UNIT 1 MUSIC 104

Melismas

Musical phrase containing more than three notes per syllable; vocal run

In the Heights

13 Tony nominations (4 wins (best musical, best score, best orchestrations, best choreography)); 2009 nominated Pultizer prize for drama; important for representing several “firsts” (first broadway musical to be made by, for, and about latinos; rejects stereotypes that media often presents about latinos

Orchestrations

How music is changed from first creation to full orchestra; “Which instruments are needed for this song/show?”

Latinidad

The shared cultural traits, values, and collective identities that connect people from Latin America and their descendents

Stephen Sondheim

1930-2021; classically trained composer; “outsider” characters (connecting; relationships are common themes);

Linear narrative

Clear beginning and end of story (Les Miserablés)

Non-linear narratives

Playing with time; bringing things from past to present; returning characters (Into the Woods; Company)

Reprise

A refrain, recurring song or section of music

A La Barcolle Rhythm

Duple meter; serenade music; feels like swaying in a boat

Intermezzo

Early 19th century opera genre; between opera buffa and opera seria

Syllabic text-setting

One syllable per note (Happy Birthday)

Comic patter

Very quick singing/speaking

Commedia Dell’arte

Original comedic theater; 16th century; stock characters (stereotypical); slapstick, physical theater

Period orchestra

Orchestra using instruments appropriate for opera/musical’s setting (harpsichord)

Recitativo secco

Speech-like singing in opera; conversational singing

Larger than life

Counterpart to comedy; audiences became more varied; composers want to appeal to broader audience; extreme ranges; longer phrases; grand, majestic music; heroic sounds; ensembles sing in unison; crescendos

Intermezzo history

Naples, Italy, 1720s-1730s; few characters; simple music style; relatable characters and setting; middle-class lifestyles

Virtuosity

Very high level of skill

Virtuoso

Somene who can play/sing difficult pieces

Sorpano

Higher female voice type

Alto

Lower female voice type

Tenor

Higher male voice type

Bass

Lowest male voice type

Baritone

Low male voice type

Mezzo-Soprano

Halfway between alto and soprano

Contralto

Lowest female voice type

Aria

Solo song of an opera; clear beginning and ending

Recitative

Solo or dialogue singing; conversational; typically happens between arias/ensembles

Recitativo Secco

Dialogue accompanied only by a harpsichord

Recitativo Accompagnato

Dialogue accompanied by a full orchestra

Ensemble

Two or more singers singing together

Crescendo

Volume increases

Decrescendo

Volume decreases

Monophonic texture

Single sound (spoken dialogue or singing) without any accompaniment

Homophonic texture

Single person signing with accompaniment

Polyphonic texture

Many lines of sound (many singers and accompaniments) overlapping/combining at once

Melody

Series of single tones that add up to a recognizable whle

Tune

Melodic motion

Tone

Ascending or descending pitch

Intervals

Space between pitches (wide or narrow); conjunct vs. disjunct

Conjunct

Intervals are narrow

Disjunct

Intervals are wide

Harmony

How chords are constructed and how they follow each other; dyad/triad

Dyad

Two chords

Triad

Three chords

Rhythm

Ordered flow of music through time; the pattern of durations of notes and silences in music

Meter

Organization of beats into regular groups; duple/triple

Duple

Two beats (march)

Triple

Three beats (waltz)

Texture

Lines or layers of sound in music and how they connect; homophonic/monophonic

Monophonic Texture

One line of sound; acapella, instrumentals, etc.

Homophonic Texture

One main melody accompanied by sound; Aria, solo, etc.

Polyphonic Texture

Two or more melodic lines of relative interest at the same time; Duet, trio, quartet, etc.;

Form

Organization of music ideas in time; binary/ternary form

Binary Form

Two part section (AB)

Ternary Form

Three part section (ABA)

Dynamics

The loudness or softness of music

Forte

Loud

Fortissimo

Extra Loud

Piano

Soft

Pianissimo

Very Soft

Mezzoforte

Medium Loud

Mezzopiano

Medium Soft

Timbre/Tone Color

Quality of sound distinguishing one sound or voice from another

Tempo

Basic pace of music; speed of the beat

Lento/Largo

Very Slow

Adagio

Slow

Andante

Medium Speed

Allegro

Fast

Presto

Very Fast

Legato

Tones/pitches are smoothly connected

Staccato

Tones/pitches are short and sharp

Syllabic

“In-the-Moment” Dialogue; one syllable per note; Happy Birthday

Neumatic

Two syllables per note

Melisantic

Multiple syllables per note; vocal run

Opera

A drama that is sung to an orchestral accompaniment

Libretto

The words of an opera

Librettist

The one who writes the libretto

Book

The spoken text of the musical

Lyrics

Text of songs in musicals

Genre

Category of a musical piece

Conventions

Norms, expected features; culturally situation; related to both genre and basic elements of music

Scrim

Painted backdrop; using flats/panels

Ariaform

How verses are sung; Strophic or Da Capo

Strophic

Repeated melody for different verses of song

Da Capo

Different sections (ABA)

Grandiose

Larger, more elaborate, more ambitious than necessary; exaggerated