MU 2313: Week 1 and 2 Things To Know

  1. What is Melody? - Line, or tune, in music.  A succession of notes that we perceive as a recognizable whole.

  1. What is Harmony? - Simultaneous combination of sound

  1. What is Rhythm? - Movement of music in time

  1. What is Texture? - Interweaving and combinations of voices and instruments or “forces.”

Monophony - A single line of melody with no accompaniment, creating a straightforward and clear musical statement.

Homophony - A musical texture where a primary melody is accompanied by chords or harmonies, resulting in a fuller, richer sound.

Polyphony - Two or more independent melodies sounding together

Cannon - A compositional technique where a melody is introduced and then imitated by one or more voices in succession, creating a layered effect that enhances thematic development.

Imitation - A technique where a melody is echoed or repeated by different voices or instruments, often at a different pitch or time, adding depth and complexity to the overall composition.

  1. What is conjunct melody and disjunct melody? - Conjunct melody refers to a melodic line that moves in small, connected intervals, while disjunct melody consists of larger leaps between notes.

  1. What is dissonance and consonance? - Dissonance refers to the combination of notes that create tension or an unresolved rub of notes, while consonance describes the harmonious combination of notes that provide a sense of rest and resolution.

  1. Regarding Melody, what is "range"? - The range of a melody refers to the distance between the highest and lowest pitches within that melodic line.

  1. What is an interval? - An interval is the distance between two pitches, measured by the number of whole and half steps between them.

Melodic interval - A melodic interval is formed when two notes are played in sequence, creating a specific distance in pitch that can evoke various emotions depending on their relationship.

Harmonic interval - A harmonic interval occurs when two notes are played simultaneously, producing a chord that can either complement or clash with one another.

  1. What is triple meter and duple meter?  - Triple meter is characterized by three beats per measure, typically counted as "1-2-3." like a waltz. In contrast, duple meter consists of two beats per measure, counted as "1-2," which gives a more straightforward and even feel, commonly heard in marches.

  1. What is a chord? - A combination of two or more notes played simultaneously, creating harmony. They establish the framework of music, with major chords providing a happy sound and minor chords conveying a sadder emotion.

  1. What is a triad? - A specific type of chord that consists of three notes; the root, third, and fifth of a scale.

  2. What feelings do we typically associate with minor and major keys? - Minor = sad & Major = happy

Musical Eras in order

  • Medieval Era (450 - 1450) - Moves by steps, Narrow range, No harmony in monophony, Polyphony works mostly in triple meter, Mostly vocal music, Mostly monophonic

  • Renaissance Era (1450 - 1600) - Moves by steps, Moderately narrow range, Careful use of dissonance, Consonant triads (chords), Duple and triple meter used, Sacred works: relaxed rhythms while Secular/instrumental: lively rhythms and syncopation, Unaccompanied vocal music still predominates, Growing interest in instrumental music

  • Baroque Era (1600 - 1750) - Less steps, more leaps, Wider range, Melodic sequence introduced, Major/minor tonality, Regularly repeating, driving rhythms, Enormously varied colors, Early orchestras, Terraced dynamics, Chordal, homophonic

  • Classical Era (1750 - 1850) - Short, balanced phrases, More influenced by vocal style, Simple chordal harmonies, More rhythmic variety, Larger orchestra (25-50), Woodwinds in pairs, Mostly homophony

  • Romantic Era (1830 - 1900) - Long lines with powerful climaxes, More dissonance, Flexible rhythms & tempo (rubato), Enormous orchestra, 100+, New instruments, Wide range of dynamics, Predominantly homophonic

  • Modern Era (1900 - 1985) - Wide ranging, angular lines, Chromatic and dissonant, Vigorous, energetic rhythms, Complex rhythms & meters, New sounds from acoustic & electronic instruments, Varied all textures used

    1. What do we know about the "origins" of music, what function(s) do we think music served in the ancient world, and what did the Greeks and Romans believe about music? - served as some kind of magical or ritual purpose and was as much a science as an art as well as was described it as, by Pythagoras, the unity of the universe as the “harmony of the spheres”

    2. Our listening will begin around 450 A.D., also known as the beginning of what artistic era?  - Medieval

    3. Why does this class begin its musical journey in the 5th century?  - That’s when people started writing things down, which allows us to follow its journey.