Study Guide for Exam 1

Question 1

What are the three dimensions of music?

Answer 1

Pitch
Rhythm
Texture & Volume

Question 2

What is Rhythm?

Answer 2

The flow of music through time

Question 3

What is Tempo?

Answer 3

The speed of the beat

Question 4

What is Pitch?

Answer 4

Highness or lowness of a tone; quality of sound by vibrations

Question 5

What is Beat?

Answer 5

A steady underlying pulse

Question 6

What is Volume?

Answer 6

The loudness of a sound; variation of sound

Question 7

What is Meter?

Answer 7

The pattern of the beats

Question 8

What is Timbre (tone color)?

Answer 8

Various tone qualities of instruments and voices

Question 9

What is Cadence?

Answer 9

Patterns of two chords that end phrases

Question 10

What is Melody?

Answer 10

A cohesive series of pitches

Question 11

What is Triad?

Answer 11

Three notes sounding at the same time; very harmonic

Question 12

What is Chord?

Answer 12

A group of two or more notes played simultaneously to create harmony

Question 13

What is Phrase?

Answer 13

Like a sentence or clause; culminated by a cadence

Question 14

What is Scale?

Answer 14

Series of pitches that go smoothly up and down

Question 15

Major Scale:

Answer 15

Bright

Question 16

Minor Scale:

Answer 16

Dark

Question 17

What is Octave?

Answer 17

Distance between 8 notes

Question 18

What is Harmony?

Answer 18

Simultaneous sounding of two or more pitches

Question 19

Consonance:

Answer 19

Relaxed and pleasant

Question 20

Dissonance:

Answer 20

Tense and harsh

Question 21

What is Texture?

Answer 21

Basic “fabric” of the music; monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic

Question 22

What is Monophonic texture?

Answer 22

Single melodic line with no other musical components

Question 23

What is Polyphonic (counterpoint) texture?

Answer 23

Two or more independent melodies are sounding at the same time

Question 24

What is Homophonic texture?

Answer 24

Melody with accompanying harmony or chords

Question 25

Woodwind Family:

Answer 25

Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, and Bassoon

Question 26

Brass Family:

Answer 26

Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, and Tuba

Question 27

String Family:

Answer 27

Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, and Harp

Question 28

Percussion Family:

Answer 28

Timpani

Question 29

What are Dynamics?

Answer 29

Amount of loudness in music; crescendo and decrescendo

Question 30

What is Crescendo?

Answer 30

Gradually get louder

Question 31

What is Decrescendo?

Answer 31

Gradually get softer

Question 32

What is Form?

Answer 32

Repetition and Variation

Question 33

Gregorian Chant; Non-Metrical Rhythm:

Answer 33

Monophonic
Smooth contour; often arch shaped melodies
Sung by monks and priests
Restrained, reverent mood

Question 34

What is Mass?

Answer 34

Based on symbolic re-enactment of Last Supper

Question 35

What is Requiem Mass?

Answer 35

Dies Irae (the day of wrath or judgement)

Question 36

Medieval Period:

Answer 36

1100 to 1450
Scholasticism
Chivalry
Founding of universities
Building of cathedrals

Question 37

Renaissance Period:

Answer 37

1450 to 1600
“Rebirth”
Joaquin De Prez & G. Pallestrina
Humanism
A Capella: sung without accompaniment
Generally polyphonic
Instrumental music was primarily for dance
Imitation (canon or round) was common