Week 2 Toolbox: Music Theory: Harmony, Dynamics, and Form Concepts

Harmony

not a melody but a combination of notes performed simultaneously to produce an combination of pitches

euphony

the cultural perception of a harmonious combination of pleasing sounds

cacophony

the cultural perception of harsh, unpleasant, or chaotic sounds at odds

static harmonies

harmonies that are motionless or move back and forth bc of little variation or repetition

dynamic harmonies

harmonies that evolve and progress, creating a sense of mvmt in different musical directions

Dynamics

the articulation of volume or intensity of sound

taiko drumming

a dichotomy in tokyo: traditional and contemporary, with many different kinds of taiko ensembles → sense of empowerment and community

Time

the navigation of musical space through temporal regulation

pulse

a method of managing time in music

accent

a method of managing time in music

tempo

a method of managing time in music

rhythm

a method of managing time in music

duration

a method of managing time in music

sonic alignment

a method of managing time in music

Trance

a state of altered consciousness that can be induced through music, allowing communication with the other world or healing people here

Texture

the distinctive layers of sound that together produce a musical cohesion

monophony

one texture/sounds

diaphony

two textures/sounds

homophony

1 leading texture and supporting ones

heterophony

multiple textures doing the same thing together

polyphony

multiple textures doing diff things together

Form

structural blueprint of an entire performance that distinguishes important musical transitions

transitions

often marked by repetition/variation/contrast in music

contrast

one section different from another in music

theme & variation

one idea is introduced and then expanded variations in music

call & response

a musical statement and a response from another

strophic form

a verse section and a chorus section in music