Basics of Music Quiz SG

Pitch

refers to the “highness” or “lowness” of sound

Rhythm

the temporal aspect of sound: It’s the pattern of “on” and “off” states exhibited by any sound as time passes

Pulse

a sequence of regularly spaced sounds

Tempo

the frequency of pulse

Meter

established when pulses are organized into groups containing strong and weak beats

Measure/bar

a metrical group

Downbeat

the strongest pulse of a measure (the first pulse)

Unison

singing/playing the same pitches

Interval

the distance between two pitches

Melodic Range

the distance between low and high pitches

Reigster

the use of high or low pitches

Chromatic Pitch Set

includes all the pitches used in Western music

Scale

a set of seven pitches

Melody

constructed of groups of pitches that are usually sounded simultaneously and constitute chords

Chord

a sequence of harmonies

Dynamic Level

Volume

Crescendo

increase in volume

Decrescendo/diminuendo

decrease in volume

Articulation

how pitches are begun, sustained, and released and is driven mostly by dynamic levels

Staccato

(short and accented) heavily punctuated w/ forceful onsets and no sustain

Legato

(smooth and connected) long & sustained

Timbre

described the quality of sound

Overtone Series

a sequence of higher-pitched frequencies that are activated every time a pitch is produced

Texture

concerns the contents of and interactions between various layers or voices in a musical work

Monophonic Texture

a single melody line which is performed by a soloist or in unison wi/o accompaniment

Homophonic Texture

A single melody that has an accompaniment that has different pitches and is likely secondary to the melody

Polyphonic Texture

every voice is independent but equally important: no distinction between melody and harmony

Heterophonic Texture

multiple instruments/voices each perform a unique version of the same melody, such that unison is not achieved

Form

the way music unfolds over time

Repetition

occurs when we hear the same thing twice

Variation

occurs when musical material returns WITH alterations

Contrast

musical material that has not been heard before

Osinato

repetitive chord progressions and some sort of repeating accompaniment

Genre

making connections between closely-related works and musical artists that share stylistic, formal, and cultural elements

Conjunct Melody

the melody primarily moves up and down the scale

Disjunct Melody

the melody contains larger intervals and leaps

Melodic Range

the distance between low and high pitches

Frequency

how often something occurs

Octave

a musical interval that spans eight notes in a diatonic scale