music appreciation cards

Medieval Period (Middle Ages)

400–1430

Renaissance Period

1430–1600

Baroque Period

1600–1750

Classical Period

1750–1820

Romantic Period

1820–1900

Twentieth Century Period

1910–2000

Post-Modern Period

2000–Present

Melody

Meaningful succession of pitches; a series of single pitches perceived as a unity (a tune or theme).

Length of Melody

How long or short a melody is; can be concise or extended over many measures.

Range of Melody

Distance between highest and lowest pitches; can be narrow, medium, or wide.

Conjunct Motion

Melodic movement by small intervals (steps).

Disjunct Motion

Melodic movement mostly by large intervals (leaps).

Rhythm

Organized flow of sound and silence through time.

Beat

Regular pulse found in most music; can be accented (strong) or unaccented (weak).

Meter

Pattern or grouping of beats (duple, triple, quadruple); shown by time signature and measures (bars).

Harmony

Pitches sounded together; the vertical aspect of music creating depth and progression.

Consonance

Stable or restful sound.

Dissonance

Active or unsettled sound.

Chord

Combination of three or more tones sounded together.

Timbre

Characteristic “color” or quality of a musical sound produced by a voice or instrument.

Texture

The way melodic lines are combined or used in music.

Monophonic Texture

Single melody with no harmony or accompaniment.

Heterophonic Texture

Two or more voices simultaneously elaborating the same melody, often improvising.

Polyphony

Two or more melodic lines of equal importance sounding together.

Counterpoint

Technique on which polyphonic texture is based; the art of combining independent melodies.

Homophony

Single melody with subordinate accompaniment.

Form

Overall shape or design of a musical composition.

Tempo

Speed of beats in music.

Largo

Very slow, broad tempo.

Grave

Very slow, heavy tempo.

Adagio

Slow, leisurely tempo.

Andante

Moderate “walking” tempo.

Moderato

Moderate tempo.

Allegretto

A little allegro; moving easily.

Allegro

Moderately fast; brisk tempo.

Allegro molto

Very brisk tempo.

Presto

Very fast tempo.

Prestissimo

As fast as possible.

Dynamics

Levels of loudness or softness in music.

Fortissimo (ff)

Very loud.

Forte (f)

Loud.

Mezzo forte (mf)

Moderately loud.

Mezzo piano (mp)

Moderately soft.

Piano (p)

Soft.

Pianissimo (pp)

Very soft.

Crescendo

Growing louder.

Decrescendo or Diminuendo

Growing softer.

Notation

Written music.

Pitch

Highness or lowness of a sound.