Music Theory and History: Instruments, Styles, and Key Figures

What is sound?

Vibration of an object.

What are the two types of music?

Musical and Non-Musical.

Give examples of musical sounds.

Singing, band, orchestra, recording music, electronics (Spotify, Pandora, etc.).

What are examples of non-musical sounds?

Lightning, snoring, baby laughing, cafeteria noise, sporting events, aircraft.

What is pitch?

The relative highness or lowness of a sound.

How does frequency relate to pitch?

Higher frequency means faster vibrations, resulting in a higher pitch; lower frequency means slower vibrations, resulting in a lower pitch.

What is an octave?

The interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency, such as note C to note C.

What do dynamics refer to in music?

The degrees of loudness or softness, indicated by terms like piano (soft) and forte (loud).

What is tone color?

The quality of sound that distinguishes different types of sound production, described as bright, dark, brilliant, mellow, or rich.

What are the four sections of an orchestra?

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, and Percussion.

Who created the first electric guitar?

George Beauchamp in 1932, nicknamed 'frying pan.'

What is significant about Slash?

Lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses, known for the album 'Appetite for Destruction' and recognized as a top guitarist.

What is the Gibson Les Paul?

A guitar model named after Les Paul, known for its design and the humbucker pickup.

Who were the Van Halen brothers?

Alex and Eddie Van Halen, known for their contributions to rock music and the band Van Halen.

What is the Frankenstrat?

A guitar built by Eddie Van Halen that combined features he loved, including the humbucker pickup and whammy bar.

What is Joe Bonamassa known for?

A blues/rock guitarist and singer, recognized for his talent from a young age and his performances with notable musicians.

What is unique about the Gibson Flying V?

Produced between 1958-1959, only 98 were made, and it is considered a collector's item.

What genre of music did AC/DC play?

Classic Rock.

What was a significant album by AC/DC?

'Highway to Hell' released in 1979.

What was Stryper's unique message?

They were a Christian band that initially drifted away but later returned to their faith.

What was the original name of Stryper?

They were initially known as Rox Regime before changing their name.

What was the cultural significance of the 1980s in music?

The era featured hair metal bands, and notable trends included big hair and the emergence of various rock bands.

What was the first album released by Stryper?

Yellow-Black Attack

What significant event did Stryper's second album, 'Soldiers Under Command', address?

The question of the band's authenticity as a Christian metal band.

What notable action did Stryper take during their concerts in 1985?

They threw Bibles to the audience.

Which song by Stryper became the #1 most requested song on MTV in 1987?

'Calling on You'

What was the title of Stryper's 1986 album?

'To Hell with the Devil'

What verse from the Bible inspired Stryper's song 'To Hell with the Devil'?

Revelation 20:10

What happened to Stryper in early 1992?

Michael left the band, turning it into a trio.

What careers did the members of Stryper pursue after the band split up?

Fox became a forklift operator, and Michael worked on his parents' cranberry farm.

When did Stryper regroup after their initial breakup?

In 2004.

What is the title of Stryper's album released in 2015?

'Fallen'

Which band did Stryper allow to open for them, despite being a non-Christian band?

Conquest

What influence did Stryper have on other bands?

They inspired bands like Barren Cross, Guardian, and Skillet.

Who was the lead singer of Petra before joining the band?

John Schlitt, who was previously the lead singer for Head East.

What song did Petra release that reflects their Christian beliefs?

'I am on the Rock'

Who was the guitarist for Petra?

Bob Hartman

What is a notable film score composed by John Williams?

Star Wars (1977)

What is the largest brass instrument?

Tuba

What family of instruments does the flute belong to?

Woodwind instruments

What is the smallest woodwind instrument?

Piccolo

What is the primary characteristic of percussion instruments?

Most have definite pitch.

Which instrument is known for its seven different slide positions?

Trombone

What is the name of the jazz tune played by Arturo Sandoval?

Cherokee

What is the primary function of the double reeds in oboe family instruments?

They vibrate to produce sound.

What instrument is known for its importance in marching bands and drumming?

Cymbals

Who is recognized as the greatest cowbell player?

Gene Frankel

When was the piano invented?

Around 1700 and mechanically perfected by the 1850s

How does a piano produce sound?

Through vibrating strings

What instrument was important from about 1500 to 1775 before being replaced by the piano?

Harpsichord

What is the pipe organ known as during its prominence from 1600 to 1750?

The 'King of instruments'

What role does a conductor play in a musical performance?

Coordinates the performers and shapes the interpretation of the musical composition

What is the purpose of a baton in conducting?

Used to beat time and indicate pulse/tempo

What is rhythm in music?

The ordered durations of sounds and silences

What is a beat in the context of rhythm?

A regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time

What does the term 'meter' refer to in music?

The organization of beats into regular groups

What is an accent in music?

A way to emphasize a note, often by playing it louder or holding it longer

What is syncopation?

When an accented note occurs where it is not normally expected

What does tempo indicate in music?

The speed of the beat, or basic pace of music

What does 'Largo' indicate in tempo?

Very slow, broad

What is a melody?

A series of single tones that add up to a recognizable whole

What is a sequence in music?

Repetition of a melodic pattern on a higher or lower pitch

What is harmony in music?

The way chords are constructed and how they follow each other

What is consonance?

A tone combination that sounds pleasing to the ears

What is dissonance?

A tone combination that sounds unstable or not pleasing to the ears

What is the significance of George Crumb's 'Night of the Black Insects'?

It is an example of dissonance in music

What does the major scale represent in music?

The 'Happy Scale'

What does the minor scale represent in music?

The 'Sad Scale'

What are the three basic textures in music?

Monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic

What is the earliest notated music discovered?

The 'Harrion Hymn to Nickal' from 1400 B.C.

Who was Howard Carter?

An archeologist known for his work in Egypt, particularly in the Valley of Kings

What significant archaeological discovery is associated with King Tut?

Two ancient trumpets made of bronze, copper, and silver were found in his tomb.

What time period did the Ancient Greeks contribute to music?

800 B.C. to 200 A.D.

What are some musical terms that originated from Ancient Greek?

Music, lyric, rhythm, hymn, polyphony.

What type of musical texture did the Ancient Greeks primarily use?

Monophonic (one line of music).

Which string instruments were developed by the Ancient Greeks?

Lyra, Barbitos, Cithara, Pandouris.

How did the Romans influence music after conquering the Greeks?

Roman music was affected and influenced by Greek music.

What biblical figure is noted for playing the harp in relation to music?

David, as mentioned in 1 Samuel 16:23.

What is Gregorian Chant?

A form of vocal music used for religious services, characterized by its acapella, non-metric, and smooth melody.

Who was Gregorian Chant named after?

Pope Gregory I (the Great), who reigned from 590 to 604.

What is the significance of the Mass in relation to music during the Middle Ages?

It was a ritual reenactment of the Last Supper and important for musical development.

What is Organum in medieval music?

A style consisting of Gregorian chant and one or more additional melodic lines.

Which cathedral became the center of polyphonic music after 1150?

Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris.

Who were the first two composers associated with the Notre Dame school of music?

Leonin and Perotin.

What does Ars Nova refer to in music history?

A new art period in the 14th century in France that allowed for measuring rhythm.

Who is Guillaume de Machaut and what is his notable work?

He was the most important composer of the new art period, known for writing 'Angus Dei' from the Notre Dame mass.

What major historical event occurred in 1450 that impacted music?

The invention of the Gutenberg Bible.

What intellectual movement dominated during the Renaissance?

Humanism.

What was the significance of vocal music during the Renaissance?

It was considered more important than instrumental music and featured polyphonic texture.

Who composed the famous mass 'Missae Papae Marcelli'?

Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina.

What types of instruments were commonly used during the Renaissance?

Dulcian, Crumhorn, Rackett, Sackbut, Shawm, Cornetto, Kortholt.

What innovative musical technique did Giovanni Gabrieli use in his compositions?

He created music for ensembles that would play in different areas of the cathedral, creating a stereo effect.

What is the earliest known piece to use dynamic change in music?

Sonato Pian e forte.