Comprehensive Music Theory: Instruments, History, and Styles

What are the two types of music?

Musical and Non-Musical

Give examples of musical sounds.

Singing, band, orchestra, recording music, electronics (Spotify, Pandora, etc.)

What are examples of non-musical sounds?

Lightning, snoring, baby laughing, cafeteria noise, sporting events, aircraft sounds

What is pitch in music?

The relative highness or lowness of a sound.

How does frequency relate to sound?

Frequency is the speed of vibrations; higher frequency means faster vibrations and lower frequency means slower vibrations.

What is an octave?

An octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with double its frequency, such as from note C to the next note C.

What do dynamics refer to in music?

Dynamics refer to the degrees of loudness or softness in music, such as piano (soft) and forte (loud).

What is tone color in music?

Tone color describes the quality of sound, such as bright, dark, brilliant, mellow, or rich.

What are the four sections of an orchestra?

Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussions.

Who created the first electric guitar?

George Beauchamp in 1932, nicknamed the 'frying pan.'

What is significant about Saul Hudson, also known as Slash?

He is the lead guitarist for Guns N' Roses and is famous for the album 'Appetite for Destruction.'

Who is Les Paul and what is his contribution to music?

Les Paul was a great builder and designer of guitars, known for creating the humbucker pickup and the Gibson Les Paul guitar.

What is the Frankenstrat?

A guitar created by Eddie Van Halen that combined features he loved, such as the Gibson Les Paul's humbucker pickup and the whammy bar.

What was the significance of Van Halen's 1978 album?

Van Halen's debut album was released during a time when disco was popular, marking a resurgence of rock music.

Who is Joe Bonamassa?

A blues/rock guitarist known for his talent and early start in music, opening for B.B. King at a young age.

What is unique about the Gibson Flying V?

Only 98 were made during its production years of 1958-1959, making it a rare and valuable guitar.

What was the message of the band Stryper?

Stryper was known for their Christian message, contrasting with many other rock bands of their time.

What cultural phenomena were prominent in the 1980s?

Rubik's cubes, VHS, video game arcades, Cabbage Patch dolls, and the music of artists like Michael Jackson.

What type of music did AC/DC play?

Classic Rock, with notable hits like 'Highway to Hell.'

What was significant about the 1987 album 'Appetite for Destruction'?

It was a breakthrough album for Guns N' Roses, solidifying their place in rock history.

What is 'Finger Tapping' in guitar playing?

A technique developed by Eddie Van Halen that involves tapping the strings with the fingers of the picking hand.

What was the first album released by Stryper?

Yellow-Black Attack

What year was Stryper introduced to the world?

1984

Which Stryper song became the #1 most requested on MTV in 1987?

Calling on You

What significant event did Stryper engage in during their concerts in 1985?

Threw Bibles to the audience

What was the title of Stryper's 1986 album?

To Hell with the Devil

What verse from the Bible inspired the song 'To Hell with the Devil'?

Revelation 20:10

What nickname did Michael Sweet earn while working on his parents' farm?

Ranger Mike

In what year did Stryper regroup after their initial split?

2004

What is the title of Stryper's album released in 2015?

Fallen

Which band did Stryper allow to open for them, influencing a non-Christian band?

Conquest

What was the first period of Stryper's activity?

1983 - 1992

Who was the lead singer of Petra before joining the band?

John Schlitt

What song did Petra release that emphasizes their Christian beliefs?

I am on the Rock

What instrument family does the flute belong to?

Woodwind Instruments

Which instrument is known as the largest in the brass family?

Tuba

What is the name of the famous conductor and composer known for his film scores?

John Williams

Which film did John Williams score that was released in 1975?

Jaws

What is the title of the song by Petra that was released in 1990?

Unbelief

What is the significance of the song 'Crack in the Sky'?

It refers to the rapture.

Which Stryper song references Jesus as 'More than a Man'?

More than a Man

What year did Michael Sweet leave Stryper, leading to a trio formation?

Early '92

What is the term for the family of instruments that includes the clarinet?

Clarinet Family

What is the smallest member of the flute family?

Piccolo

What instrument is known for its importance in marching and drumming?

Cymbals

Who is recognized as the greatest cowbell player?

Gene Frankel

When was the piano invented?

Around 1700 and mechanically perfected by the 1850s

How does a piano produce sound?

Through vibrating strings

What instrument was important from about 1500 to 1775 before being replaced by the piano?

Harpsichord

What is the pipe organ known as during its prominence from 1600 to 1750?

King of instruments

What does a conductor do?

Coordinates the performers and shapes the interpretation of musical composition

What is the purpose of a baton in conducting?

Used to beat time and indicate pulse/tempo

What is rhythm in music?

The ordered durations of sounds and silences

What is a beat in music?

A regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time

What is meter in music?

The organization of beats into regular groups

What is an accent in music?

A way that a note is emphasized, often by being played louder or held longer

What is syncopation?

When an accented note occurs where it is not expected

What does tempo refer to in music?

The speed of the beat, or the basic pace of music

What does the term 'Largo' indicate in tempo?

Very slow, broad

What is a melody?

A series of single tones that add up to a recognizable whole

What is harmony in music?

The way chords are constructed and how they follow each other

What is a chord?

A combination of three or more tones played simultaneously

What is consonance?

A tone combination that sounds pleasing to the ears

What is dissonance?

A tone combination that sounds unstable or not pleasing to the ears

What is the significance of George Crumb's 'Night of the Black Insects'?

It serves as an example of dissonance in music

What is the major scale often referred to as?

The 'Happy Scale'

What is the minor scale often referred to as?

The 'Sad Scale'

What does musical texture refer to?

How many different layers of sound are heard at once and how they relate to each other

What are the three basic types of musical texture?

Monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic

What is monophonic texture?

A single melodic line without accompaniment

What is polyphonic texture?

Two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest

What is the earliest notated music discovered?

The 'Harrion Hymn to Nickal' from 1400 B.C.

Who was Howard Carter?

An archeologist known for his work in Egypt, particularly in the Valley of Kings

What significant artifacts were found in King Tut's tomb?

Two ancient trumpets made of bronze and copper/silver.

What time period did the Ancient Greeks contribute to music?

800 B.C. - 200 A.D.

What musical terms did the Ancient Greeks introduce that are still used today?

Music, lyric, rhythm, hymn, polyphony.

What type of music did the Ancient Greeks primarily use?

Monophonic (one line of music).

What string instruments were developed by the Ancient Greeks?

Lyra, Barbitos, Cithara, Pandouris.

Which civilization conquered the Ancient Greeks in 146 B.C.?

The Romans.

What biblical figure is known for playing the harp for Saul?

David.

What is the significance of the Jericho trumpets in biblical history?

They were used during the fall of Jericho.

What is Gregorian Chant and its historical importance?

The first genre in the history of Western music, known for its acapella, non-metric, and smooth melody characteristics.

Who is Gregorian Chant named after?

Pope Gregory I (the Great).

What was the role of medieval monks and nuns in relation to Gregorian Chant?

They spent hours each day singing the chant as a form of praise.

What is Organum in medieval music?

Music that consists of Gregorian chant and one or more additional melodic lines.

Who were the first two composers associated with rhythmic innovations at Notre Dame?

Leonin and Perotin.

What does Ars Nova refer to in the context of 14th-century music?

A new art period in France that allowed for measurable rhythm.

Who is Guillaume de Machaut and what is his notable work?

The most important composer of the Ars Nova period, known for writing 'Angus Dei' from the Notre Dame mass.

What significant historical event occurred in 1517 related to Martin Luther?

He nailed the 95 Theses to the Castle Church in Wittenburg, Germany.

What was the dominant intellectual movement during the Renaissance?

Humanism.

What type of texture became more important in vocal music during the Renaissance?

Polyphonic texture.

What is the significance of Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina in music history?

He composed mainly sacred music and wrote the famous 'Missae Papae Marcelli.'

What instruments were commonly used during the Renaissance?

Dulcian, Crumhorn, Rackett, Sackbut, Shawm, Cornetto, Kortholt.

What innovative musical technique did Giovanni Gabrieli use in his compositions?

He wrote music for two ensembles that created a stereo effect by alternating between groups.

What is the earliest known piece to use dynamic change?

Sonato Pian e forte.

What are the years of the Renaissance period?

1450-1600

What are the years of the Middle Age period?

450-1450