Theory Flashcards
What does western art music include?
Baroque (1600-1750)
Classical (1750-1820)
Romantic(1820-1900)
Modern(20th century)
Melody
The main tune/solo part in a piece of music and a sequence of single notes that is musically pleasing
Canon
Imitation at a fixed distance
Counter melody
A tune that challenges the melody in a piece, it provides contrast and it typically comes later in a piece
What does Accompaniment provide?
Provides support(harmonic or rhythmic) to the melody
What can you tell me about baroque
Bach
Handel
Vivaldi
Mainly strings
Interweaving melodies
Ornamented
Use of harpsichord
Polyphonic textures are common
Ornate, sequential melodies are often used
What can you tell me about the classical era
Mozart
Baethoven
Dvovalc
Haydn
Piano is created
Clearly designed cadence points
Mainly homophonic in texture
4-8 bar phrases
What can you tell me about the romantic era
Tchaikovsky
Chopin
Liszt
Brahms
Huge orchestras
Lots of new instruments
Eg concert harp and piccolo
Rich in harmonies
Adventurous modulation to unrelated keys
What can you tell me about the modern era
Atonality
Dissonance
Changing time signatures
No set form
Monophonic
Music with a single line of melody only
Homophonic
A melody with a chordal accompaniment
Polyphonic
Music that contains two or more melodic lines simultaneously
What’s a perfect cadence
Consists of chords 5-1
A perfect cadence is used to being a very grand finished feeling into a piece
It’s the most common type of cadence
What is an imperfect cadence
Consists of any chord to chord 5
An imperfect cadence briefly rests a musical phrase, but it always needs something more , it cannot be used to finish a piece
What is a plagal cadence
Consists of the chords 4-1
Sounds finished but in a weak and gentle sense
Because the penultimate chord doesn’t feature the leading note it doesn’t give as great an effect of its finishing
What is an Interrupted cadence
Consists of chords 5-6
It sounds like it’s going to be a perfect cadence (5-1) but the it moves to another chord
It sounds unfinished
What are some features of a Sean Nós?
Modal
Solo/unaccompanied
Ornamented, turns, grace notes
Melodic, rhythmic variation
Ornamented
Free rhythm
Little or no dynamic variation
Features of the modern style
*Atonality
*Dissonance
*Changing Time Signatures
*Electroacoustic Music
*No set form
What are the features of jazz
Syncopated ‘swing’ rhythm
Flattened ‘blues notes’ e.g. flattened 3rds
Jazz instruments inc.trumpet, clarinet, cello, d.bass,piano
Improvisation
What are the features of pop music?
Simple catchy melodies
Syncopated rhythm
Often in verse chorus form
What are the features of rock music?
Harsh vocals
Instrumentation is mainly heavy drumming, electric guitars
Electronic effects eg distortion, reverb etc
What are the features of folk music?
Simple melodies
Chordal accompaniment
Usually solo songs
What is form?
Form is a structure of a piece of music or song.
You might be asked to fill in a phrase plan of a song using letters.
AB Binary Form
ABA Ternary Form
ABACADA Rondo/Ritornello
Form
Songs can be in:
Verse Chorus Form
Strophic Form (same music used for each verse).
Through composed
(different music for each new verse)
Give 3 examples of form
Verse Chorus Form: The Fields of Athenry
Strophic Form: Amazing Grace
Through Composed: Der Erlkonig by Schubert
List the four features of rhythm
Dotted
Steady/even
Syncopated
Irregular
List 10 features of a melody
Ascending
Descending
Repetitive
Sequential
Triadic
Simple
Stepwise
Leaping
Complicated
Ornamented
List 6 tempos in ascending order
Largo
Adagio
Andante
Moderato
Allegro
Presto
List 6 Dynamics in ascending order
pp = pianissimo
p = piano
mp = metso piano
mf = metso forte
f = forte
ff = fortissimo
List and explain 6 words used for articulation eg staccato
Staccato
Legato
Sforzando
Tenuto
Slur
Marcato
What is ground bass
Ground bass is the term used in Baroque music where a bass part is repeated throughout the piece
What is basso continuo?
Basso continuo parts, almost universal in the Baroque era (1600–1750), provided the harmonic structure of the music by supplying a bassline and a chord progression
What is chaconne?
Chaconne is when the bass line moves to a higher instrument
Name an Irish Sean Nós singer
Iarla O Lionaird
What band is Iarla O Lionaird in?
Current member of The Gloaming with Martin Hayes
Tell me a bit about Iarla O Lionaird background
Was a member of Sean O’Riada’s male voice choir - Cor Chuil Aodha
What is Iarla O Lionaird style?
Sean Nos
Munster style – typicaly influenced my classical features such as vibrato. Very wide range. Some use of ornamentation.
Give me a musical example of Iarla O Lionaird
Solo Album – Foxlight (2011)
