Music Appreciation Ch 1

sound

begins with vibration of an object

4 properties of sound

pitch, dynamics, tone color, duration

pitch

highness or lowness we hear in sound

tone

a sound that has definitive pitch

interval

distance in pitch between any 2 tones

octave

when 2 tones sound alike, but are separated by 8 intervals

range

distance between lowest and highest tones that an instrument can make

dynamics

degrees of loudness or softness

accent

when tone is emphasized

tone color

quality that distinguishes voices and instruments

tone color is also known as

timbre

SATB stands for

soprano, alto, tenor, bass

6 instrument categories

string, woodwind, percussion, brass, keyboard, electronic

register

total range of a voice or instrument

conductor

coordinates the performers and shapes the interpretation of a musical composition

baton

thin stick held by conductor

concertmaster

first violinist coordinates the bowing of string instruments in an orchestra

bow

slightly curved stick strung tightly with horse hair

pizzicato

plucked string

vibrato

vibration of pitches

mute

device used to muffle the tone of an instrument

woodwind families

flute, bassoon, oboe, clarinet

flute family

flute, piccolo

oboe family

oboe, english horn

bassoon family

bassoon, contrabassoon

reed

very thin piece of cane that is set into vibration by a stream of air

single reed

fastens over a hole in the mouthpiece and vibrates when player blows into instrument

double reed

2 narrow pieces of cane held between lips

brass section

trumpet, french horn, trombone, tuba

valves invented in

1850

piano

widely used keyboard instrument of great range and versatility

harpsichord

keyboard instrument produced by plectra that pluck wire strings

pipe organ

uses many sets of pipes controlled from 2 or more keyboards, including pedal keyboard

pipe organ is also known as

king of instruments

tape studio

studio with tape recorders and other equipment used to create electronic music using recorded sounds

synthesizers

systems of electronic components that generate and modify sound

tempo indication

given at the beginning of the piece

accelerando

gradually getting faster

ritardando

gradually getting slower

metronome

a device musicians use to help aid in tempo precision

notation

system of writing music so that specific pitches and rhythms can be communicated

piano

soft p

forte

loud f