Music Terminology

Question 1

Time

Answer 1

Level of rhythmic determination (patterns, fast or slow)

Tempo

Question 2

Time: Free meter (meterless)

Answer 2

no pattern or beat

Question 3

Time: Pulsatile

Answer 3

predictable pulse, accent is unpredictable

Question 4

Time: Metered

Answer 4

predictable pulse and accent

Question 5

Time: Metered

Divisive

Answer 5

Duple

Triple

Question 6

Texture: Monophony

Answer 6

A single melody
Eg one person or a group of people all singing the exact same melody
A solo flute is monophonic, but a solo piano is generally not, since it plays more than one pitch at a time

Question 7

Texture: Homophony

Answer 7

Main melody supported by other voices

Eg a singer accompanying herself on a guitar; a singer with background singers

Question 8

Texture: Polyphony

Answer 8

Multiple independent, simultaneous melodies
Eg western art music part-singing, or the group songs of the BaAka Forest People
No main melody

Question 9

Texture: Heterophony

Answer 9

Two or more voices performing the same basic melody with minor ornamental variations
Eg west asian ensembles, Japanese folk music