Music Appreciation Lecture Notes

Music Appreciation Class 1

Introduction to Music

  • Music is defined as an art form, cultural activity, with sound as its medium.

Basic Elements of Music

  • Rhythm: Group of beats that organizes music through time.

  • Melody: Main tune of a song; a succession of notes perceived as a single entity.

  • Harmony: Accompaniment that adds depth to the music; involves simultaneous pitches.

  • Timbre: Tone color of music; the distinct characteristics that differentiate instruments and voices.

Characteristics of Sound

  • Pitch: Refers to the frequency of sound, distinguishing between high and low sounds.

  • Noise: Defined as unforced vibrations that lack a definite pitch.

  • Dynamics: Refers to the volume of sound, ranging from soft to loud.

    • Volume terms (softest to loudest):

      • Pianissimo (pp): Very soft

      • Piano (p): Soft

      • Mezzo Piano (mp): Moderately soft

      • Mezzo Forte (mf): Moderately loud

      • Forte (f): Loud

      • Fortissimo (ff): Very loud

Timbre Variations

  • Instruments/voices produce different sounds even when performing the same note due to timbre.

  • Timbre can change with use of vibratos or mutes; frequency remains constant, but the waveform differs.

Duration of Music

  • Duration: Refers to the length of time a pitch is played, as well as the length of silence in music.

  • Notes: Specify what pitch to play and how to play it. Longer duration typically implies simplicity, while shorter duration increases complexity.

  • Rests: Indicate silence in music.

Accent and Rhythm

  • Accent: The act of emphasizing a note, typically by playing it louder.

  • Rhythm: The organization of music through time.

  • Beat: The basic unit for measuring time in music.

  • Meter: The consistent underlying pattern of beats.

    • Triple Meter: Beats are grouped in threes with emphasis on the first beat.

    • Measure: Each unit of beats in a meter; the number and duration of notes can vary within.

Syncopation

  • Syncopation: A rhythmic occurrence where accents are placed in unexpected places.

Melody as a Unit

  • Melody: Defined as a singular line of notes heard in succession.

    • Breath marks correspond to the ends of phrases in music and poetry.

  • Cadences: Points of arrival/rest in music, analogous to punctuation in sentences.

  • Melodic Motion: Can be stepwise (conjunct) or leaps (disjunct); often combines both.

  • Contour: Refers to the upward and downward movement of melody.

Tempo

  • Tempo: The speed at which music is played, defined by various Italian terms:

    • Largo: Slow and broad

    • Adagio: Slow

    • Andante: Walking pace

    • Moderato: Moderate speed

    • Allegro: Fast and lively

    • Vivace: Fast

    • Presto: Very fast

Music Appreciation Class 2

Musical Keys and Time Signatures

  • Keys: The seven different musical pitches denoted as A, B, C, D, E, F, G, after repeating back through A again; the order of these pitches is crucial.

  • Time Signature: Notation that indicates how to count musical measures:

    • Top number: Indicates the number of beats in a measure.

    • Bottom number: Specifies which note receives the beat.

Scales and Modes

  • Scales: Collections of pitches arranged is a specific order.

    • Diatonic Scale: Contains 8 pitches ordered by whole and half steps.

    • Octave: Duplication of a pitch higher or lower (e.g., A to A).

    • Chromatic Scale: Composed of 12 pitches, all half steps relating to both white and black keys on the piano.

  • Interval Definitions:

    • Half Step: Movement to the very next pitch with no pitches in between.

    • Whole Step: Equal to two half steps.

  • Tonic: The main note of the scale, defining the key; crucial for establishing the key signature.

  • Key: Named after the tonic, can be either major or minor.

Harmony

  • Harmony: The simultaneous sounding of at least two pitches.

    • Consonant: Harmony that is smooth and pleasing to the ear.

    • Dissonant: A harsh, unresolved quality that typically resolves to consonant harmony.

    • Triad: A three-note chord typically played as a unit.

  • Modulation: The process of changing from one key to another.

Genre and Texture

  • Genre: Categories of musical works, such as opera, symphonic, choral, jazz, and country.

  • Musical Texture Types:

    • Monophonic: A single melody without accompaniment.

    • Homophonic: Melody plus harmony; most common in contemporary music.

    • Polyphonic: Multiple independent melodies that harmonize; includes imitative and non-imitative polyphony.

Instrument Families

  • Orchestral vs. Non-Orchestral Instruments: Differences in tone/timbre and versatility of use.

Orchestral Instruments
String Family

  • Instruments ranked from higher to lower pitch:

    • Violin

    • Viola

    • Cello

    • Double Bass

  • Playing Techniques:

    • Arco: Playing with a bow.

    • Pizzicato: Plucking the string.

    • Double Stop: Playing two strings simultaneously.

Woodwind Family

  • Instruments ranked from higher to lower pitch:

    • Piccolo

    • Flute

    • Clarinet

    • Oboe

    • English Horn

    • Bassoon

    • Contrabassoon

  • Saxophone: A woodwind instrument invented by Adolphe Sax, not brass.

Brass Family

  • Known for producing the loudest sounds in orchestra:

    • Piccolo Trumpet

    • Trumpet

    • French Horn

    • Trombone

    • Tuba

  • Trumpet Mute Demonstrations: Change timbre while maintaining pitch.

Percussion Family

  • Unpitched Instruments:

    • Tambourine

    • Cymbals

    • Triangle

    • Snare Drum

  • Pitched Instruments:

    • Timpani

    • Chimes

    • Xylophones

    • Marimba

Vocal Ranges

  • Vocal Types ranked from highest to lowest:

    • Soprano

    • Mezzo Soprano

    • Alto

    • Tenor

    • Baritone

    • Bass

Non-Orchestral Instruments

  • Keyboard Instruments:

    • Harpsichord

    • Piano

    • Organ

Music Appreciation Class 3

Conductors and Musicians

  • Conductor: The individual leading the orchestra.

  • Concertmaster: Head musician responsible for tuning the ensemble.

  • Principal: Lead musician within specific instrument groups.

Performance Mediums

  • Original: Playing music as it was intended by its composer.

  • Transcription or Arrangement: Adapting music for different instruments or formats, such as vocals and piano in a solo context.

Orchestra Dynamics

  • Typical Orchestra: Approximately 165 rehearsals and 195 concerts per year.

Music Appreciation Class 4

Jazz Music Structure

  • Jazz Ensemble Composition: Generally composed of around 20 players.

    • Brass Section: 4-5 trumpets and 4-5 trombones.

    • Woodwinds: 5 saxophones (2 altos, 2 tenors, 1 baritone) along with clarinet or oboe.

    • Percussion: Includes piano, string bass, drum set, guitar, and various percussion instruments.

  • Jazz Combo: Smaller group, typically 3-6 players, focused on style and improvisation.

Performance Medium Examples

  • String Quartet: Comprises 2 violins, 1 cello, and 1 viola.

  • Piano Duet: One piano played by two individuals (4 hands).

  • Vocal Solo: Piano supporting a solo vocalist, where the piano does not play part of the vocal ensemble.

Musical Forms

  • Four Types of Musical Form:

    • Strophic: Different verses sung to a single melody (e.g., church hymn).

      • Format example: A A A A

    • Binary: Two-part structure (e.g., Star Spangled Banner).

      • Format example: A B

    • Ternary: Three-part structure (e.g., Twinkle Twinkle Little Star).

      • Format example: A B A

    • Theme and Variation: A theme followed by variations (e.g., Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra).

      • Format example: A A’ A” A””

Piano as an Instrument

  • Characteristics: Highly versatile and expressive; critical in the development of Western music.

  • Classification: Not considered an orchestral instrument due to its ability to play multiple notes simultaneously, unlike orchestral instruments that play one note at a time.

History and Invention of Piano

  • Inventor: Bartolomeo Cristofori; created the first piano around 1700 in Italy.

  • Original Name: Gravicembalo col piano e forte (harpsichord with soft and loud), which used hammers to strike strings for dynamic expression.

Technological Advancements in Piano Development

  • 18th Century: Development of the fortepiano, featuring a lighter touch.

  • 19th Century: Introduction of cast-iron frames and felt-covered hammers for improved volume and sustain.

  • Components: A piano consists of approximately 12,000 parts with 10,000 directly contributing to sound production.

Piano Types

  • Grand Piano: Features powerful sound and precise control, suited for concerts; available in varying sizes (e.g., baby grand: 4ft-6ft).

  • Upright Piano: More compact and affordable, suitable for homes or smaller venues.

    • True Statement: You can play keys on a grand piano faster than on an upright.

Piano Care

  • Importance: Maintenance is essential for sound quality, extending the instrument's lifespan, and protecting investment.

Environmental Care Considerations

  • Humidity and Temperature: Maintain levels between 40-50%, avoiding proximity to windows, heaters, or air conditioners.

Professional Service Recommendations

  • Piano Tuning: Recommended at least once a year by a professional.

  • Voicing Adjustments: Should be performed by a technician; involves adjusting tone and creating a renewed sound.

  • Hammer Voicing: Requires sanding felt to remove indentation and needling felt to restore sound quality.

  • Action Regulation: Ensures proper key and hammer response, to be done by a technician.

  • String Maintenance: Regularly check for rust/wear and replace strings as necessary.