Music Terminology Flashcards
What is counterpoint
Two or more independent melodic lines working together to create music. creates polyphonic texture (simultaneously combining two or more tones or melodic lines)
Homophonic texture: music made up of mostly chords
Monophony: ex flute solo
(Contrapuntal style)
Polyphonic
Simultaneous combination of two or more tones or melodic lines. 2 equally prominent melodic lines at the same time (independent)
Homophonic texture
One main melody with accompaniment or supporting harmony/ chords
Moniphonic texture
One voice or one note at a time without accompanying Harmony or chords
Vertical verse horizontal
Vertical: Chords stacked up the vertically, music as a series of chords. 2+ notes played simultaneously
Horizontal/linear: music as a group of lines, melody & voice leading
Rhythm
Aspect of music relating to time
When musical events happen (notes/sounds) in relation to other musical events
Meter
Meter: arrangement of rhythms with patterns and accents (string/weak beats)
Shown by time signature (top- # beats per measure), # beats in measure & how divided
Pulse, beat
Measure/bar: group of beats
Reharmonization
Alter underlying harmonic form while maintaining original melodic structure
Changing harmonies over fixed melody line (vs melodic improvisation over fixed chord changes)
Arrangement change focusing on harmony
Harmonic function
The tendency of certain chords to progress to other chords, or to remain at rest
Modal interchange
Borrowed chords - quickly change jey while retaining same tonal center
Technique of temporarily borrowing chords from a parallel tonality or mode that shares the same root