GACE Music History & Repertory

Describe the Major characteristics of music in the Medieval Era

Dominated by vocal music in 2 separate genres. Sacred music & Secular music

Sacred music included - Gregorian chants and masses

Gregorian chants had free flowing Monophonic melodies with no distinct meter sung by an unaccompanied voice or choir. Masses featured non-imitative polyphony. 

The Motet is polyphonic, multiple parts, & based on different sacred chants 

The Middle ages developed Organum - Early form of polyphony where voices sung in parallel motion. 

Secular music included - music for dance & entertainment like troubadours & trouveres. 

Secular music became the driving force of musical development. It developed to have meter, syncopations, and harmony.

Describe the musical importance of the Mass and outline the Ordinary

In the Roman Catholic Church, the mass was a driving force of musical development in the Medieval and Renaissance eras. 

The Liturgy of the Ordinary was set to music.

The Ordinary has 6 sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei 

By the Renaissance era Polyphony was common, notation was refined, and complete masses were written by a single composer.

Some Notable Mass composers were: Haydn, Mozart, Beethoven, Schubert, Berlioz, Verdi

Compare and Contrast the Medieval motet and the Renaissance motet

Medieval Motet featured a Tenor line with one or more Upper voices in French or Latin. 

Tenor line had a short repeated pattern; Upper voices had contrasted lively lines.

Renaissance Motet was a genre rather than a form. It had imitation, homophony, and four-part harmony. 

Compare and Contrast Polyphony, Homophony, Monophony

All refer to a certain texture of music.

Polyphony is where ALL voices hold similar prominence.

Homophony one had melodic interest in a single voice or part. It also has accompaniment. 

Monophony is centered around One melodic line.

List 3 to 5 characteristics of Baroque music that Classical composers rejected and reacted against

Baroque music was elaborate and heavily ornamented. Tonality was established, and Counterpoint was invented.

Classical music featured a slower harmonic rhythm. Emphasis on natural melody, Clear phrases and structures, with plenty of contrast.

Define Nationalism and list famous Nationalistic composers for 3 to 6 different countries

The Nationalist movement was a part of the Romantic Era and it is defined as the music that evoked national characters of a place. 

Composers used lots of Folk music that resembled music of that area. 

Composers from Russia: Glinka, Mussorgsky, Rimsky-Korsakov

Czechoslovakia: Smetana, Dvorak

Norway & Finland: Greig, Sibelius 

Hungary: Bartok

USA: Gershwin, Copland

Explain the 19th century debate over Program music and Absolute music

Programmatic music represented non-musical images or ideas, used with symphonies, symphonic poems, and character pieces. 

Examples: Danse Macabre - Saint-Saëns, Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz

Absolute music is instrumental music that existed apart from other references. 

People debated that music alone could not express anything; music needed associations for audiences to grasp.

Describe the impact that the invention of Valved horns and Trumpets had on the orchestra of the 19th century

Before the 19th century, Horns were very limited in their pitches. 

The Invention of the Valved Horn & Keys for the modern trumpet in 1814 allowed players to play Chromatically through their entire range. 

Composers started to add more brass in their pieces. 

The Orchestral sound dramatically increased in power and capacity. 

Composers: Stravinsky, Wagner, Mahler.

Describe the Impressionist movement in music along with key composers

The Impressionist Movement was inspired by the visual arts movement. 

Debussy developed a style where sound defied strict harmonic rules and soft instrumental colors focused on movement without borders. 

Melodies centered around a single pitch without a climax.

Composers: Debussy, Ravel, Bartok

Describe Scheonberg’s influence on the musical evolution of the early 20th century

Schoenberg was an Austrian theorist and quite influential. He Developed the 12-tone technique where all 12 pitches are treated equal. 

It broke from traditional music. 

Composers include: Stockhausen, Berg

Describe the philosophy behind the Neoclassical movement and list prominent composers

At the end of the 19th Century, Romantic music was at its climax. Composers like: Tchaikovsky, Liszt, Mahler.

The beginning of the 20th Century brought Modernism which is the rejection of tonality. 

Neoclassicism started in the 20th Century and returned the order, tonality, and balance of the music from the 18th Century. 

Neoclassical music featured a lighter texture, a transparent melodic line, and a call to music of the past.

Composers include: Stravinsky, Strauss, Prokofiev

Describe the philosophy behind the Minimalist movement of the late 1960s and list representative composers

Minimalism began in the late 1960s. It features techniques that emphasize the process of music rather than the motion towards a goal.

They strive to create music with minimal notes, use consonant harmony, and repeated patterns.

The Form is continuous without defined sections. 

Composers include: Riley, Glass, Adams

Describe the origin and characteristics of Latin Jazz

Latin Jazz is a style that originated in the late 1940s when musicians merged rhythms of Afro-Latin music with American Jazz. 

Afro-Cuban jazz included Cuban rhythms like Mambo & Habanera with elements of bebop.

Afro-Brazilian jazz incorporated rhythms like Samba. 

A new style of Samba known as Bossa Nova featured a laid-back style & and a distinct rhythm.

Composers like: Bauza, Pozo, Jobim

Describe the Bossa Nova movement and representative composers

The Bossa Nova movement originated in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil in the 1950s. It combined the Samba with American Jazz.

Bossa Nova had a laid-back style, complex harmonies, and a distinct rhythm known as Bossa Nova Clave. 

It featured an acoustic guitar, bass, drums, voice, piano.

Rhythm is swayed. 

Composers like: Jobim, Gilberto

Describe the origin of the Blues

Music of the Blues originated through African work songs in the 19th & 20th century. The rise occurred during the emancipation of slaves in the U.S

The music included Call-and-Response, Solo Voice, and traditional African music for the accompaniment.

By the mid 20th Century, Blues had a standard 12-bar Harmonic progression.

I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I

Blues scale is a lowered third & Dominant seventh. 

Music centered around a melancholy emotion.

Composers like: Muddy Waters, B.B King, T-Bone Walker

Define and describe the use of Leitmotif

Leitmotif is a recurring fragment that represents a part of a musical drama.
It must be clearly recognizable by its melody. It can reinforce what is happening on stage. 

It can be modified through thematic transformation

The term is associated with Wagner’s later operatic works. 

Describe the significance of Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in the evolution of Harmonic language

Harmonic language before Wagner was dominated by Diatonicism and straightforward voice leading.

Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde in 1865 brought a major change to the language. 

The Tristan chord, the leitmotif of the main reveals the chord (F-B-D#-G#) which progresses to another chromatic & dissonant tritone chord. 

Wagner’s use of harmonic suspension & full chromaticism paved the way to traditional tonal writing. 

Describe the importance of organum in the development of Polyphony

Orangum is one of the earliest forms of polyphony. 

Began as improvised voices that duplicated the original melody.

Parallel Octaves and Parallel Fifths were the types. 

Oblique motion & Contrary motion were later added. 

The development of Discant (two voices move together rhythmically) made Organum more polyphonic.

Define and describe the elements of a classic Greek tragedy

Many operas were based on Greek Tragedies. 

Greek Tragedies had a hero with a goal face obstacles. 

These characters must show essential qualities that remain constant. 

Thought - drives the plot forward.

Diction - is the most important part.

Melody - should be used to enhance the story. 

Spectacle - is the setting of the story. 

Compare and contrast Opera Seria and Opera Buffa

Opera should reflect ancient Greek values like: Clarity, Unity, Structure, Propriety.

Opera Seria focused on Tragic and Serious historical subjects. Has 3 Acts, alternating Arias, 6 to 7 characters and 2 to 4 Main characters.

Opera Buffa focused on Humorous and Light-hearted elements. Lots of characters, Spoken dialogue, Form was less structured, featured Prominent Orchestral parts, Music was faster and helped to Display comic elements. 

Name and describe the authentic musical modes

Ionian, Dorian, Phyrigian, Lydian, Mixolydian, Aeolian, Locrian

Ionian - (The Major Scale)

Dorain - (minor scale with Raised 6th)

Phyrgian - (minor scale with lowered 2nd)

Lydian - (Major scale with Raised 4th)

Mixolydian - (Major scale with lowered 7th)

Locrian - (minor scale with lowered 2nd & lowered 5th)

Define and outline the classical Sonata form, describing characteristics of each section

Sonata Form has 3 Main sections: Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

Exposition: Melody & Harmony introduced, 1st subject in Tonic Key, 2nd Subject in Dominant Key.

Development: Thematic material modified, Has tension that demands resolution

Recapitulation: Tonal balance is back, short version of the subject in the tonic key.

Define and outline the classical Symphonic form, describing characteristics of each section

Symphonic Form has 4 Movements

1st Movement - Fast

2nd Movement - Slow

3rd Movement - Dance

4th Movement - Fast

1st Movement - in Sonata Allegro form (Exposition, Development, Recapitulation)

2nd Movement -  Lyrical ABA pattern

3rd Movement - Minuet & Trio dance Form

4th Movement - Rondo form ABACADA 

Describe Opera and Oratorios, explaining similarities and differences between the two. Include 3 to 5 famous operas and oratorios.

Operas are a staged dramatic work with singers and orchestras

Oratorios became popular when there were religious bans on secular operas.

Both feature dramatic musical narratives.

Operas are theatrically staged. Centered around historical & mythological subjects

Oratorios are not staged. Centered around religious subjects.

Famous Operas: Rossini’s Barber of Seville, Puccini’s Madama Butterfly, Mozart’s Marriage of Figaro

Famous Oratorios: Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation

Define Waltz form and its context in musical history

Waltz is a dance form that has a Triple meter in a lively tempo. 

In a Waltz, Emphasis on the downbeat. In the early Waltz, there were 2 repeated phrases of 8 measures.

The Waltz form became longer and more complex with the Viennese waltz.

Composers like: Strauss, Schubert, Chopin

Define the key historical changes in the Western world that gave rise to the Renaissance movement in the arts

During the Renaissance, there were many religious conflicts. The art featured classic Greek & Roman ideals. 

The Music featured clarity of vocal lines, & imitative counterpoint, and expression

The Printing press was also invented during the 1440s, so music was able to reach a wider audience. 

Describe the musical characteristics of Baroque music and list 7 to 10 representative composers

Bass was prominent in the Baroque Era, ensembles would improvise a figured bass known as Continuo.

Ornamentation was used heavily which were embellished notes. (trills, mordents, grace notes)

Composers: Bach, Handel, Vivaldi, Couperin, Rameau, Telemann, Purcell

Describe 2 to 3 African song and dance influences on Latin American music

Call & Response, Polyrhythm

Congos, Rattles, claves

Calypso - is a popular song and dance form in the Caribbean. Lively & Humorous

Rumba - Song & Dance form uses Conga drums and sticks. 3 part form.

Merengue - Popular song and dance style in a duple meter. 

Describe the Pre-Colombian indigenous musical culture of South America

Their music revolves around the Inca & the Aztec. Musicians had very high standards during this time.

Little is known about the actual sound and style. 

Some instruments like flutes, panpipes, shell trumpets, and ocarinas.

Describe the style and origin of the Mambo

Mambo is a song & dance genre of the Afro-Cuban movement.

Developed in Cuba, became a ballroom staple in NYC.

Mambo is performed by a double bass, bongo, tumbadora, trumpets, guitar, & voice. Cowbells too.

Moderate to fast rhythm, distinct riffs.

List the 1st Broadway songwriters and describe the birth of American musical theater

1st songwriters: Gershwins, Hammerstein. 

Tin Pan Alley in NYC was meeting place for musicians & composers to make songs

Music included Jazz & and African-American sounds. 

Showboat (1927) Kern & Hammerstein, 1st musical with a beginning & end

Describe the style and origin of Appalachian music and representative instruments used in the genre

Folk traditions of the Eastern US.

Features musical traditions of English & Scottish dance tunes 

Instruments include: banjo, guitar, fiddle

Heavy ornamentation & Improvisation, Up-beat tempo

Discuss and describe traditions that contributed to Early Jazz music

New Orleans Jazz was the earliest form. 

Featured interplay between instruments, improv, & syncopated rhythms.

Blues, call and response, ragtime, stride were all elements of Early Jazz

Compare and contrast the Waltz and the Mazurka with regard to form, style, and origin

Waltz originated in Southern Germany & Austria

Waltz has emphasis on the downbeat

Waltz evolved into a work with art music & had a fast tempo with an elegant style

Mazruak originated in the province of Mazovia in Poland

Mazurka has emphasis on the 2nd & 3rd beats.

Mazurkas were intense & militant

Mazurka has two versions:

Obertas were livelier & cheerful

Kujawiaks were slower & melancholy 

Describe the importance of Arab culture in the development of North African music

Maghrib “west” is the area of where Arabic culture originated.

The North African music included: Quranic chants, poetry, harps, lutes, drums

Describe some of the musical traditions of West Africa

Praise singing was used a lot. 

Court musicians used oral tradition and played lutes, trumpets, fiddles, and drums.

Music was used during ceremonies, marriages. 

Praise signing incorporated guitar playing with traditional Akan music 

Describe the Djembe and its role in traditional African ensembles

Djembe is a rope-tuned, skin-covered drum dating back to the Mali Empire of 1230. 

It's made out of hollowed wood, and Has a Large Sound. 

In African ensembles, there is a lead djembe. 

The Djembe improvises & accentuates dancers’ movements 

Describe the use of dialogue in African musical form and rhythm

Dialogue is also known as call and response in African music. 

Dialogue occurs when a musical line “responds” to the previous line. 

Some musicians might call on others, whistle. 

The form has inspired - Blues, Jazz, hip-hop, rock & gospel

Describe the unique musical elements of traditional African music

Call and Response form heavily influenced other genres. 

Cyclic form is used widely. Various phrases can be continued as long as the performers want. 

Some instruments like xylophones, lutes, harps

Describe Kabuki

Japanese theater form.

3 types: jiadi-mono

Sewa-mono

Shosagoto

Jiadi-mono - Historical plays

Sewa-mono - Domestic theater dramas

Shosagoto - Dance pieces

Kabuki has 4 parts

1st part Deha (2 sections) Introduce the mood and characters (oki and michiyuki)

2nd part Chuha (2 sections) plot building and emotion (kudoki and monogatari)

3rd part Odoriji - Dance component

4th part Iriha - Both musical finale and end of plot (chirashi and dangire) 

Define and describe the Maqam system of melodic organization used in Middle Eastern music

The Maqam system is a melodic organization used in Middle Eastern music that is confined to the lower Tetra-chord. 

More than 30 different maqamats. 

Maqam had fifth notes tuned based on the third harmonic

Each note might be tuned differently, including quartetones, semitones, microtones

The Music is Very Melodic with rarely harmony.

Describe 3 to 4 traditional Chinese musical instruments

Pipa - pear-shaped Chinese plucked Lute, 4 strings & a bent neck

The whole chromatic scale can be played. 

Erhu - Lute with two strings with a bow in between the strings

Yangqin - Trapezoidal hammered dulcimer

Dizi - Transverse flute with a special hole can produce nasally buzzing sounds. 

List and describe 2 to 3 Australian Aboriginal musical instruments

Didgeridoo, bull-roarer, gum leaf

Didgeridoo - a simple wooden tube, slightly flared at the end

Players buzz their lips like a trumpet

Low Pitched drone 

Bull-roarer - simple wooden slat connected to the end of a cord.

Sound produced by the cord is wound and the bull-roarer is rotating

Creates a low-pitched roar

Gum leaf - a leaf of the Eucalyptus tree, held against the lip, Acts as a wind valve.

Players play it by using the same technique as whistling.

Describe the role of music in Australian Aboriginal culture

Music was used during storytelling, and ceremonies.

There was no writing system, so everything was spoken.

Things were passed down with song and dance.

Music was in daily life from children to adults.

Describe the various uses of the nose flute in Polynesia

Important instrument of the Pacific.

Played through a single nostril, while the other is shut

Produced a soft gentle sound

Popular instrument during courtship

Name and describe 3 to 4 authoritative encyclopedias and dictionaries of music

The Garland Encyclopedia of World music covers all world music. The source for ethnomusicology. 

The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is the reference for Western music. 

Oxford Music Online is a website that covers multiple musical topics. 

The Encyclopedia of Popular Music is a work for all popular music, rock, pop, jazz

Name and describe 3 to 4 periodical databases

Journal storage is a digital database that holds 32 journals dedicated to music.

The Music Index Online is a source for musical periodicals from 1973 to present day.

The International Index of Music has over 425 periodicals like music education, ethnomusicology, Jazz education

Retrospective Index to Music Periodicals has info on music history and culture.

Describe the resources provided by the Repertoire International des Sources Musicales Online

It is a musical database founded in Paris. It is the largest non-profit organizations of its kind. 

The RISM has 3 sections

Series A: Arranged by composer, printed music and manuscripts

Series B: Arranged by topic, theory, manuscripts

Series C: Music libraries, collections, archives

Describe the resources provided by the RILM Abstracts of Music Literature

An international database focused on scholarship around the world. 

It includes musicology, ethnomusicology, therapy, and dance.

It is an online database that includes content from 1967 to the present day.