Music Flashcards
sound organized in time
music
the highness or lowness of a sound
pitch
orchestral musicians in the US tune to this note
A-440
The term for scholars who study the music of other cultures
ethnomusicologists
Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel created how many groups of instruments?
4
What texture has two or more melodic lines unfold simultaneously
polyphonic
What is the art of taking an existing piece of music and giving instructions as to what each individual performer should play
arranging
The combination of instruments involved in a work of music
instrumentation
Another expressive factor expressing the sound of a piece is called
articulation
The primary way tension is created through harmonic _______.
Dissonance
what is the broadcast definition of music?
sound organized in time
improvisation
simultaneous composition and performance
how does raising the amplitude of a sound wave affect the sound?
sound becomes louder
a melody that moves primarily in half steps or whole steps conjunct melody
conjunct melody
Between which TWO pairs of notes on the keyboard are there no black keys?
B to C and E to F
From which key on the keyboard would a natural minor scale consisting only of white keys begin?
A
transpose
to move a piece of music from one key to another
What aspect of a melody must remain unchanged when it is transposed to another key?
the interval relationships between the notes
contour
the overall shape or direction of a melody
how does lowering the frequency of a sound wave affect the sound
pitch becomes lower
what is the frequency of A above middle C, the note to which orchestral musicians tune their instruments
440 Hz
chordophones
instruments that use vibrating strings to produce sound
idiophones
instruments whose bodies vibrate to produce sound
aerophones
instruments that use a vibrating column of air to produce
membranophones
instruments that use a vibrating column of air to produce sound
electrophones
instruments that use an oscillator to produce sounds
what instrument family includes the flute, bassoon, and saxophone
woodwinds
what instrument family includes the tuba, french horn, and bugle
brass
what are five examples of stringed instruments
violon, viola, cello, doublebass, and guitar
what instruments family includes the marimba, timpani, and vibraphone?
percussion
what are four examples of keyboard instruments
piano, harpsichord, organ, and celesta
pitch
the higness or lowness of a sound
what interval is produced by halving the length of a string on a guitar
octave
where is middle c located on the piano keyboard
roughly equidistant from either end
overtones
weaker frequencies that color the sound of a note
into how many equal parts does equal temperament divide the octave
12
chromatic scale
the 12 pitches of the octave, played in ascending order
what does a sharp symbol indicate
the note should be raised
what does a flat symbol indicate?
the note should be lowered
what are the notes g# and Ab, which are identical in pitch referred to as?
enharmonic
how many pitches does a diatonic scale contain
seven
why is the seventh pitch in a scale called the leading tone
it begs to resolve upward to the tonic pitch
what is the role of the tonic pitch
acts as a point or repose and completion
dominant pitch
the fifth scale degree
performance practice
a study of how music actually sounded when it was written
interval
the distance between two pitches
what unit of measurement is used to describe an interval
half step or semitone
What is the highest note of a triad known as?
the fifth
melodic interval
two pitches played consecutively
what is the interval between c and g ascending
perfect fifth
what is the interval between a and c ascending
minor third
what is the interval between f and b ascending
tritone
what is the interval between ^6 and ^7 in a major scale
whole step
What determines the number of beats per second created by two interfering sound waves?
the number of beats per second created by two interfering sound waves is equal to the difference in frequency between the two waves (f1 - f2 = bps).
what is the interval between ^2 and ^3 in a major scale
whole step
what are the 3 varieties of minor scale
natural, melodic and harmonic
hat scale degree is always lowered in a minor scale
^3
how does harmonic minor differ from natural minor
the seventh scale degree is raised in harmonic minor
relative major and minor
major and minor scales that use the same pitches, but different tonics
parallel major and minor
major and minor scales that contain the same pitches
andante
at a walking pace
which scale degrees can be lowered in a blues scale
^3 and ^5
melody
a series of successive pitches perceived but the ear ti firm a whole cohesive
how many pitches can occur simultaneously in a melody
1
what is the fastest tempo
presto
what is the slowest tempo
lento or grave
andante
at a walking pace
what other name is used to refer to a full cadence?
authentic cadence
on what harmony does half cadence rest?
the dominant
theme
a set of phrases making up a complete melody which figures prominently in a piece of music
how does the sequence differ from repitition?
in sequence, the repetition occurs at varying pitch levels
what symbols are used to label complete sections of MUSICAL FORM IN A DIAGRAM?
capital letters
what TWO contrasting elements must a listener be able to recognize in musical variation?
continuity and alteration
what symbol is used to denote a variation on a theme?
a “prime” mark added to the same capital letter used for the theme
what meter is generally used for a twelve-bar blues?
duple
What THREE harmonies appear in a standard twelve-bar blues?
I, IV, and V (tonic, predominant and dominant)
How is contrast used in ternary form?
There is a contrasting middle section between the similar first and last sections.
What kind of cadence is used to end each section of ternary form?
authentic cadence
What name is ternary form also known by?
ABA form
rondo form
a form made up of a multiple sections, one of which recurs
how does rondo form differ from ternary form?
rondo form is less structured than tenury form and allows for more and different sections
how long are the sections of a standard 32-bar form?
8 measures each
What diagram is typically used to represent a 32-bar form
AABA
fugue subject
a single theme developed using a counterpoint
countersubject
a companion theme to the fugue subject
imitation
the approximate repetition of a melodic idea a a different pitch level
what musical texture best describes a fugue?
polyphony
At either of what TWO intervals from an original subject does the second line of a fugue usually imitiate the subject?
a fifth higher, or a fourth lower
what THREE main sections make up the sonata form
exposition, development, and reacapitualition
how many major musical ideas are present in a sonatat?
2
To what key does the sonata form usually modulate for the second idea
the dominant
how does the exposition of a sonata form generally end?
a strong cadence in the dominant key
Which section form is the most harmonically unstable?
the development
how does the development of a sonata form generally end?
a half cadence in the dominant key
How does the reacapitulation differ from the exposition in the sonata form
the second msuical idea does not modulate to the dominant key in the recapitulation
movements
shorter, distinct pieces that make up a longer work
what pattern of tempos usually appears in four-movemet, but not three-movement, sonata cycles?
a dance-like “minuet and trio” movement
performance practice
a study of how music actually
In a sound wave, what is the difference between compression and rarefaction?
A sound wave moving through the air causes pressure changes. Compression refers to the space where air pressure is increased, while rarefaction is the area where air pressure is decreased. One cycle of compression and rarefaction creates a complete sound wave.
What is a “period” as it relates to the physics of sound?
A period is the length of time that a sound wave takes to complete one cycle of compression and rarefaction creates a complete sound wave.
What physical property of a sound wave determines its pitch?
The frequency of the sound determines its pitch.
What physical property of sound does frequency measure?
Frequency measures the rate of the vibrations of a sound in hertz.
What is the unit of measurement for frequency, and for whom is it named?
The unit is named after Heinrich Hertz, a German physicist; hertz measures the frequency of a sound wave in cycles per second. One hertz is one cycle per second.
In what way does a change in the frequency of a sound after its ptch?
Higher frequencies correspond to higher pitches, and lower frequencies correspond to lower pitches.
Who is believed to have first discovered that musical pitches are related to each other by specific ratios?
Pythagoras
Notes that are separated by an octave are how many half steps apart?
Two notes an octave apart are separated by 12 half steps.
What is the ratio between the frequencies of two notes that are separated by one octave?
2:1
If a given note has a frequency of 440 Hz, what is the frequency of a note that is one octave higher?
880 Hz (440 x 2)
In modern Western music, what is the standard frequency used in most orchestras of the tuning note A4?
440 Hz
How many pitches are contained in one octave of a chromatic scale?
One octave of the chromatic scale consists of 12 pitches spaced fairly evenly throughout the octave. If these pitches have been obtained by precisely dividing the frequencies between the two octave notes, then the scale has been tuned with equal temperament.
What is a “sound envelope”?
“Sound envelope” is the term used to describe the lifespan of a sound.
What are the three parts of the sound envelope?
The sound envelope consists of the attack, sustain, and decay of a sound.
What creates the attack of a note?
The attack is caused by the initial resistance of the instrument to the force causing the sound vibrations, such as the movement of a bow on a string.
What is happening to the wave during the decay of a sound?
The decay of a sound is created by the decrease in force and amplitude of the vibrations of the wave.
What is amplitude?
Amplitude is the distance that a wave moves from its equilibrium position while vibrating.
What is intensity?
Intensity is a measure of the power, or energy per second, of a sound wave as it vibrates.
How are amplitude and intensity similar?
Amplitude and intensity both affect the volume of a sound wave as it is perceived by the ear.
What is the relationship between amplitude and frequency?
Ideally, there is none. A strict change in the frequency of a pitch will not change its amplitude, and vice versa.
Describe the amplitude and frequency of a note that is low-pitched and loud.
The low pitch is a result of a low frequency, and the loudness a result of a high amplitude.
What unit is used to measure amplitude?
decibel (dB)
From what scientist does the decibel take its name?
A decibel is one-tenth of a bel, which is named after Aexander Graham Bel..
What does a measurement in decibels indicate?
A measurement in decibels gives the ratio between the intensities of two different sounds
What is the decibel measurement for the human threshold of hearing?
0 dB
Why is the measurement of 120 dB significant?
An amplitude of 120 dB is the human threshold of pain.
What does the term “dynamics” refer to?
Dynamics describe the different volumes in a piece of music such as forte or pianissimo.
What language is used for indicating dynamics in music?
Italian
Put the following terms in order according to the level of volume that they indicate, from softest to loudest: forte, mezzo piano, pianissimo, fortissimo, piano, mezzo forte
pianissimo, piano, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, fortissimo
What is the difference between a crescendo and decrescendo?
A crescendo indicates a gradual increase in the volume of music; a decrescendo indicates a gradual decrease in the volume of music.
What is timbre?
Timbre refers to the qualities of a sound that distinguish it from another sound of the same pitch and volume. Timbre is also known as “tone color.”
What are harmonics?
Harmonics, or overtones, are the pitches above the fundamental that occur naturally when a sound is produced.
what is the interval between a fundamental pitch and its first overtone?
The first harmonic, or overtone, is exactly one octave higher than its fundamental pitch.
What type of sound does a sine wave represent?
A sine wave represents the sound wave of a note with no overtones.
What sort of wave is used to represent a pitch that is heard with only odd overtones?
A square wave.
What sort of overtones are present in a sawtooth wave?
A sawtooth waveform is used to indicate a pitch that is heard with all of its overtones.
Name three factors that affect the sound spectrum of an instrument
The sound spectrum is affected by the frequency of the fundamental; the number, distribution, and intensity of the overtones; and the interactions between the harmonics themselves.
What cause interference?
The overlap of multiple simultaneous sound waves
What is constructive interference?
constructive interference occurs when simultaneous sound waves “in phase”;: they match up trough to trough and crest to crest, resulting in an amplitude that is the sum of all of the individual amplitudes.
What is the product of constructive interference?
Constructive interference results in a sound wave with an amplitude equal to the sum of the amplitudes of its component waves.
What causes destructive interference?
Destructive interference occurs when two interacting waves are “out of phase”: they are not perfectly aligned.
What is the result of destructive interference?
Destructive interference fully or at least partially cancels out the amplitudes of its component waves.
What causes beats?
Beats are caused by the interference between sound waves that are cycling between being out of phase, (which decreases the amplitude) and in phase (which increases the amplitude).
What determines the number of beats per second created by two interfering sound waves?
the number of beats per second created by two interfering sound waves is equal to the difference in frequency between the two waves (f1 - f2 = bps).
diatonic
within the key
Which scale degrees correspond to major triads in a major key
1,4,5
which scale degrees correspond to minor triads in a major key
2,3,6
why does the dominant triad resolve to the tonic
it contains both the fifth scale degree and the leading tone
predominant harmonies
harmonies that pull to the dominant chord
on which scale degrees are the most common predominant harmonies based
2,4
what is the most common chord progression
predominant, dominant, tonic
how is the smoother voice leading created
by inverting chords so that each layer of the chord progression is conjunct
what scale degrees make up a dominant seventh chord
5,7,2,4
why does the dominant seventh chord have such a strong to pull to resolve
it contains a tritone
what is the strongest ending for a bass line
5 to 1
what are the most embellishments of a triad
adding a sixth seventh or ninth above the root
what distinguishes complex harmony from simple harmony
complex harmony uses more chromatic pitches
what does it mean for a piece of music to modulate
change keys
what is the name of schoenbergs system of pitch relationships
the twelve tone method
polytonality
using two keys simultaneously
texture
the number of things going on in a piece of music
what are the four types of texture in music
monophony, heterophony, homophony, and polyphony
monophony
music consisting of a single unaccompanied melodic line
what are the components of homophonic music
melody and harmony
polyphony
two or more melodies unfolding at the same time
what is the name of the technique used by western composers to produce polyphony
counterpoint
melodies in the counterpoint
melodies with the same beat and harmonic progression
instrumentation
the instrument or combination of instruments used in a piece
why is it difficult to determine the pitch of a church bell
bells produce very strong overtones
why does a clarinet produce a clear note with little ambiguity in pitch
only strong overtones reproduce the pitch being overplayed
instrument attributes determining its timbre
the material form which it is made and the amount of resonance
dynamics
the loudness and softness of a sound
pianissisimo
as softly as possible
fortississimo
as loudly as possible
crescendo
a gradual increase in dynamics
decrescendo or diminuendo
a gradual decrease in dynamics
mp
mezzopiano
ff
fortissimo
articulation
the mechanics of starting and ending a sound
staccato
short detached notes
what part of the mouth does a woodwind player use to create a staccato effect
his tongue
legato
notes that are played in a smooth connected manner
bouncing the bow or plucking the string(pizzicato)
violin techniques used to produce staccato
what is the difference between staccato and an accent
an accent has a more sudden beginning and does not require separation before the next note
ornamentation
localized embellishments, often unwritten
symbol for staccato
a dot placed under or over the note head
symbol for legato
a curved line connecting multiple note heads
tenuto
notes that are stressed without force
symbol for tenuto
a horizontal line under or over the note head
form
the organization of a piece of music on a larger scale
what two visual representations are used to express musical form
scores and diagrams
tension and release
complementary elements shape to a chord progression or melody