NCT Flashcards

Rhythmic and Phrasal Concepts

  1. Anacrusis: A note or group of notes that precede the first full measure of a piece, often creating a sense of forward motion.

  2. Phrase: A segment of music that functions as a unit, often ending with a cadence or a sense of completion.

  3. Conjunct: A melodic motion characterized by smooth, connected movement, often in stepwise motion.

  4. Disjunct: A melodic motion characterized by leaps or large intervals.

  5. Stepwise: A melodic motion that moves in whole or half steps.

Formal Structures

  1. Antecedent-Consequent: A phrase structure in which the first phrase (antecedent) sets up a question or tension, and the second phrase (consequent) provides a resolution.

  2. Period: A pair of phrases that form a larger unit, often with an antecedent-consequent structure.

  3. Parallel Period: A period in which the two phrases are similar in shape and content.

  4. Contrasting Period: A period in which the two phrases are dissimilar in shape and content.

  5. Repeated Parallel Period: A period in which the two phrases are similar, and the entire period is repeated.

  6. Double Period: A period that consists of two pairs of phrases, often with a contrasting middle section.

  7. Introduction: A section that precedes the main theme or material of a piece.

  8. Internal Expansion: A process of expanding or elaborating on musical material within a section or phrase.

  9. Cadential Extension: An extension of the final cadence of a piece, often used to add drama or emphasis.

Melodic Techniques

  1. Elision: The overlap or elision of two melodic ideas, often creating a sense of continuity.

  2. Literal Repetition: The exact repetition of a melodic idea or phrase.

  3. Imitation: The repetition of a melodic idea or phrase at a different pitch level or in a different voice.

  4. Motive/Motif: A short melodic idea or pattern that is repeated and varied throughout a piece.

  5. Theme: A longer melodic idea or phrase that is often used as the basis for a piece.

  6. Motivic Transformation: The process of varying or transforming a motive or theme to create new musical material.

  7. Variation: A technique of altering a melodic idea or phrase to create new musical material.

  8. Melodic Sequence: A repetition of a melodic idea or phrase at a different pitch level, often creating a sense of forward motion.

  9. Inversion/Melodic Inversion: The process of flipping a melodic idea or phrase upside down, often creating a sense of contrast.

  10. Mirror Inversion: A type of melodic inversion in which the original melody is flipped both upside down and backwards.

Rhythmic Techniques

  1. Rhythmic Variation: The process of altering the rhythm of a melodic idea or phrase to create new musical material.

  2. Augmentation: The process of lengthening the duration of a note or rhythm.

  3. Diminution: The process of shortening the duration of a note or rhythm.

  4. Rhythmic Displacement: The process of shifting the rhythm of a melodic idea or phrase to create a sense of tension or surprise.

Harmonic Techniques

  1. Modulation: The process of changing key or tonal center within a piece.

  2. Mode Mixture/Modal Borrowing: The use of notes or chords from parallel modes or keys to add color and interest to a piece.

  3. Ornamentation/Embellishment: The use of decorative notes or figures to add interest and beauty to a melody.

Non-Chord Tones

  1. Non-Chord Tones/Non Harmonic Tones: Notes that do not belong to the underlying chord or harmony.

Passing Tones

  1. Passing Tone: A non-chord tone that moves in stepwise motion between two chord tones.

  2. Accented Passing Tone: A passing tone that is accented or emphasized.

  3. Chromatic Passing Tone: A passing tone that involves a chromatic alteration.

Neighbor Notes

  1. Upper Neighbor: A non-chord tone that moves in stepwise motion above a chord tone.

  2. Lower Neighbor: A non-chord tone that moves in stepwise motion below a chord tone.

  3. Chromatic Neighbor: A neighbor note that involves a chromatic alteration.

  4. Incomplete Neighbor: A neighbor note that does not return to the original chord tone.

Other Non-Chord Tones

  1. Neighboring Group/Changing Tone/Double Neighbor: A group of three notes that includes a neighbor note and its resolution.

  2. Appoggiatura: A nct used as a grace note before the main note which is quite frequently a chordal tone

  3. Escape Tone: A note that moves in a disjunct motion away from a chord tone.

  4. Suspension: A note that is sustained over a change in the underlying harmony.

  5. Rearticulated Suspension: A suspension that is rearticulated or reattacked.

  6. Retardation: A note that is sustained over a change in the underlying harmony, often creating a sense of tension.

  7. Anticipation: A note that is introduced before its expected arrival, often creating a sense of forward motion.