Section 1 Flashcards
Meter (Time)
- Organizes the rhythmic “feel”
- Helps musicians stay in sync with each other
- Helps listeners by adding predictability to music
Melody
A rhythmic of single tones organized as an aesthetic whole; sequence of notes; can stand on its own
Motif
Small building block of a melody
Rythm
The systematic arrangement of musical sounds, principally according to duration and periodic stress
Harmony
Harmony is the combination of separate but related parts in a way that uses their similarities to bring unity; combining two or more notes (chords)
Form
The constructive or organizing element in music
Song form
A musical form with two contrasting themes (sections are typically notated by letter)
Blues form
Usually 12 bars (there are not contrasting themes)
Back-beat
Beats 2 and 4 in 4/4 time, particularly when they are strongly accented
Chord
The harmony at a given moment (loosely a group of 3 or more notes played together)
Chorus
One complete cycle of a tune, one time through from top to bottom
Improvisation
The process of spontaneously creating fresh melodies over continuously repeating cycle chord changes of a tune (improviser may depend on the contours of the original tune, or solely on the possibilities of the chords’ harmonies)
Head
The first (and last) chorus of a tune, in which the song or melody is stated without improvisation or with minimal improvisation
Horn
A wind instrument; or any instrument
Interlude
An additional section in tune, especially one between one person’s solo and another’s
Introduction
A composed section at the beginning of a tune, heard only once