Exam 1 - Musical Elements (Rhythm, Melody, Harmony, Timbre, Ancient Greek Concepts)

music

sound organized in time

melody

succession of generated frequencies (pitches) perceived as a whole

pitch-frequency

specific sound expressed by name and vibrations per second (vps)

dionysus

prioritizes emotion and power of human feelings

(greek god of naturalistic life, philosophy, theatre, evocative/loud instruments, satyrs, pan, pleasure)

apollo

prioritizes artistic expression of intellect, form, balance, sophistication

(greek god of light, truth, intellect, medicine, music, poetry, archery, lyre)

equal temperament

system of tuning in which the intervals are adjusted to divide the octave into twelve equal parts (each half step interval equidistant)

range

lowest/highest pitches or tones

shape

graphic description of written music (waves, arc, rising line)

conjunct

motion by a small interval (step)

disjunct

motion by a large interval (leap or skip)

phrase

significant portion of melody, described by natural points of tension and/or resolution

stepwise melody

smooth shape when notes are connected with a line

angular melody

sharp angles when notes are connected with a line

tune

melody that is easy to recognize, memorize, and sing

theme

melody that recurs throughout a section, a movement, or an entire composition

motive/motivic melody

short melodic phrase that may be effectively developed

lyrical melody

relatively long, songlike melody

countermelody

secondary melody that complements main melody

scale

ascending or descending pattern of half steps, whole steps, or both (series of tones arranged mostly stepwise)

rhythm

pattern of events organized in time

beat

recurring underlying pulse

meter

beats organized into repeating patterns of emphasized and de-emphasized beats

measure

organizes into units of 1, 2, 3, 4, or more beats

accents

stresses or emphasis placed on particular notes

tempo

speed of beat, duration, rests

syncopation

use of unpredictable/intermittent accents juxtaposed against a "regular" rhythm

polyrhythm

layering of more than one rhythm at a time

simple meter

beats divided into equal parts (2/4, 4/4, 2/2, etc.)

compound meter

beats divided into three parts (triplets i.e. 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, etc.)

harmony

two or more tones sounded simultaneously

(vertical aspect of music)

diatonic

all pitches used are in home key (none from outside specified major or minor scale)

whole-tone scale

six consecutive whole steps within the range of an octave

pentatonic scale

five-note scale

modal scales

used in greek or church modes

modes

seven-note scales within the range of an octave

consonance

creates resolution, agreement (major)

dissonance

creates tension, disagreement (minor)

monophony

one unaccompanied melodic line

heterophony

two voices singing the same melody simultaneously, but with different embellishments

homophony

melodic line accompanied by chordal harmony

polyphony

two or more independent melodies simultaneously

monodony

one dominant melody supported by instruments/voices

counterpoint

two or more independent melodic lines (polyphony) while preserving a harmonic context

retrograde

melodic fragment or motive stated backwards

inversion

melodic fragment or motive stated upside down

augmentation

melodic fragment or motive stated with time values expanded

diminution

melodic fragment or motive stated with time values shortened

repetition

reflected in imitation, canon, improvisation based on existing form (harmonic or melodic)

contrast

relief from main melodic idea, harmony, timbre

form

musical road map

binary form

AB structure (section repeats)

ternary form

ABA structure

rondo form

classical form with at least three statements of the refrain (A) and at least two contrasting sections (at least B and C)

(ABACA, ABACABA, or even ABACADA)

sonata form

exposition, development, recapitulation

thematic development

musical expansion of a theme by varying its melody, harmony, or rhythm (manipulating a theme's motives)

sequence

repetitions of a motive or theme at different pitch levels

call and response

leader and congregation/ensemble relationship

symphony

multi-movement orchestral work

quintet, quartet, trio

multi-movement chamber music work

sonata

multi-movement solo work

symphonic tone poem

one-movement programmatic orchestral work

overture

one-movement orchestral work

movement

portion of a larger work, typically follows a specific form (each stylistic period has formulaic associations)

ostinato

repetitive musical figure often underpinning a melody

timbre

dictated by size, shape, materials or instrument, combination of instruments (ex: piano and violin have different timbres)

woodwinds

piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, English horn, bassoon

brass

trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba

strings

violin, viola, cello, string bass

percussion

drums, tambourine, etc.

chamber group

2 violins, 1 viola, 1 cello

middle ages/medieval

400-1450

renaissance

1450-1600

baroque

1600-1750

rococo

1725-1775

classical

1750-1820

romantic

1820-1900

post romantic & impressionist

1890-1930

modern

20th-21st century