Music Theory, Bicycle History, and Transit Techniques Vocabulary

A set of 60 vocabulary flashcards defining music theory terminology, 1800s bicycle developments, and compositional/listening techniques from the lecture notes.

Music

Sound organized in time.

Pitch

The highness or lowness of a sound.

Harmony

Two or more pitches sounding at the same time.

Consonance

Stable, resolved harmony.

Dissonance

Tense, unresolved harmony.

Chord

Three or more pitches sounding simultaneously.

Triad

A three-note chord made of two intervals of a third.

Triad Qualities

Major ($M$), minor ($m$), diminished ($\circ$), and augmented ($+$).

Interval

The distance between any two pitches.

Scale

Pitches arranged in ascending/descending order using whole and half steps.

Tonic

The foundational "home note" ($1\text{st}$ scale degree).

Leading Tone

The $7\text{th}$ scale degree that pulls back to the tonic.

Diatonic

Chords/melodies that occur naturally within a key.

Chromatic

Notes that use accidentals from outside the key.

Monophony

A single, completely unaccompanied melody line.

Homophony

A primary melody supported by harmony chords.

Polyphony

Multiple independent melody lines tracking together.

Heterophony

Varied versions of the same melody overlapping out of sync.

Rhythm

Music moving through time using notes of varying durations.

Beat

The steady, constant underlying pulse of the music.

Tempo

The speed of the beat.

Ritardando

Gradually slowing down the tempo.

Accelerando

Gradually speeding up the tempo.

Measures (Bars)

Groups of beats separated visually by bar lines.

Meters

Duple (groups of $2$), Triple (groups of $3$), Quadruple (groups of $4$).

Mixed Meter

Multiple different meters occurring in succession.

Irregular Meter

Meters featuring asymmetric or irregular beat groupings.

Polymeter

Multiple unique meters sounding at the exact same time.

Simple Meter

Beats subdivide cleanly into $2$ equal parts.

Compound Meter

Beats subdivide cleanly into $3$ equal parts.

Conjunct

Smooth, step-wise melodic movement.

Disjunct

Melodic movement characterized by sudden leaps.

Motive

A small, distinct musical idea.

Phrase

A cohesive musical thought.

Cadence

Musical punctuation that completes or pauses a phrase.

Crescendo

Gradually growing louder.

Decrescendo / Diminuendo

Gradually growing softer.

Articulation

The manner in which a note is begun, sustained, and released.

Staccato

Short, detached notes.

Legato

Smooth, connected notes.

Dandyhorse

Two wheels, no pedals; riders push feet against the ground to move.

Vélocipède

Nicknamed the "boneshaker"; introduced pedals, but its wooden wheels shook violently on cobblestones.

Penny-farthing

Nicknamed the "widow-maker"; had a huge front wheel and tiny back wheel; rider sat incredibly high up and it was highly dangerous.

Rover

Known as the "safety bicycle"; featured two equal-sized wheels and rubber tires.

Tandem

A bicycle built for two riders; in early versions, the rider in the back did the steering.

Vocoder / Vocaloid4

Software used by Hiroshi Tamawari to interweave electronic, non-human voices in "Daisy Bell".

Ostinato

A repeating melodic or rhythmic pattern used heavily in minimalist styling.

Delirando

An uncommon, frantic tempo marking used by John Adams to evoke a wild Ferrari ride.

Programmatic

Music that is explicitly designed to portray a real-world story, scene, or journey.

Flutter-tongue

A flute technique used to mimic rapid train whistle sound effects.

Oscillating Glissandos

Smoothly sliding pitch effects used in clarinets for train whistles.

Horn Glissandos

Sliding pitches in the brass section to emulate a steam engine groaning.

Sul Ponticello

Playing string instruments closer to the bridge than usual to create a thin, scratchy sound (mimics squealing train brakes).

Block Voicing

Moving chords in parallel patterns, typical of big-band swing.

Call-and-Response

Alternating conversational patterns between different instrument sections.

Riff

A short, catchily repeated melodic pattern in jazz.

Whole-Tone Scale

A scale built entirely of whole steps, used in the piano intro of "Take the 'A' Train".

Hemiola

A rhythmic trick that provides the effect of a temporary meter change.

Strains

Multi-themed structural sections used to layer melodies in a traditional march.

Stinger

A final, heavily accentuated staccato chord played by the full ensemble to end a march.