Music In Athens

Beat

A measured moment of musical time. This is any sound or silence that happens in time that can be accounted for in music

Rhythm

A collection of organized beats

Tempo

Refers to the speed of a piece of music

Meter

Refers to measurable groupings of beats within a piece of music, such that a noticeable pulse is discernable

Pitch

Refers to the frequency of a singular sound or note

Melody

The “tune” or singable, linear progression of pitches that usually constitute a song/piece of work. Pitches in a linear sequence, on a horizontal plane. Have contour that can be flat, jagged, ascending, descending, etc.

Harmony

When more than one pitch occurs at the same time; think of it as pitches on a vertical plane

Consonant Harmony

The notes go together more fluid in a chord (settled, resolved)

Dissonant Harmony

The notes don’t go together and create an unpleasant sound

Chords

Namable harmonies made up of three or more pitches, groups of complimentary pitches

Texture

Refers to sonic density and range frequencies heard in each musical work

Timbre

The category of sonic characteristics. Assessing this of a piece of music should begin with identifying what sounds are heard. Then using thoughtful, though subjective adjectives, attempting to describe those sounds

Syllabic

Used to describe text/tune or word/melody relationships. Words have one tune each. EX: Old McDonald had a farm

Melismatic

Used to describe text/tune or word/melody relationships. Words have multiple tunes each. EX: I Will Always Love You

Form

How we can organize our music into palatable, measurable sections (Verse is A section, chorus is B section, bridge is C section, etc.)