Intro to World Music Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is the Sachs-Hornbostel system of classification based on?

The size of the instrument

How an instrument produces sound (correct)

The materials used in the instrument

The genre of music

What are aerophones?

Instruments that produce sounds via vibrating columns of air.

What are membranophones?

Instruments that produce sounds via vibrating, stretched membranes.

What is a chordophone?

A musical instrument that makes sound by way of vibrating strings. Signup and view all the answers

Define idiophones.

Instruments that create sound primarily by the instrument as a whole vibrating. Signup and view all the answers

What are electrophones?

Instruments that generate sound by electrical means. Signup and view all the answers

What does pitch refer to?

A tone's experienced highness or lowness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the definition of timbre?

Tone quality. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pulse in music?

The beat in a piece of music. Signup and view all the answers

What does meter refer to in music?

The rhythmic structure of music. Signup and view all the answers

What is the form of a piece of music?

The overall structure or plan of a composition. Signup and view all the answers

Define texture in music.

The way melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials are combined. Signup and view all the answers

What is monophonic texture?

Music containing only a single part, sung in unison. Signup and view all the answers

What is polyphonic texture?

A musical texture consisting of two or more simultaneous lines of independent melody. Signup and view all the answers

What is homophonic texture?

Music in which two or more parts move together in harmony. Signup and view all the answers

What does melody and accompaniment refer to?

A kind of homophonic texture where there is one main melody accompanied by chords. Signup and view all the answers

What is melody and drone?

A bass note held throughout a passage of music with one main melody. Signup and view all the answers

What is music as flow?

A state of heightened concentration while engaged in an activity. Signup and view all the answers

What is semiotics?

A theory of signs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a sign?

Anything perceived that stands for something else. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term object refer to in semiotics?

What the sign stands for or the idea indicated by the sign. Signup and view all the answers

What does effect mean in the context of semiotics?

Meaning of the sign-object relation to the observer. Signup and view all the answers

What is an icon?

A connection between a sign and what it stands for through resemblance. Signup and view all the answers

What does the index indicate?

Experiencing the sign and object together. Signup and view all the answers

What are symbols in semiotics?

The linguistic definition of the connection between sign and object. Signup and view all the answers

What is semiotic density?

The relative number of potential signs coexisting in an art form. Signup and view all the answers

What is participatory performance?

A form of music where everyone is actively engaged. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sachs-Hornbostel System

Classifies musical instruments based on vibrations producing sound.
Divides instruments into four main groups: aerophones, chordophones, idiophones, and membranophones.

Aerophones

Produce sound through vibrating air columns, e.g., flutes and trumpets.
Sound is generated without strings or membranes; relies solely on air action.

Membranophones

Instruments that create sound via vibrating stretched membranes, like drums.
Can be played by striking or rubbing the membranes.

Chordophones

Produce sound through vibrating strings between two points.
Examples include violins, guitars, and harps.

Idiophones

Generate sound through the whole instrument vibrating, without strings or membranes.
Common examples are gongs and xylophones.

Electrophones

Instruments that use electrical means to generate sound.
Includes devices like synthesizers and drum machines.

Pitch

Refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a tone, determined by its frequency.

Timbre (Tone Colour)

Refers to the quality or character of a sound, distinguishing different types of sound production.

Pulse

The underlying beat that provides a framework for the music.

Meter

Describes the rhythmic structure and organization of beats in music.

Form

The overall layout or structure of a musical composition divided into sections.

Texture

Describes how melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic materials combine to shape the sound quality.
Types include monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic textures.

Monophonic Texture

Consists of a single melodic line, can be vocal or instrumental.
All notes are performed in unison.

Polyphonic Texture

Features two or more independent melodies played simultaneously.

Homophonic Texture

Involves multiple parts moving together in harmony to create chords.

Melody and Accompaniment

A type of homophonic texture with one main melody supported by chords or other instruments.
The accompaniment enhances the melody performed by a soloist.

Melody and Drone

Consists of a sustained bass note that complements the main melody.

Music as Flow (Csikszentmihalyi)

Describes a state of intense concentration where distractions fade, allowing full immersion in the musical experience.

Semiotics

The study of signs and symbols, exploring their meanings and effects.

Sign

Anything perceptible that represents something else, influencing the observer's perception.

Object

Refers to what the sign represents or the idea it conveys.

Effect

The significance of the sign-object relationship to the observer, resulting in emotional or physical responses, or mental imagery.

Icon

A type of sign linked to its meaning through resemblance and personal experiences.

Index

The simultaneous experience of a sign and its object.

Symbols

Defined connections between signs and their corresponding objects, often language-based.

Semiotic Density

Refers to the variety of potential signs present simultaneously in an artwork or communication.

Participatory Performance

Engages all individuals actively without a defined audience; everyone can join in.
Typically features open, repetitive forms, and participants may range from amateurs to skilled musicians.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of music classification with these flashcards. This quiz covers the Sachs-Hornbostel system and various types of musical instruments, including aerophones. Perfect for students looking to enhance their understanding of world music.