Week 3 Toolbox: Music Theory: Prosody, Medium, Improvisation, and Affect

What is prosody in music?

The interaction of lyrics/text with voice and music, making all elements combine.

What are the two types of note distribution per syllable in prosody?

Syllabic (one note per syllable) and melismatic (many notes per syllable).

What does emphasis in prosody refer to?

The focus on either language (logocentric) or music (phonocentric).

What does medium refer to in music?

The arrangement of voices, instruments, and other items, often associated with culture, class, and gender.

What is the Sachs-Hornbostel system?

A hierarchy for musical instruments based on how they produce sound.

What is the significance of John Cage's piece '4' 33"?

A performance where the musician makes no sounds, highlighting ambient environmental sounds and encouraging awareness of natural sounds.

How is improvisation characterized in music?

As spontaneous, fluid, and dynamic performance within an established framework.

What is the difference between interpretation and improvisation?

Interpretation is an expressive translation of another's work with less creative freedom, while improvisation is a spontaneous reaction with greater creative freedom.

What are some characteristics of improvisation?

It is usually solo, intimate, and emphasizes liveness.

What defines virtuosity in music?

A rare combination of technical proficiency and artistic interpretation, leading to emotionally resonant musicianship.

How is virtuosity perceived culturally?

It is associated with music specialty training and earning monetary value.

What is affect in the context of music performance?

The way a performance influences the audience, resulting in physical, emotional, or cognitive responses.

What are the characteristics of musical affect?

It can be pre-verbal or non-verbal, religious or nonreligious, individual or communal, dynamic and evolving, and rich in aesthetics.

What is affective labor in music?

The work that produces or modifies emotional experiences in people.