Music, Society, and Culture Exam 1

melody

a unit of pitches in succession

rhythm

the beat

harmony

when at least 2 pitches sound together

timbre

the tone/color of the sound

texture

the way in which different musical parts fit together

form

the shape/structure of the piece

monophony

1 melody

polyphony

multiple distinct melodies at the same time

homophony

1 melody + harmony

heterophony

multiple variations of 1 melody

biphony

1 melody + 1 drone

performative

the act of making/performing music

performatic

the way the music conveys social meaning

genre

a category of music defined by particular styles, forms, and traditions

Music and the brain

• improves memory, emotion and motor skils

• can help with social bonding and learning

• melodic intonation therapy for speech recovery

music and the life cycle

• can mark life stages and emotional experiences

• Dies Irae “Day of Wrath”

Musicking

the act of making or listening to music as an active process

Live concerts as musical cultures

• symphony orchestra vs rock concert

• social event that creates unique cultural experiences

Why write about music?

• helps us understand its deeper meaning, cultural context, and emotional impact from multiple perspectives

• helps us understand humanity better

Universality of music

• universal experience that transcends cultural boundaries

• dies irae used everywhere

Live music vs recorded sound

• live music is spontaneous, and creates a unique atmosphere between the audience and musician

• recordings are heard repeatedly and have less at stake

why and how we listen

emotional connection, social interaction, entertainment, or intellectual engagement

Fantasia Impromptu” by Paquito D’Rivera (based on Fantaisie-Impromptu in C Sharp
Minor, Op. 66 by Fryderyk Chopin), from “Jazz Meets the Classics

classic piece played like jazz

“Caprice in A Minor, Opus 1, No. 24” by Niccolò Paganini

monophonic

violin devil piece

romantic period

Chatuttal Manj-Khatmlaj Raga” performed by Ravi Shankar (sitar) and Ali Akbar Khan

sitar and sarod

heterophonic

open form

“Amazing Grace” performed by Aretha Franklin

homophonic

gospel

“Summertime,” from the opera Porgy and Bess by George Gershwin and Dubose Heyward

verse structure

aria

homophonic

“Tuvan Folk Melody”

throat singing

biphony

“Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima” by Krzysztof Penderecki

polyphonic

no melody, rhythm, or harmony

“Bourrée” from Suite in E Minor by Johann Sebastian Bach

Baroque

lute and guitar

polyphony

“Nezasa Shirabe” performed by Hideo Osaka

monophonic

bamboo flute

“Over the Rainbow” by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg, with Judy Garland

homophonic

32 bar song

“Over the Rainbow” performed by Art Tatum (1939 recording)

polyphonic

32 bar song

jazz piano

“Concerto No. 1 in E Major, Opus 8, La Primavera,” (Spring) by Antonio Vivaldi

homophonic and polyphonic

string section

“String Quartet in E Flat Major, Opus 33, No. 2, The Joke,” by Franz Joseph Haydn

homophonic and polyphonic

rondo form

Farewell” Symphony # 45 in F-sharp minor (IV. Finale) by Franz Joseph Haydn

symphony orchestra

homophonic

sonata

“Oblivion” by Astor Piazzolla, performed by Matthias Well, Maria Well, and Zdravko

Živkovik

tango

homophonic

violin, cello, accordian

“Caravan” by Juan Tizol and Duke Ellington, performed by the Duke Ellington Orchestra

jazz standard

big band jazz

polyphonic and homophonic

32 bar form

“Peter and the Wolf” by Sergei Prokofiev, narrated by David Bowie

childrens song

homophonic

“Sita Kalyana Vaibhogame” (“Sita’s Wedding”) by Tyagaraja

indian

polyphonic

verse chorus form

“Ceurik Rahwana” (“The Tears of Ravana”) performed by Imas Permas and Asep Kosasih

indonesian

heterophonic

cyclic

deep male vocal