AP Music Theory Final Exam Review

Cadence

Harmonic goal, where a phrase ends

Cadential extension

Delay of cadence by addition of more material

Coda

Conclusion of a composition

Codetta

-Marks the end of sonatas

• Ends in a perfect cadence

-Does not necessarily signal the end of a piece

-Smaller version of a coda

Contour

Shape of the melody

Countermelody

A second but subordinate melodic line sometimes found in music which has a melody and an accompaniment.

Elision (phrase extension)

When the last note of one phrase serves as the first note of the next phrase

Fragment (fragmented motive)

A small section of a motive, theme etc

Introduction

A preparatory section of a piece that prepares the listener for the rest of the tonality, themes, of the larger work

Bridge

Transitional passage connecting two sections of a composition

Chorus

A repeated main section of a piece (song)

(refrain)

Song Form

AABA

Turnaround

Passage at the end of a section which leads to the next section, often repetition of previous section

Twelve Bar Blues

Three four bar phrases AAB, ABC(?) pattern

I/IV/I/I

IV/IV/I/I

V/IV/I/I/IV

Augmentation

When rhythmic motive is stretched 2x as slow (multiplication)

Diminution

When rhythmic motive is played twice as fast (division)

Conjunct

When melody is close together (stepwise)

Disjunct

When melody is farther apart (stepwise)

ex. Star-Spangled Banner

Extension, phrase extension

Once a composer establishes a phrase length, it can be extended in the upbeat body or cadence portions of the phrase.

Fragmentation

Division of a musical idea into segments

Internal expansion

Phrase extends beyond the expected phrase length

Inversion (melodic inversion)

The mirroring of a tune about a fixed note. This is to say, the imitation of the melody performed upside-down from the original

Literal Repetition

Repetition of motive, rhythm, theme etc, in order to offer cohesion

Motivic Transformation

A drastic change from the original motivic material, yet retains specific characteristics of the theme, thus retaining an identity with the original

Octave Displacement

Taking a melodic line and moving some of the notes into a different octave

Retrograde

This occurs when a melodic line is performed backwards

Rhythmic Transformation

Multiplication, rotation, permutation, transposition, inversion, retrograde and combinations thereof involving rhythm

Sequence

Pattern that is repeated immediately in the same voice but that begins on a different pitch class

Sequential repetition

Transposing a longer sequence to a different scale degree

-May be diatonic or intervalically exact

Transpostition

To write of play music in some key other than the original

Truncation

Utilizing a melody with part of the end omitted

Motive

the smallest identifiable self-existent element of melody or rhythm, the basis of large themes or phrases, which, by being repeated, gives a musical work a sense of cohesion

Period

a complete musical thought, concluded by a cadence, having from two phrases, each usually two to eight bars (measures) in length

Antecedent

First part of a period (usually ending on a half cadence)

-Call

Consequent

Second part of a period (usually ending on an authentic cadence)

-Response

Contrasting period

Period in which phrase beginnings are not similar

Double period

Four phrases in two pairs (could be contrasting or parallel), where cadence at the end of second pair is stronger than the cadence at the end of the first pair.

Parallel Period

Period in which phrase beginnings have similar first halves, but end differently

Phrase group

Group of phrase that seem to belong together without forming a period or double period

Refrain

Music that is repeated after each stanza (verse)

-Also called the "chorus" or "burden"

Rounded Binary Form

//A/B/(1/2) A//

Binary Form

(two types)

Movement with 2 main sections

ABA

-Continuous: keeps going

• Sectional: 2 distinct separate sections

Ternary Form

//A/B/A//

Stanza

Two or more sections of a song that have similar music and different lyrics.

Solo, Soli

A passage that is to be performed by a single performer (solo) or single instrument section (soli)

Strophic

A, A', A", repetition of one formal section

Thematic transformation

The alteration of themes for the sake of changing their character while still having the base identity

Theme

The musical basis upon which a composition is built

-Usually recognizable melody and rhythm

Through- Composed

Continuous, non-sectional, non-repetition

Tutti

Every instrument playing together

Variation

Material is altered during repetition

Verse

A passage that proceeds a response or chorus

Phrase

relatively independent musical idea terminated by a cadence

Perfect Authentic Cadence

A cadence that ends V-I with the soprano ending on tonic

Imperfect Authentic Cadence

A cadence that ends V-I with variations of inversions, the soprano does not end on tonic, or could be viio6- I (leading tone IAC)

Conclusive Cadence

Satisfyingly ends a phrase, section, piece

Ends in I (PAC)

Deceptive Cadence

V-vi/VI

V-IV

Half Cadence

Usually I-V, must keep going

Phrygian Half (minor)

iv6- V

Inconclusive Cadence

Progressive, not satisfactory and must keep going

Plagal Cadence

IV-I (Amen)

Tonic

1st scale degree, HOME, Do

Supertonic

2nd scale degree

Mediant

3rd scale degree

Subdominant

4th scale degree

Dominant

5th scale degree

Submediant

6th scale degree

Leading Tone

7th scale degree

Tonic Funtion

Sounds like home

Dominant Function

Sounds like V

Predominant Function

IV or ii, sets up dominant

Circle of fifths

Goes from dominant to dominant until reaches back to 1

ex. C, G, D, A, E, B, F#, C#, G#, D#, A#(Bb), F, C

Deceptive progression

Deceives you into thinking you've arrived at the end, but keeps going

V-vi

Harmonic rhythm

the rate of harmonic change

Modulation

Change of tonal center within a piece/ movement

Common tone Modulation

a modulation in which a common tone is kept when transitioning

Phrase modulation

a modulation in which a phrase is repeated (in different keys) until arriving in the new key

Pivot Chord modulation

a modulation in which a common chord from both keys is used to seamlessly transition

Neighboring chord

A direct previous or proceeding chord