Music Theory and Composition Flashcards
Refers to the motion of two musical lines that moves in opposite directions.
Contrary Motion
Refers to the motion of two musical lines that move in the same direction, whether upwards or downwards, while maintaining the same interval between two lines.
Parallel Motion
Refers to the motion of two musical lines that move in similar directions, whether upwards or downwards, but without maintaining the same interval between lines.
Similar Motion
refers to the motion of two musical lines which one line stays stationary while the other musical line moves in an upward or downward direction.
Oblique Motion
Allowable dissonance where there is a leap to a dissonance followed by a descending step.
Appoggiatura
Allowable dissonance where a dissonance tone sounds on a downbeat and is then resolved downward by step.
Suspension
Movement through stepwise motion through two consonant tone.
Passing tone
Moves in a stepwise motion but returns to the original consonant tone.
Neighbor Tone
Dissonant note that is approached by step and resolved by a leap in the opposite direction.
Escape Tone
Interval referring to the unison, fourth, fifth, and octave.
Perfect Interval
When a perfect interval is lowered by a half-step.
Diminished Interval
When a perfect interval is raised by a half-step.
Augmented Interval
Interval in a diatonic major scale and measures the relationship between those two pitches. Can refer to the second, third, sixth, and seventh intervals.
Major Intervals
When a major interval is lowered by a half-step.
Minor Interval
When any minor interval is lowered by a half-step.
Diminished Interval
When any major interval is raised a half-step.
Augmented Interval
Minor scale that shares the same key as the major scale
Relative minor
Minor scale that shares the same tonic pitch.
Parallel minor
G-Clef; used by violin, woodwinds, and high brasses.
Treble clef
C-Clef; Middle point sits on the third line, used by viola
Alto clef
C-Clef; Middle point sits on the fourth line, used by cello, bassoon, and trombone
Tenor clef
F-Clef; two dots of the symbol surround the F-line, used by double bass, cello, bassoon, trombone, and low brasses
Bass Clef
F3 to D5 voice range
Alto
C4 to A5
Soprano
B3 to G4
Tenor
E2 to C4
Bass
G2 to E4
Baritone
A3 to F5
Mezzo-soprano
Music became highly homophonic with a focus on melody and accompaniment textural form
Classical Era
Strings and winds were double to play certain lines.
Baroque era
Technique that allows students to learn progressions, melodic contour, and rhythmic patterns of improvisers of the past.
Imitation
Thematic, melodic, rhythmic, stylistic and harmonic
Musical variations
Served as primarily religious element in the churches of the time.
Baroque improvisation
Born in the bars and alleyways of New Orleans
Jazz improvisation
This is a musical form composed of 32 measures, typically in 4/4 time. This song form consists of four sections: an eight-bar A section; a second eight-bar A section; an eight-bar contrasting B section; and a final eight-bar A section.
32-Bar jazz
Developed in the Baroque period. It is characterised by a recurring A section in between new sections of music, and is often described as ‘ABACA’, where the A section contains a distinctive theme.
Ritornello form
Connecting two chords together smoothly.
Voice Leading
Closely tied with meter, and consists of the aspect of rhythm associated with patterns of duration, emphases, and groupings.
Durational rhythm
Does not arise from patterns of stress and duration, and is essentially independent of meter. (Ex. recurrence of a single tone, the octave relationship, chordal and linear associations, consonances, and dissonances).
Tonal rhythm
Meaning force, directs the musician to strongly accent the notes over which the marking occurs.
Forzando (z)
Meaning reinforcing or strengthening. Dynamic marking means to increase in volume of a group of notes throughout a phrase and is played increasingly louder similarly to a cresc. but over a shorter length of time.
Rinforzando (rinf)
Similar to forzando, and the two terms can be interchanged to mean a sudden increase in loudness of the note or notes over which the marking occurs.
Sforcando (sfz)
“with” indicates each of these terms as descriptions or instructions of a performer’s phrasing.
Con
“with bravery”
Con bravura
“with love”
Con amore
“with spirit”
Con Biro
“with fire”
Con fuoco
“with grace”
Con grazia
“with tenderness”
Con Tenerezza
Italian word meaning “to hold”, directs the player to hold the notes for its full value.
Tenuto
Italian word meaning “to carry”, directs the player to smoothly detach the notes similarly to a legato, but shorter in length and longer than a staccato. (both dots and a slur over or under the notes)
Portato
Italian word meaning “to detach”, directs the player to shortly detach the note.
Staccato
An extremely shortened note and is notated by a wedge or pike above or under the note head.
Staccatissimo
Italian meaning “very or extremely broad”, should be played very slowly.
Larghissimo
Italian meaning “broad”, and should be played slowly.
Largo
Slightly faster than largo
Larghetto
Italian meaning “in a walking manner”, and should be played slightly faster than adagio, but slower than moderato.
Andante
Italian meaning “moderately” and should be played at an easy comfortable tempo.
Moderato
Italian meaning “fast” and should be played at a quick tempo.
Allegro
Italian meaning “lively” and should be played faster than allegro but slower than presto.
Vivace
Italian meaning “very fast” and should be played very quickly.
Presto
Italian meaning “to hurry”, indicates a quickening of the tempo and also a character or mood of agitation.
Affretando
Italian meaning “to slow down”, the player should gradually decrease the tempo of the section as the music slows down.
Slentando
Italian meaning “to widen:, the player should gradually decrease the tempo in a deliberate and imposing character.
Allargando
Italian meaning “to let down”, the player should gradually decrease both the tempo and the volume, indicates a mood of calming and dying away.
Calando
Requires players to detach the notes by playing one note per bow stroke
Detache
A bow stroke in which the bow plays two adjacent strings like a tremolo.
Ondule
The bouncing of the notes by the middle of the bow that is typically played at a fast tempo.
Sautille
Refers to the use of the bow close to the bridge in which a harsh grating sound is produced.
Sul ponticello
Refers to the use of the bow over the end of the fingerboard to produce a light airy sound.
Sul tasto
Refers to the abrupt release of a stroke in a forceful manner
Martele
Refers to the rapid bouncing of the upper third of the bow as the player drops the bow on a down-bow
Ricochet
Refers to the slight detachment of the notes without changing the direction of the bow.
Loure
Refers to using the stick of the bow on the strings instead of the hair.
Col Lengo
