Test 2- Listening Labs Flashcards
What are the 5 main compositions covered in class?
- Ionisation
- New World Symphony 2nd Movement
- “Canon” from Picnic Suite
- Little fugue in G Minor
- The old Castle
Who is the composer of Ionisation and what is the timbre?
Composer: Edgard Varese
percussion
Who is the composer or new world symphony and what is the timbre?
Dvorak
full orchestra
Who is the composer of Canon and what is the timbre?
Claude Bolling
Flute, piano, guitar, snare drum, double bass
Who is the composer of Little Fugue and what is the timbre?
J.S. Bach
organ and brass quintet
Who is the composer of The Old Castle and what is the timbre?
Modest Mussorgsky
full orchestra with bassoon and alto sax solos
Draw the form of Canon
see review sheet for answers
What are the 3 categories of percussion instruments?
Definite Pitch
Indefinite Pitch
Continuous Pitch
What are some examples of instruments with a definite pitch?
piano
celesta
tubular bells
What is definite pitch?
An instrument that can play any given note
What are some examples of instruments with indefinite pitch?
castanets
whip
cow bell
What is indefinite pitch?
An instrument that cant play any notes, just one sound
What are some examples of continuous pitch?
gongs
low siren
sustained cymbal
Define: ABA Form
a 3 part form involving repetition and contrast
Define: Round
when a tune is played at different times by multiple groups
Define: Canon
a complex round but not as complex as a fugue
Define: Fugue
a very complex round
Define: Symphony
a 4 movement work for orchestra (usually 4 movements but can vary)
Define: Dissonant
Clashing or unpleasant notes played together
Define: tierce de Picardie
major chord at the end of a minor piece. Was used because when pianos were new they wouldn’t stay in tune
Define: Countersubject
the melody that goes with the subject or answer (plays in the “background”)
What makes the Old Castle sound old? Consider rhythm, pitch (melody and harmony) and tone colour.
- The rhythm is very ostinato and represents a heartbeat which can change throught the course of a song which allows for the listener to feel scared or “creeped out”
- the slow tempo creates an old long feeling (6/8 time)
- Melody is smooth and flowing creating an eerie feeling and the flowing and smoothness makes it feel slow and old
- Harmony is in a minor key which makes it feel sad and old
- The tone colour is created by a spooky old bassoon and the saxophone adds an old sound to it
Define: English Horn
woodwind instrument that is a large version of an oboe. (it is two thirds bigger than the oboe)
Define: Tone Cluster
a grouping of notes that are semitones apart ex. the sound when you just place your hand on the piano keys
Define: Sequence
melodic fragment played at a higher or lower pitch. (fragment of a tune that is played higher or lower)
Define: Ostinato
a repeated rhythmic or melodic pattern
Define: Polyrhythm
many rhythms at once
Draw the Little Fugue in G Minor
See review sheet for answers
Define: Pedal Point
a long held note in bass Ex. a foot pedal held on an organ
Define: brass quintet
5 brass players- 2 trumpets, 1 trombone, 1 french horn and 1 tuba
Define: Subject
The main tune in a fugue that begins on the tonic
Define: Program Music
music that creates a picture in the mind of the listener
Define: Legato
something that is played smoothly
What are the 2 solo instruments in The Old Castle?
Alto Saxophone
Bassoon
Describe the pitch (melody and harmony) of The old Castle.
Melody: legato (smooth), flowing, conjunct (notes move step by step
Harmony: minor (because old castle is scary and creepy), consonant
What instrument(s) was the Little Fugue in G Minor originally written for?
pipe organ
What are the challenges of performing Little Fugue in G Minor?
- There are tons of notes so you woudlnt know which notes to play
- 4 parts played by 1 person
- many keyboards to play
- difficult bass part played by foot pedals
How is the form of Frere Jacques and Little Fugue in G Minor similar? Different?
Similar: - both are kinds of rounds Different: - little fugue isnt playing the exact same notes every time but frere jacques is - fugue is much more complex
Explain the form of the 2nd movement of The New World Symphony
A- theme 1 played by english horn
B- contrasting section Theme 2
A- Theme 1 played by English Horn
What makes the Old Castle sound old? Consider rhythm, pitch (melody and harmony) and tone colour.
- The rhythm is very ostinato and represents a heartbeat which can change throught the course of a song which allows for the listener to feel scared or “creeped out”
- the slow tempo creates an old long feeling (6/8 time)
- Melody is smooth and flowing creating an errie feeling
Define: Orchestration
arranging an existing piece of music of music for another instrument to be played by an entire orchestra (Ex. whena piano piece is re-written and played by an entire orchestra)
