Fundamentals of Music

Rhythm

Beat, Tempo, Meter, Division, Time Signature, Syncopation, Mixed Meter, Hemiola, Polyrhythm

Beat

A steady pulse, what governs rhythm.

Tempo

Speed

Meter

The grouping of beats.

Division

How the beat is “cut”, evenly or unevenly

Time Signature

Division & Grouping

Syncopation

The displacement of the normal accent.

Mixed Meter

The grouping of beats changes continuously.

Hemiola

The beat’s divided into 2:3 ratio either simultaneously or sequentially

Polyrhythms

Ratios of beats occurring simultaneously or sequentially

Melody

Pitch, Cadence, Range

Pitch

How high/low the sound is

Cadence

Pause in the melody, signals the end of songs

Range

The difference between the high and low sounds

Harmony

2 or more different sounds simultaneously. Counterpoint

Counterpoint

Line that includes 4 lines of motion. 1. Contrary, 2. Parallel, 3. Similar, 4. Oblique

Contrary

Negative version of the main focus line.

Parallel

The integrity of each interval stays the same.

Similar

Lines move in the same direction at different rates.

Oblique

One line moves, the other remains stationary.

Form

Combination of repetitions & contrast. Binary, Ternary, Rondo, Sonata, Sonata Rondo

Binary

AB

Ternary

ABA

Rondo

ABACADAEA

Sonata

ABA’+

Sonata Rondo

ABA C ABA

Chorus

repeated (music + lyrics), Arrival

Verse

musically characterized, lyrics change

Bridge

novelty, connects other structures

• Cadenza: soloist shows off

Intro / Pre Lude

takes you towards music

Interlude

middle, gives you a break

Outro / Post Lude

takes you away from the music

Hook

Holds listener’s attention, may be a part of intro, chorus or verse

Vamp

Repeated short figure

Expression

Dynamics, Articulation, Texture

Dynamics

Volume of sound: Piano, Forte, Mezzo, Fortisimo, Pianisimo

Articulation

Staccato, Tenuto, Accent, Marcato, Portato

Staccato

Half the value of the note.

Tenuto

Holding a note for its full value

Accent

Beginning of note is strong & it diminishes without touching the next note.

Marcato

Lots of energy for a short amount of time.

Portato

Long but detached from the next note.

Texture

How the sound is organized. Monophonic, Biphonic, Homophonic, Heterophonic, Polyphony

Monophonic

Same melody, same time.

Biphonic

Drone sound & melody

Homophonic

There’s a focus sound, all other sounds are in support of the focus sound

Heterophonic

A deviation of the melody independently while the melody continues

Polyphony

More than one melody that is equally important (more than one focus)

Tone

Intonation, Resonance, Temperament

Intonation

Sharp/Flat, matching of pitches

Resonance

Amount of time that things vibrate after the sound is over

Equal Temperament

Frequencies can’t change pitch. (keyboard in a chord) - sounds not in tune

Just

Frequencies change pitch to tune the chord (guitar strings played in a chord) - sounds in tune

Clef

Treble, Bass, Alto, Tenor

Treble

c4 is one ledger line below the staff

Bass

c4 is the ledger line above the staff

Alto

c4 is in the middle of the B or the on the 3rd line from the bottom, looks like ||3

Tenor

c4 is in the middle of the B or on the 4th line from the bottom, looks like ||3

Ledger Lines

Lines written above, under or in the staff.