Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Music Appreciation
Test one
80
Music
Undergraduate 1
01/27/2013

Additional Music Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Melody
Definition
the line, or tune, in music
Term
ascending melody
Definition
uplifting and exciting
Term
arch melody
Definition
rise, climax, fall
Term
contour
Definition
how the melody moves up and down
Term
range
Definition
span of pitches
Term
interval
Definition
the distance between any two pitches
Term
conjunct
Definition
a melody that moves in small, connected intervals
Term
disjunct
Definition
a melody that moves by leaps
Term
phrases
Definition
the units that make up a melody; a unit of meaning within a larger structure, like a musical sentence
Term
cadences
Definition
the resting place in a musical phrases
Term
counter melody
Definition
a melody that is accompanied by a secondary melody; an added melody sounding against another melody
Term
rhyme scheme
Definition
poetic and musical phrases usually align
Term
frequency
Definition
number of vibrations per second
Term
duration
Definition
length of time
Term
amplitude
Definition
a music sound percieved at a certain volume
Term
Rhythm
Definition
movement of music in time
Term
simple meters
Definition
simple recurring patterns; typically 2,3 or 4 beats grouped in a measure
Term
meter
Definition
marked off in measures, organizes the beats in music; usually the strongest beat
Term
duple meter
Definition
two beats per measure
Term
compound meter
Definition
divisible by three beats instead of two
Term
syncopation
Definition
deliberate disruption of pattern; accent shifted to a weak beat or off beat
Term
polyrhythm
Definition
simultaneous use of different rhythmic patterns
Term
nonmetric
Definition
music without a strong sense of beat or measure
Term
beat
Definition
the basic units in music
Term
downbeat
Definition
measures often begin with a strong _________________
Term
measure lines
Definition
regular vertical lines through the staff
Term
tonality
Definition
the principle of organization around a central tone; the tonic; organization where we hear a piece in relation to a central tone
Term
dissonance
Definition
a combination of tones that sounds discordant, in need of a resolution
Term
consonance
Definition
a concordant, or agreeable, combination of musical tones that provides a sense of relaxation and fulfillment
Term
major tonality
Definition
brighter/happier
Term
minor tonality
Definition
subdued/sad
Term
chord
Definition
three of more notes stacked on top of each other
Term
scale
Definition
collection of pitches arranged in ascending or descending order
Term
octave
Definition
distance between first and last note. spanning 8 notes of the major/minor scale; most harmoneous sound you can play in music
Term
triad
Definition
three note chord
Term
tonic chord (key note)
Definition
first note of the scale; is the "home base"
Term
musical system
Definition
melody and harmony functioning together to make a musical system
Term
half step
Definition
the smallest unit used to divide an octave
Term
western octave
Definition
12 equal semitones
Term
major/minor scales
Definition
seven pitches drawn from 12
Term
up a scale (half step)
Definition
# (sharp)
Term
down a scale (half step)
Definition
b (flat)
Term
chromatic scale
Definition
made up of these twelve half steps
Term
diatonic scale
Definition
built on patterns of seven whole and half steps that form major and minor scales
Term
microtones
Definition
intervals smaller than a half step (only used in some parts of the world)
Term
transposition
Definition
playing in a different key
Term
modulation
Definition
the process of moving from one key to another
Term
active chords
Definition
seek to be resolved completed
Term
texture
Definition
the interweaving of the melodic lines with harmony in music
Term
monophony
Definition
the simplest texture; single voice music without accompaniment
Term
heterophony
Definition
refers to multiple voices elaborating the same melody at the same time
Term
homophony
Definition
texture with principal melody and accompanying harmony
Term
polyphony
Definition
two or more melodic lines combined into a multivocal texture
Term
imitation
Definition
when a melodic idea is presented in one voice, then restated in another
Term
counterpoint
Definition
one line set against another
Term
form
Definition
structure or shape of a piece of music; the organizing principle in music; its basic elements are repetition, contrast and variation.
Term
strophic form
Definition
common in songs, features repeated music for each stanza of text
Term
contrast
Definition
doing something one way and then switching it
Term
variation
Definition
an idea that is presented then changed throughout the piece by adding notes
Term
improvisation
Definition
the performer has liberty within a piece to create their own lines
Term
binary form
Definition
the idea is presented and then is contrasted
Term
theme
Definition
a melodic idea used as a building block in music
Term
thematic development
Definition
theme that has slight changes but is still recognizable
Term
sequence
Definition
occurs when a theme is repeated at a higher or lower pitch
Term
motive
Definition
smallest fragment of a theme
Term
call and response
Definition
someone plays/sings and then is repeated by a group
Term
ostinato
Definition
a repeated figure throughout an entire work
Term
tempo
Definition
the rate of speed, or pace, of the music
Term
dynamics
Definition
describe the volume, or how loud or soft the music is played
Term
adagio
Definition
slow
Term
allegro
Definition
fast
Term
forte
Definition
loudest
Term
piano
Definition
softest
Term
crescendo
Definition
louder
Term
decrescendo
Definition
softer
Term
a capella
Definition
choral groups singing without accompaniment
Term
chamber music
Definition
ensemble music for small groups, with one player per part
Term
string quartet
Definition
2 violins, viola, chello
Term
duo sonata
Definition
one person accompanied by a piano
Term
orchestra
Definition
features 80-100 players
Supporting users have an ad free experience!