Music History and Theory: Middle Ages to Modern Styles & Instrumentation (MUS1510 Henry Jones)

Middle Ages

450-1450, mostly vocal, mostly sacred, characterized by Gregorian chant which is smooth, no beat, calm, and monophonic.

Gregorian chant

A style of plainchant that is smooth, calm, and monophonic, typical of the Middle Ages.

Renaissance

1450-1600, marked by interest in ancient Greek culture, humanism, and the Protestant Reformation, leading to more secular and instrumental music.

Humanism

A cultural movement during the Renaissance that emphasized art and philosophy focused on earthly human life rather than religion.

Baroque

1600-1750, characterized by unity of mood and rhythm, terraced dynamics, spun-out melody, and much counterpoint.

Terraced dynamics

A feature of Baroque music where dynamics shift abruptly rather than gradually.

Classical

1750-1820, known for the Enlightenment, focusing on logic and reason, with contrasts of mood in music.

Enlightenment

An intellectual movement emphasizing reason and individualism, influencing the Classical period.

Romantic

1820-1900, characterized by personal expression, nationalism, exoticism, and program music.

Modern

1900-present, featuring many composers and a wide variety of styles and techniques, with much experimentation.

Monophonic

A texture consisting of a single melody line.

Polyphonic

A texture with two or more simultaneous independent lines.

Homophonic

A texture consisting of a melody accompanied by chords.

Strophic

A musical form characterized by the same music repeated for each stanza (AAA...).

Through-composed

A musical form where each section is different (ABC...).

Theme and variations

A musical form where a theme is presented and then varied (AA1A2...).

Ternary

A musical form consisting of three sections, with the first and last being the same (ABA).

Pitch

How high or low a tone is, determined by the frequency of vibration.

Dynamics

The volume of music.

Timbre

The tone color; the quality that distinguishes between different instruments.

Interval

The difference in pitch between two tones.

Octave

The interval from one pitch up or down to the next pitch of the same name, with a frequency ratio of 1:2.

Half-step

The smallest interval in Western music, equal to one-twelfth of an octave.

Whole-step

An interval twice as large as a half-step.

Beat

The division of time in music into equal units.

Measure

A group of beats.

Meter

The number of beats per measure.

Tempo

The speed of the beat, measured in beats per minute.

Rhythm

A series of durations related to the beat.

Key

A system of relationships among pitches, where 7 out of the 12 pitches per octave are 'in the key' and one is the tonic.

Scale

Pitches in a key arranged in order, beginning and ending with the tonic.

Mode

A series of intervals used to construct a scale.

Major mode

A specific pattern of intervals (WWhWWWh) taken from the C major scale.

Melody

The song-like part of a musical texture.

Accompaniment

All parts of a musical texture except the melody.

Harmony

The combination of simultaneous pitches.

Instruments of the orchestra

Categories include string, woodwind, brass, percussion, and other instruments.

Violin

A string instrument.

Flute

A woodwind instrument.

Trumpet

A brass instrument.

Timpani

A percussion instrument.

Harp

A string instrument.

Viola

A string instrument.

Oboe

A woodwind instrument.

Trombone

A brass instrument.

Cymbal

A percussion instrument.

Piano

A string and percussion instrument.

Cello

A string instrument.

Clarinet

A woodwind instrument.

Tuba

A brass instrument.

Snare Drum

A percussion instrument.

Bassoon

A woodwind instrument.

French Horn

A brass instrument.

Bass Drum

A percussion instrument.

Gong

A percussion instrument.

Tambourine

A percussion instrument.

Triangle

A percussion instrument.

Xylophone

A percussion instrument.