minimalism yr 9

Canon

is a piece or section of music where voices or instrumental parts sing or play the same music but starting at different times, so that they overlap.

Cell

A short melodic, rhythmic or harmonic figure that is developed throughout a piece of music.

Imitation

When a melody in one part is repeated a few notes later in a different part, overlapping the melody in the first part which continues.

Irregular Time Signature

A time signatures that has a number of beats per bar which is not divisible by 2, 3 or 4. They are often used in minimalist music.

Layering

Adding or removing musical parts, usually one at a time, to create complex and varied textures.

Loop

A repeating section of sound material. Short sections of material can be repeated to create ostinato patterns.

Melodic Inversion

A compositional device in which the contour of a melody, motif or cell is turned 'upside-down'.

Metamorphosis

When small changes are made over time to one note or to one part of a melody or cell.

Minimalism

A style or technique (as seen in music, literature, or design) that is characterised by extreme sparseness and simplicity.

Modal

Tonality based on modes (precursors of modern scales ‒ of several types, each with a different series of tones and semitones)

Note addition

When notes are added, often gradually, to a repeated musical phrase.

Note subtraction

When notes are removed, often gradually, from a repeated musical phrase.

Ostinato

A repeating musical pattern.

Pentatonic Scale

A five-note scale (often equivalent to scale degrees 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 of a major scale, or 1, 3, 4, 5, (flat) 7 of a minor scale).

Phase shift

A compositional device in which two or more motifs or cells begin in unison and gradually move "out of sync" with each other through displacement. They can be displaced either forwards or backwards.

Retrograde

A compositional device in which a melody, motif or cell is played backwards.

Rhythmic augmentation

When the notes of a melody, motif or cell are lengthened, often by double their original value.

Rhythmic diminution

When the notes of a melody, motif or cell are shortened, often by half of their original value.

Syncopation

When a 'strong' or stressed note occurs on a part of a bar or beat that would normally be 'weak' or unstressed.

Tape loop

Loops of magnetic tape used to create repetitive musical patterns or dense layers of sound when played on a tape recorder.