TERMS
Syncopation: Emphasizing “and”
Upbeat: anacrusis, beginning on beat other than beat 1, incomplete 1st bar, last bar completes it
Down beat: 1st beat
Notation: system of written music. Symbols, pitch, dynamics, length, etc.
Pitch: the highness or lowness of a note
Polyrhythm: 2 different subdivisions at the same time (e.g. 8th note with triplet)
Offbeat: 1 2 3 4 (the bold stands for accents)
Beat: steady unchanging pulse
Rhythm: the length of different notes. Changing note lengths , different values
Meter: time signature, regular groupings
Ostinato: repeating rhythmic pattern
Hemiola: accent to make it feel like a different time sig.
Melody: the main part of the piece that you sing along with. Recognizable, sequence or succession (single line)
Harmony: parts that aren’t your melody, that support your melody. Chords that support the melody
Dynamics: louds and softs
Tempo: speeds
Timbre: how something sounds, tone colour, how sound is produced, the quality of sound
Program Music: has a literary or pictoral association; tells a story
Absolute Music: no literary or pictoral associaion
Upbeat: anacrusis, beginning on beat other than beat 1, incomplete 1st bar, last bar completes it
Down beat: 1st beat
Notation: system of written music. Symbols, pitch, dynamics, length, etc.
Pitch: the highness or lowness of a note
Polyrhythm: 2 different subdivisions at the same time (e.g. 8th note with triplet)
Offbeat: 1 2 3 4 (the bold stands for accents)
Beat: steady unchanging pulse
Rhythm: the length of different notes. Changing note lengths , different values
Meter: time signature, regular groupings
Ostinato: repeating rhythmic pattern
Hemiola: accent to make it feel like a different time sig.
Melody: the main part of the piece that you sing along with. Recognizable, sequence or succession (single line)
Harmony: parts that aren’t your melody, that support your melody. Chords that support the melody
Dynamics: louds and softs
Tempo: speeds
Timbre: how something sounds, tone colour, how sound is produced, the quality of sound
Program Music: has a literary or pictoral association; tells a story
Absolute Music: no literary or pictoral associaion
TEXTURE
Heterophonic: 2 or more parts playing different versions of the same melody
Homorhythmic: All parts are playing the same rhythm
Drone: single, sustained tone
Monophonic: Single unaccompanied melody
Homophonic: a melody with accompaniment
Polyphonic: multiple melodies simultaneously. Equal, independent melodies
Homorhythmic: All parts are playing the same rhythm
Drone: single, sustained tone
Monophonic: Single unaccompanied melody
Homophonic: a melody with accompaniment
Polyphonic: multiple melodies simultaneously. Equal, independent melodies
FORM
Binary: 2 sections, A|B
Rounded Binary: A|B+A, |:A:|:BA:|
Ternary: 3 sections. A|B|A |:A:|:B:|:A:| A|B D.C al fine
Rondo: A|B|A|C|A→recurring A section
Rounded Binary: A|B+A, |:A:|:BA:|
Ternary: 3 sections. A|B|A |:A:|:B:|:A:| A|B D.C al fine
Rondo: A|B|A|C|A→recurring A section
VOCAL RANGES (from highest to lowest)
Soprano
Mezzo-soprano
Alto (Countertenor)
Tenor
Baritone
Bass
Mezzo-soprano
Alto (Countertenor)
Tenor
Baritone
Bass
KEYBOARD INSTRUMENTS
Piano: (~1709 AD) a keyboard instrument where the sound is produced by a hammer hitting the strings
Organ: (~300 BC) a keyboard instrument where the sound is produced by air blowing through pipes, it has multiple manuals
Harpsichord: (15th century) string plucked with a plectrum (quill)
Clavichord (14th – 15th century) string struck with a tangent ( metal piece), smaller, no legs, portable
Organ: (~300 BC) a keyboard instrument where the sound is produced by air blowing through pipes, it has multiple manuals
Harpsichord: (15th century) string plucked with a plectrum (quill)
Clavichord (14th – 15th century) string struck with a tangent ( metal piece), smaller, no legs, portable
ORCHESTRAL INSTRUMENT FAMILIES AND INSTRUMENTS
Strings: violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp, guitar, banjo, mandolin
Woodwinds: bassoon, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, bagpipes, piccolo, contra bassoon, bass clarinet, English horn
Brass: trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, cornet, bugle, flugelhorns, euphonium, sousaphone
Percussion: drum, cymbals, triangle, bongos, xylophones, timpani, chimes, tambourine, marimba, glockenspiel, gong, vibraphone
Woodwinds: bassoon, flute, oboe, clarinet, saxophone, recorder, bagpipes, piccolo, contra bassoon, bass clarinet, English horn
Brass: trumpet, trombone, tuba, French horn, cornet, bugle, flugelhorns, euphonium, sousaphone
Percussion: drum, cymbals, triangle, bongos, xylophones, timpani, chimes, tambourine, marimba, glockenspiel, gong, vibraphone