence.
147
Leitmotif
Definition: A recurring musical theme associated with a character, place, or idea, commonly used in Wagner’s operas and film scores.
148
Minimalism
Definition: A style of music characterized by repetition and gradual change over time.
149
Atonality
Definition: Music that lacks a tonal center or key.
150
Dissonance
Definition: A combination of tones that creates tension or a sense of instability.
151
Consonance
Definition: A combination of tones that creates a sense of stability and resolution.
152
Impressionism
Definition: A musical style that emphasizes mood and atmosphere rather than strict formal structures.
153
Aleatoric Music
Definition: A style of music where some elements are left to chance or performer choice.
154
Call and Response
Definition: A musical form where a phrase is played or sung and answered by another phrase.
155
Cadenza
Definition: An elaborate solo passage, often improvised, occurring in a concerto.
156
Bridge
Definition: A contrasting section of music that connects two larger sections.
157
Chamber Music
Definition: Music composed for a small ensemble, typically played in intimate settings.
158
Rondo
Definition: A musical form where a main theme alternates with contrasting sections (e.g., ABACA).
159
Scherzo
Definition: A lively, playful musical movement often replacing the minuet in symphonies.
160
Through-Composed
Definition: A song structure that does not repeat sections, instead progressing continuously.
161
Variation
Definition: A compositional technique where a theme is altered in successive repetitions.
162
Glissando
Definition: A continuous slide between two pitches.
163
Pizzicato
Definition: A playing technique where string instruments are plucked instead of bowed.
164
Hemiola
Definition: A rhythmic pattern where two different meters are layered or alternated.
165
Ornamentation
Definition: The use of decorative musical elements such as trills and grace notes.
