Music History Lecture Notes

Flashcards based on music history terminology and concepts for exam preparation.

Stylistic Elements

Characteristics that define the style of a piece of music, including sound manipulation, patterns, and textures.

Minimalism

A genre marked by repetitive patterns and rhythmic complexity, exemplified by composers like Steve Reich.

Prepared Piano

A technique where objects are placed inside a piano to alter its sound, developed by John Cage.

Chance Music

A genre where elements of the composition are determined by chance, associated with John Cage.

Sonata Form

A classical structure consisting of exposition, development, and recapitulation, used in symphonic works.

Opera Buffa

A comic opera characterized by lighter themes, often satirical, popularized by composers like Mozart.

Leitmotif

A recurring musical theme associated with a character or idea, prominently used in Wagner's operas.

Absolute Music

Music that is independent of any external narrative or story.

Program Music

Instrumental music that conveys a narrative or extra-musical meaning.

Impressionism

A musical style focusing on atmosphere and mood, as seen in the works of composers like Debussy.

Expressionism

Music characterized by intense emotions and often dissonant harmonies, associated with composers like Schoenberg.

Developing Variation

A technique of transforming a musical theme throughout a piece.

Musique Concrete

Music made using recorded sounds, pioneered by Edgard Varèse.

Total Serialism

An extension of twelve-tone techniques to various musical elements, not just pitch.

Atonality

Music that lacks a tonal center, commonly found in the works of early 20th-century composers like Schoenberg.

Blues

A musical genre rooted in African-American traditions, known for its expressive and melancholic sound.

12-bar Blues Form

A common structure in blues music comprising 12 bars with specific chord progressions.

Sprechstimme

A vocal technique blending speech and singing, used by Schoenberg in his compositions.

Indeterminacy

A concept where aspects of a musical piece are left to chance.

Musical Periods

Distinguished eras in music history such as Classical, Romantic, and Twentieth Century, each with specific characteristics.