The enjoyment of Music CHP1-12 Flashcard 2

rhythm

the controlled movement of music in time

beat

regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time

accented

the emphasis on a beat resulting in its being louder or longer than another in a measure

meters

organization of rhythm in time; the grouping of beats into larger, regular patterns, notated as measures

measures

metric grouping of beats, notated on the musical staff with bar lines

downbeat

first beat of the measure, the strongest in any meter

duple meter

basic metrical pattern of two beats to a measure

triple meter

basic metrical pattern of three beats to a measure

quadruple meter

basic metrical pattern of four beats to a measure

simple meter

meter in which the beat is divided into two, as in duple, triple, and quadruple meters

compound meters

a vigorous dance developed in the British Isles, usually in compound meter; became fashionable on the Continent as the gigue; still popular as an Irish traditional dance genre

sextuple meter

compound metrical pattern of six beats to a measure

syncopation

deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse through a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an offbeat

offbeat

a weak beat or weak portion of a beat

polyrhythm

the simultaneous use of several rhythmic patters or meters, common in twentieth-century music and certain African musics

nonmetric

music lacking a strong sense of beat or meter, common in certain non-Western cultures

chord

simultaneous combination of three or more pitches that constitute a single block of harmony.

harmony

the simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships of intervals and chords

tonic

the first note of the scale, or key; do

tonality

principle of organization around a tonic, or home, pitch, based on a major or minor scale

dissonance

combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable, in need of resolution.

consonance

concordant or harmonious combination of pitches that provides a sense of relaxations and stability in music.

drone

sustained sounding of one or several pitches for harmonic support, a common feature of some folk musics.

pitch

highness or lowness of a note, depending of frequency

frequency

number of vibrations per second

staff

5 parallel lines

volume

loudness or softness of a sound

climax

The high point in a melodic line or piece of music, usually representing the peak of intensity, range, and dynamics.

melody

succession of single pitches perceived by the ear as unity

countermelody

an accompanying melody sounded against the principal melody.

range

distance between the highest and lowest pitches in a melody; either narrow, medium, or wide

contour

overall shape of a melodic line; upward, downward, or static

interval

distance and relationship between 2 pitches

conjunct

smooth, connected melody that moves principally by small intervals

disjunct

disjointed or disconnected melody with many leaps

phrase

unit of meaning within a larger structure

cadence

resting place in a musical phrase; musical punctuation.

rhyme scheme

arrangement of rhyming words at the end of poetic lines

octave

Interval between two notes eight diatonic pitches apart; the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower.

half steps

Smallest interval used in the Western system; the octave divides into twelve such intervals; on the piano, the distance between any two adjacent keys, whether black or white. Also semitone.

Microtone

Musical interval smaller than a semitone (half step), prevalent in some non-Western musics and some twentieth-century music.

chromatic

Melody or harmony built from many if not all twelve pitches of the octave. A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending sequence of half steps.

whole step

Interval consisting of two half steps.

Key

Defines the relationship of pitches with a common center, or tonic. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind instrument.

major scale

Scale consisting of seven different pitches that comprise a specific pattern of whole and half steps (W-H-W-W-H-W-W). Differs from the minor scale primarily in that its third degree is raised half a step.

dominant

The fifth scale step, sol

Minor scale

Scale consisting of seven different pitches that comprise a specific pattern of whole and half steps (W-H-W-W-H-W-W). Differs from the major scale primarily in that its third degree is lowered half a step.

Pentatonic

Five-note pattern used in some African, Far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism. See also gapped scale.

tritonic

Three-note pattern used in some African, Far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism.

inflection

Small alteration of the pitch by a microtonal interval. See also blue note.

rest chord

A chord that achieves a sense of resolution or completion, normally the tonic.

active chords

In the diatonic system, chords that need to resolve to the tonic chord. These include the dominant and subdominant chords.

subdominant

Fourth scale step, fa

modulation

The process of changing from one key to another.

transposition

The shifting of a piece of music to a different pitch level.

Monophony

Single-line texture, or melody without accompaniment.

heterophony

Texture in which two or more voices (or parts) elaborate the same melody simultaneously, often the result of improvisation.

polyphony

Two or more melodic lines combined into a multivoiced texture, as distinct from monophonic.

counterpoint

The art of combining in a single texture two or more melodic lines.

homophony

Texture with a principal melody and accompanying harmony, as distinct from polyphony.

homorhythm

Texture in which all voices, or lines, move together in the same rhythm.

imitation

Melodic idea presented in one voice or part and then restated in another, each part continuing as others enter.

canon

Type of polyphonic composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout.

round

Perpetual canon at the unison in which each voice enters in succession with the same melody (for example, Row, Row, Row Your Boat).

Contrast

the use of opposing musical elements to emphasize difference and variety

strophic form

Song structure in which the same music is repeated with every stanza (strophe) of the poem.

through-composed

Song structure that is composed from beginning to end, without repetitions of large sections.

Variation

The compositional procedure of altering a preexisting musical idea. See also theme and variations.

binary form

Two-part (A-B) form with each section normally repeated. Also two-part form.

Ternary form

Three-part (A-B-A) form based on a statement (A), contrast (B), and repetition (A). Also three-part form.

theme

melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construction of a piece. Also subject.

thematic development

Musical expansion of a theme by varying its melodic outline, harmony, or rhythm. Also thematic transformation

sequence

Restatement of an idea or motive at a different pitch level.

motive

short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-harmonic-rhythmic unit.

call and response

Singing, especially in Gregorian chant, in which a soloist or a group of soloists alternates with the choir.

responsorial music

performance style with a singing leader who is imitated by a chorus of followers.

tempo

the rate of speed or pace of music.

grave

solemn (very, very slow)

largo

broad (very slow)

adagio

quite slow

andante

a walking pace

moderato

moderate

allegro

fast (cheerful)

vivace

lively

presto

very fast

molto

more

meno

less

poco

a little

non troppo

not too much

accelerando

getting faster

ritardando

holding back, getting slower

a tempo

in time, or returning to the original pace

dynamics

the loudness or softness at which a piece of music is played.

pianissimo (pp)

very soft

piano (p)

soft

mezzo piano (mp)

moderately soft

mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud

forte (f)

loud

fortissimo (ff)

very loud

crescendo (

growing louder