MWC Midterm

Poly

many

Mono

alone

Homo

same

Hetero

other

Phony

voice/sound

Genous

Born, produced

Etymological Roots

poly, mono, homo, hetero, phony, genous

Chordophone

an instrument that produces sound via a vibrating string

Chordophone examples

guitar, piano

Aerophone

an instrument that produces sound via a vibrating column air

Aerophone examples

pipe organ, flute

Membranophone

an instrument that produces sound via a stretched and vibrating membrane or drumhead

Membranophone example

timpani, snare drum

Idiophone

an instrument that produces sound by it’s whole body vibrating

Idiophone examples

xylophone, bells

Electrophone

an instrument that produces sound via electric circuits

Electrophone examples

electric guitar, synthesizer

Instruments Classifications

Chordophone, Aerophone, Membranophone, Idiophone, Electrophone

Melody

a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying

Monophony

One single melodic line, unaccompanied

Polyphony

Several melodies of more or less equal focus at the same time.

Homophony

single melody accompanied by supporting harmony

Heterophony

multiple musicians enriches the texture by adding their own variations and ornamentation to the melody

Ethnocentrism

judging music by its relationship to our own cultural experience

Exoticism

use of musical elements in western music to evoke faraway places, foreign cultures, etc. Usually using stylized/stereotypical sounds rather than authentic

Mode

a kind of key, scale, or melody

Scale

arrangement of pitches of the mode either ascending or descending

Range

refers to the difference between the highest and lowest notes of a melody and can be relatively wide or narrow

Rhythm

describes how music is organized in time

Meter

organization of beats, divisions of beats, and grouping of beats into distinct levels of the passage of time

Dynamics

the use of loudness or softness as a musical element

Tempo

the rate at which beat passes. to specify an absolute tempo, musicians indicate the number of beats per minute

Ornament

a note or group of notes that decorates and adds character to a melody without changing its fundamental structure

Melisma

sung melodies with many notes to a single syllable.

Diaspora

The dispersion or spread of a people from their own homeland

Meshk

exercises, repetition and practice done to learn a discipline

Maqam

system of melodic modes used in traditional arabic music, defining the pitches, patterns, and development of a piece. serves as a framework for improvisation.

Timebre

the unique quality, texture, or personality of a sound that distinguishes it from others, even when the pitch and loudness are identical

Taqsim

Traditional instrumental improvisations inside the maqams

Heterogenous Ensemble

group of diverse instruments from different families, ex: jazz band

Qanun

Oud

Nay

Riq

Darbuka

Kaman