Theory Level 10

Terms from Basics of Keyboard Theory Level 10 by Julie McIntosh Johnson

Texture

Refers to the manner in which the various voices in a musical composition combine to create the sound

Homophonic Texture

Refers to music in which one voice dominants, while the other voice or voices are accompaniments

Styles of Homophonic Texture

Melody with Accompaniment, Chordal Homophony (Chordal Texture)

Polyphonic/Contrapuntal Texture

Contains two or more independent voices. The harmony is created by the blending of the independent voices

Motive/Motif

A small musical unit that is the basis of a composition. May be melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic in nature

Theme

A complete musical idea or phrase upon which a musical composition is created

Repetition

Motive repeated immediately on the same note

Sequence

Motive repeated immediately in the same voice, on a different note, usually a 2nd or 3rd above or below

Imitation

Motive repeated in a different voice

Canon

Repetition of an entire theme or phrase in another voice. The canon may be on the same note, in another octave, or on a different note

Pedal Point

A sustained note in one voice, usually but not always in the bass

Ostinato

A persistently repeated pattern

Augmentation

Rhythmic value of each note is doubled

Diminution

Rhythmic value of each note is shortened by half

Nonharmonic Tones

Notes that do not belong in the chords that form the implied harmony

Realization

The performance of a nonharmonic tone

Anticipation

A nonharmonic tone in which the presentation of a chord tone occurs immediately before the actual chord

Acciaccatura

A keyboard ornament of the late Baroque Period in which a non-chord tone, usually the 2nd or one step below a chord tone, is added to the chord then immediately released

Appogiatura

1. A nonharmonic tone that is performed at the same time as the chord, followed by a resolution to a chord tone

2. A melodic ornament with many different realizations in different periods of music history

Neighbor Tone

A nonharmonic tone which steps below (lower neighbor) or above (upper neighbor) the chord tones, then returns

Passing Tone

A nonharmonic tone which steps between two chords

Pivot Chord

A chord that is common to both the original key and the key to which the music modulates. The music must change keys for there to be a pivot chord

Suspension

A nonharmonic tone in which the chord tone is held beyond the next chord change, then resolved after the new chord is played

Tertian Harmony

Harmonic system based on the third. Tertian harmony is the common harmony used in Western music. Triads and seventh chords are created using tertian harmony

Atonality

No specific key, tonality, or mode

Bitonality

The combination of two keys at the same time (such as E Major and F Major as in the following example). Bitonality is a type of Polytonality

Melodic Inversion

The process of turning each interval of a melody upside down

Polytonality

The combination of two or more keys at one time

Quartal Harmony

Harmony based on the interval of a fourth

Retrograde

The reversal of a melody, as if reading from right to left

Retrograde Inversion

Reversal of a melody as if reading from right to left combined with the melodic inversion of the melody

Serialism

Music that is based on a particular succession of pitches, rhythms, dynamics or other elements that are repeated over and over to provide the underlying structure of the composition

Twelve Tone Row

A melody or series used in Serial music hat includes all twelve pitches. The compositional techniques of melodic inversion, retrograde, and retrograde inversion may be strictly adhered to throughout the music