amateur

person who engages in an activity without compensation

informal music making

source of pleasure for players and listeners

live performance

special excitement, affected by the emotional state of both performer and audience

sound

begins as a result of a vibrating object

music

organization of sounds in time

pitch is determined by:

frequency by vibration

Generally, the smaller vibrating object =

higher pitches

tone

definite pitch

irregular vibrations

indefinite pitch

interval

difference in pitch between two tones

octave

doubling/halving of frequency

How many octaves are in Western music?

12

Most Western music is based on a tone scale of:

8

range

distance between voice/instrument's highest and lowest possible pitch

dynamics

relative loudness of a sound

accent

tone played louder than tones near it

pianissimo (pp)

very soft

piano (p)

soft

mezzo piano (mp)

moderately soft

mezzo forte (mf)

moderately loud

forte (f)

loud

fortissimo (ff)

very loud

crescendo

gradually louder

decrescendo (diminuendo)

gradually softer

tone color/timbre

quality of sound

MIDI (1983)

allowed connection of devices

synthesizers

electronic instrument that generates audio signals, came into use 1960s, sampling advanced in 1990s

tape studio

main electronic tool of 1950s

electronic instruments

produce/amplify sound using electronics

accordion

air bellows drive reeds controlled by keyboard and buttons

pipe organ

sound produced by air being directed to pipes, wide range of pitch, dynamics, and tone color, pipe sets play by using stops

harpischord

sound produced by small wedges plucking string

piano

sound created when felt hammer strikes tight string, pedal affects sound, 88 keys

keyboard instruments

uses a piano-type keyboard for control, capable of several notes at once

Percussion emphasizes:

rhythm

Percussion indefinite pitch:

snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, gong

Percussion definite pitch:

timpani (kettledrums), glockenspiel, celesta, chimes

Percussion instruments of indefinite pitch produce:

noise-like sounds

Percussion instruments of definite pitch produce:

tones

Percussion instruments:

sound produced by striking, shaking, or rubbing instrument

Bass provides:

power and emphasis

Sound exits brass instruments through:

the bell

brass instruments

sound produced by blowing into mouthpiece, vibration of lips

saxophone

single reed instrument

sound is produced from woodwinds by

player blowing breath

covering holes along a woodwind instrument:

lengthens the tube

longer tube/string =

lower pitch

woodwind instruments

single note instruments

plectrum

small wedge/pick

Stopping string reduces:

vibrating length

Symphonic music uses:

bow

string instruments

sound produced by vibrating a tight cable

Groups are frequently led by:

conductor using baton

register

portion of range where instrument is playing

musical instruments

mechanism that produces musical sounds

bass

male, low

baritone

male, medium high

tenor

male, high

alto

female, low

mezzo soprano

female, medium high

soprano

female, high

rhythm

flow of music through time

beat

recurrent pulsation, divides music into equal units of time

meter

grouping of beats

measures

groups of beats

downbeat

first and strongest beat in measure

accent

emphasis placed on note/beat

syncopation

emphasis on unexpected note/beat

tempo

speed of the beat and pace, associated with emotional effect

When is tempo indicated?

beginning of piece

largo

very slow, broad

grave

very slow, solemn

adagio

slow

andante

moderately slow, a walking pace

moderato

moderate

allegretto

moderately fast

allegero

fast

vivace

lively

presto

very fast

pretissimo

as fast as possible

music notation

indicates the length of the tone in relation to other tones in the piece

time signature

indicates the meter of a piece of music, appears at beginning of piece

top of time signature

how many beats in measure

bottom of time signature

what type of note counts 1 beat

the score

includes music for every instrument

melody

a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole

Melodies are made up of:

phrases (parts)

cadence

complete vs incomplete

theme

melody used as starting point and evolving throughout an extended piece of music

harmony

the way chords are constructed and how they follow each other

chord

three or more tones sounded at once, simultaneous tones

melody

series of individual tones

progression

how chords follow each other

consonant

stable, restful chords

dissonant

unstable, tense chords

degree of dissonance

more and less dissonant

resolution

movement away from dissonance

The Triad

simplest, most basic chord, made of 3 notes

tonic

triad built on 1st scale, most stable, restful chord

Pieces usually end with what chord?

tonic

dominant

triad built on 5th scale, most unstable, tense chord

broken chords (arpeggios)

chord tones sounded in series

key

centering of a melody/harmony around a central note

the major scale

whole step, half step, bright and happy sound

the minor scale

whole steps and half steps occur in another predetermined order, dark and sad sound

major key

pieces of music using major scales

minor key

pieces of music using minor scales

What determines scale, key, and key signature?

the number of sharps/flats played

Where is the key signature notated?

beginning of piece between clef sign and time signature

What does the chromatic scale utilize?

All 12 notes within the octave

What types of piano keys are included in the chromatic scale?

Both black and white piano keys

Does the chromatic scale define a key?

No

What does modulation (change in key) provide?

contrast within longer piece

tonic

main key of a piece

When do modulations usually return to the tonic key?

the end of a piece

musical texture

layering of sound, how layers relate

monophonic texture

single, unaccompanied melody (solo/unison)

polyphonic

two or more equally important melodies sounding simultaneously (counterpoint and imitation)

homophonic texture

one melody w/ chordal accompaniment

changes of texture

within a piece, creates variety and texture

musical form

organization of musical elements in time

repetition

restating musical ideas

contrast

avoiding monotony w/ new ideas

variation

reworking ideas to keep them new

Is simple A, B, A ternary or binary?

ternary

Is subdivided aba, cdc, aba ternary or binary?

ternary

Is AB ternary or binary?

binary

Is AAB ternary or binary?

binary

Is ABB ternary or binary?

binary

Is AABB ternary or binary?

binary

musical style

musical style based upon time period and the continuous development of music as an art form

What does music reflect?

the society that supported it