music 180 quiz 1

sound-

sound-

begins with the vibration of an object

medium-

usually air

four main properties of musical sounds:

pitch, dynamics(loudness or softness), tone color, and duration

duration-

the length of time a musical sound lasts

pitch-

is the relative highness or lowness we hear in a sound

what is the pitch of sound determined by?

the frequency of its vibrations

tone-

a sound that has a definite pitch

do vibrations of a tone reach the ear at equal time intervals?

yes

interval-

the distance between any two tones

range or pitch range-

the distance between the lowest ad highest tones that a voice or instrument can produce

examples of definite pitches-

bass drum or cymbals

examples of indefinite pitches-

gongs, cowbells, and woodblocks

dynamics-

degrees of loudness or softness in music

what does a gradual increase in loudness create?

excitement, particularly when the pitch rises too

what does a gradual decrease in loudness create?

sense of calm

accent

when an performer emphasizing a tone by playing it more loudly than the tones around it

pianissimo- pp

very soft

piano- p

soft

mezzo piano- mp

moderately soft

mezzo forte- mf

moderately loud

forte- f

loud

fortissimo- ff

very loud

decrescendo-

gradually softer

crescendo-

gradually louder

tone color or timbre-

described by words such as bright, dark, brilliant, mellow, and rich

tone colors can also build a sense of what?

continuity