twentieth century Flashcards
rapid slide up or down a scale
glissando
using the wood of bow instead of hair on a violin
col lento
combination of 2 chords sounded at the same time
Polychord
approach to pitch organization using 2 or more keys at one time
Polytonality
absence of tonality, or key
Atonality
use of 2 or more contrasting or independent rhythms at the same time, often found in music after 1900
Polyrhythm
motive or phrase that is repeated persistently at the same pitch
Ostinato
scale made up of 5 different tones, used in folk music and music of the far east
Pentatonic scale
scale made up of 6 different tones, each a whole step away from the next, that conveys no definite sense of tonality; often found in the music of Debussy and his followers
Whole-tone scale
In German, speech-voice; a style
Sprechstimme
Method of composing in which all pitches of a composition are derived from a special ordering of the twelve chromatic tones (tone row or set); developed by Schoenberg in the early 1920s
Twelve-tone system
particular ordering of the 12 chromatic tones, from which all pitches in a 12-tone composition are derived
tone row
- In jazz, a pattern in which one voice or instrument is answered by another voice, instrument, or group of instruments 2. Performance style in which the phrases of
call and response
creation of music at the same time as it is performed
improvisation
– jazz style that was developed in the 1920s and flourished between 1935 and 1945, played mainly by “big bands”; also, verb for what jazz performers do when they combine a steady beat and precision with a lilt, a sense of relaxation, and vitality
swing
in vocal blues and jazz, a harmonic framework that is 12 bars in length, usually involving only 3 basic chords: tonic (I), subdominant (IV), and dominant (V)
12 bar blues
In New Orleans or Dixieland jazz, the group of melodic instruments that improvise on a melody, supported by the rhythm section
front line
Vocalization of a melodic line with nonsense syllables, used in jazz
scat singing
– typically, a large band made up of 14 or 15 musicians grouped in 3 sections: saxophones, brasses, and rhythm.
swing band
What are the characteristics of following styles of music impressionism
stress on tone color, atmosphere, and fluidity.
What are the characteristics of following styles of music Neoclassicism
marked by emotional restraint, balance, and clarity; uses musical forms and stylistic features of earlier period (particularly 18th century); “Back to Bach”
What are the characteristics of following styles of music Primitivism
deliberate evocation of primitive power through insistent rhythms and percussive sounds
What are the characteristics of following styles of music expressionism
expresses intense, subjective emotions. Uses distortion to shock the audience
What are the characteristics of following styles of music ragtime
piano music in duple meter; syncopated melody with a “oom-pah” accompaniment (stride piano)
What are the characteristics of following styles of music blues
lyric and musical phrase a a’ b; harmonic structure based on the 12-bars blues; baroque ground bass
What are the characteristics of following styles of music New Orleans (or Dixieland)
often based on a march or church melody, ragtime tunes, popular songs, or 12-bar blues
What are the characteristics of following styles of music swing
arranged music, big bands, saxophone became the leading solo instrument, percussionists had a more prominent role, developed in 1920s and flourished through 1940s
What are the characteristics of following styles of music musical theatre
2 acts, 2nd act is shorter, songs usually AABA (verse and chorus); more spoken dialogue, more collaborative, and simpler harmonies, melodies, and form than the opera. Operetta or comic opera
Describe the characteristics of 20th century “classical” music: tone color, melody and harmony, rhythm
a. Tone color: woodwinds, percussion, played at extreme ranges
b. Melody: unpredictable and not based on major/minor tonalities
c. Harmony: no distinction between consonance and dissonance, altering tonal systems
d. Rhythm: increasing emphasis on rhythmic irregularity, changing meter, polyrhythm, and ostinato
Describe the characteristics of jazz music
e. Blended elements from African, American, and European culture. Truly American music. Based on call and response
French composer; won the Prix de Rome; influenced by impressionistic painters and poets
Claude Debussy
Inventor of scat singing; trumpet player and vocalist
Louis armstrong
American composer who became a successful insurance salesman
Charles ives
Most important swing-band composer, arranger and conductor; piano player and vocalist; attributed with creating the “3-minute song”
duke Ellington
Russian composer; world’s greatest 20th century composer; immigrated to the US; composed a ballet that caused a riot when it was first performed in Paris; composed in a neoclassic style
Igor Stravinsky
Austrian composer; invented the 12-tone tonal system; immigrated to the US
Arnold schoenburg
king of ragtime
Scott Joplin
American composer who composed quintessential American music
Aaron Copland
empress of blues
bessie smith
American conductor, pianist, composer; wrote theater music
Leonard Bernstein
American composer who wrote both classical concert and popular music; concert pieces include Rhapsody in Blue, An American in Paris and Porgy and Bess; died at 38
George Gershwin
The most popular American composer of film music
John williams
rite of spring
Igor Stravinsky
moonstruck pierrot
Arnold schoenburg
a survivor from Warsaw
Arnold schoenburg
Appalachian spring
Aaron Copland
rhapsody in blue
George Gershwin
west side story- tonight and America-
Leonard Bernstein
Harry Potter
John williams
