Renaissance Music Theory

Stretto Fuga

Melodic line of the superius that is replaced by the tenor one semibreve unit later at the lower 5th

Gamut

system used to organize & define a series of sounds, it names the notes of scale and establishes their relationships.

Stretto Fuga

Melodic line of the superius that is replaced by the tenor one semibreve unit later at the lower 5th

Gamut

system used to organize & define a series of sounds, it names the notes of scale and establishes their relationships.

Hexachord

a pattern of 6 notes with a semitone between mi and fa

Range of renaissance choir

G2-E5

Another name for pitch G2

Gamma

Natural Hexachord

Begins on pitch class do and consists of the notes do, re, mi, fa, sol, la.

soft hexachord

begins on pitch class fa and has a Bb as scale degree fa

hard hexachord

Begins on pitch class sol and has B natural as scale degree mi

Solomization

the assigning of syllables to individual notes as an aid to remembering pitch relationships

Mode

the pattern of whole and half steps in a scale

Authentic Modes

Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, & Mixolydian

What symbol represents musica ficta

the flat symbol

forbidden interval

tritone, it is “the devil in music”

Cadence

the motion of imperfect consonance to the nearest perfect consonance

Tactus

the tempo indicated by someone merely raising and lowering their hand

Symbol of congruence

signifies a cadence, used especially in mensural canons

Custos

Marks where the first note on following system will occur

ligature

a tie, ties several notes together in one symbol

Purpose of clefs

to show range, avoids ledger lines

Corona

fermata function but it indicates homophony

Tempus

the relationship btwn the breve and semibreve

Perfect Tempus

3 semibreves in the breve, mensuration symbol is a O

Imperfect tempus

2 semibreves in a breve, the mensuration symbol is a C

Prolatio/Prolation

the relationship between the semibreve and the minimIt refers to how many minims are contained within a semibreve, typically indicated by specific mensuration symbols.

Major prolation

3 minims in a semibreve, mensuration symbol has a dot in the center

Minor prolation

2 minims in a semibreve, mensuration symbol has NO dot in the center

Diminution

halving or otherwise shortening of the values of notes, slash in mensuration sign

Proportion

the use of numerical signs to indicate ∆speed of notes

Imperfection

making a note that is potentially worth three of the next lower value worth only two

Rules for Imperfection

1. A note is perfect before another note or rest of the same kind

2. Perfect if followed by two or three of the next lower value

3. A note is imperfected if followed or preceded by one OR by 3+ of the next lower value

4. Where imperfection by both a following note and a preceding note is possible, the former take precedence

5. Rests cannot be imperfected, but they can cause imperfection of a note

Alteration

doubling the value of a certain note in order to complete the triple grouping/perfection of the mensuration

Rules for Alteration

1. when 2 semibreves are between 2 breves in a perfect tempus, the value of the 2nd semibreve is doubled

2. When 2 minims are placed between 2 semibreves/perfections in perfect prolation, the value of the 2nd minim is doubled

Dot of Division

separates perfections and makes clear where imperfections and alterations should apply in perfect/major mensurations

Corolation

colors in a note and usually indication a reduction in value of 1/3

Triplet coloration

when 2 imperfect notes are replaced by 3 blackened notes

Hemiola corolation

2 normally perfect notes are replaced by three blackened/imperfect notes

Half corolation

in a ligature, only half of the symbol is colored

Minor color

the colored portion in a half coloration