Music Theory & Ancient Greek Music - Review from Video Notes

Flashcards covering key concepts from the video notes on pitch, dynamics, timbre, voice ranges, instrument families, rhythm, meter, texture, and ancient Greek music and composers.

What does pitch refer to in sound?

High or low of a sound, determined by its frequency.

What is the standard frequency associated with A4 in tuning?

A4 = 440 Hz.

How does octave relate to frequency?

Doubling the frequency raises the pitch by one octave; halving lowers it by one octave.

What does dynamics refer to in music?

Loud or quiet; the amplitude or volume of sound.

What do the dynamic markings P, F, mp, pp, and ff stand for?

Piano (soft), Forte (loud), mezzo-piano (medium soft), pianissimo (very soft), fortissimo (very loud).

What is timbre?

The color or quality of a sound that distinguishes different voices or instruments.

List the female voice ranges mentioned from highest to lowest.

Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Contralto.

List the male voice ranges mentioned from highest to lowest.

Countertenor, Tenor, Baritone, Bass.

Why is the saxophone classified as a woodwind instrument in these notes?

Because it has a reed.

Name the brass instruments listed in the notes.

Trumpet, French horn, Trombone, Tuba.

Name the woodwind instruments listed in the notes.

Recorder, Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone (reeded), Bassoon.

Name the percussion instruments listed.

Xylophone, Claves, Triangle, Snare drum, Piano (metal strings).

What is beat in music?

The pulse or basic unit of time in a piece of music.

What is a downbeat?

The first and strongest beat of a measure.

What is an upbeat?

A beat that occurs before the downbeat in the next measure.

What is a rest in music notation?

Silence between sounds.

What does meter describe?

The pattern of beats per measure and the organization of rhythms.

In a time signature, what does the top number indicate?

The number of beats per measure.

In a time signature, what does the bottom number indicate?

The note value that gets one beat (the duration of one beat).

What is rhythm?

The combination of short/long notes and off-beat patterns within a meter.

What is texture in music?

The layering of sounds and how they fit together.

Name the three major textures listed (with additional related terms mentioned).

Monophony, Homophony, Polyphony (also Holophony and Heterophony are noted as related concepts).

What is Monophony?

One melody / one sound.

What is Homophony?

One melody with supporting harmony or accompaniment (as in a pop ballad).

What is Holophony?

One melody with supporting structure; voices move in the same rhythm (as in hymns).

What is Polyphony?

More than one melody occurring simultaneously.

What is Heterophony?

Similar melodies with different details.

How many strings do the Lyre and the Harp have?

12 strings.

What roles does music serve in society according to the notes?

Temple rituals, festivals and court ceremonies; hymns, prayers, healing, and storytelling.

Who is identified as the earliest known composer in the notes?

Enheduanna (ca 2300 BCE); a female composer and high priestess of the moon god Nanna in Ur; wrote hymns.

What aspects of ancient Greek culture are highlighted in the notes regarding music?

Lots of theatre culture, healthy competition, education (emotional intelligence), and music as essential; developed from worshiping a god.

How did music contribute to ancient Greek theatre?

Strengthened emotional impact; chorus + choreo; actors with solo singing and dialogue; instrumental accompaniment.

What forms of drama are mentioned in relation to ancient Greek theatre?

Tragedy and comedy.

What is the role of the chorus and choreo in ancient Greek theatre?

They provided group singing and dancing as part of the performance.

What is the connection between ancient Greek music and theatre, according to the notes?

Music heightened the emotional impact of dramatic performance and accompanied the play.

What feature is noted abo

Bralves and typically use a mouthpiece.

Which family of instruments is described as having valves and a mouthpiece in the notes?

Brass instruments.