Music Appreciation Class - Test 1 Flashcards

Music Terminology

• Rhythm: Surface activity based on sound duration in music.
• Beat: Underlying pulse of music, characterized by equal sounds.
• Tempo: Speed at which beats occur.
• Meter: Organization of beats into structured groups or patterns.
• Duple Meter: Musical pattern of strong-weak beats (I>uI>uI).
• Triple Meter: Musical pattern of strong-weak-weak beats (I>uuI>uuI).
• Quadruple Meter: Musical pattern with a strong-weak- medium-weak structure (I>u>uI>u>uI).
• Measure: Length of a specific pattern of beats.
• Bar Lines: Vertical lines indicating the start and end of beat patterns.
• Non-Metric: Music lacking a strong sense of beat or meter.

Musical Expression

• Syncopation: Accentuation of beats that are typically unstressed.
• Melody: Sequence of single pitches arranged rhythmically.
• Interval: Distance between two musical pitches.
• Melodic Structure: Melodies reflect linguistic patterns.
• Phrase: Incomplete melodic idea typically concluded by a cadence.
• Cadence: Resting point marking the end of a musical phrase.
• Incomplete Cadence: Suggests continuation after a resting point.
• Complete Cadence: Signifies closure and completion of a piece.
• Musical Sentence: Complete thought in music concluding with a complete cadence.

Harmony and Chords

• Sequence: Repetition of a melodic fragment at varying pitch levels.
• Harmony: The simultaneous sounding of two or more notes.
• Chord: A grouping of three or more notes.
• Broken Chord: Playing the notes of a chord individually.
• Progression: Transition from one chord to another.
• Scale: Ordered series of pitches.
• Tonic: First and most crucial note of a scale, often called the key.
• Major Mode: Typically associated with a happy sound.
• Minor Mode: Often evokes a sad sound.
• Modulation: Shift from one key to another.

Musical Texture

• Consonance: Pleasing combinations of pitches.
• Dissonance: Clashing combinations of pitches.
• Musical Texture: Relationship and layering of musical sounds.
• Monophonic Texture: Single, unaccompanied melodic line.
• Polyphonic Texture: Multiple melodies layered together.
• Imitation: Melodic idea presented and restated in different parts.
• Counterpoint: Alternative reference for polyphonic texture.
• Homophonic Texture: A melody accompanied by chords or harmony.

Melodic Techniques

• Inversion: Melody presented upside down.
• Retrograde: Melody played backwards.
• Augmentation: Lengthening the duration of musical notes.
• Diminution: Shortening the duration of musical notes.

Musical Structure

• Musical Form: Arrangement of musical ideas.
• Repetition: Restatement of a musical idea or section.
• Contrast: Variability in the music.
• Variation: Modified version of previously heard material.
• Binary Form: Structure consisting of two contrasting sections (AB).
• Ternary Form: Form with three sections, typically ABA.
• Theme: Melodic idea serving as a foundational element of a composition.
• Motive: Smallest building block of music.
• Movement: Complete musical unit within a larger work.

Dynamics and Articulation

• Dynamics: Variations in loudness and softness.
• Pizzicato: Technique of plucking strings with fingers.
• Double Stop: Plucking two strings simultaneously.
• Vibrato: Rocking motion of the finger on a string.
• Tremolo: Rapid bowing of a single note.
• Harmonics: High pitches obtained by lightly touching a string.
• Mute: Device used to soften the tone of an instrument.

Instrument Classification

• Single Reed Instruments: Include clarinets and saxophones.
• Double Reed Instruments: Include oboe, English horn, and bassoon.
• Articulation: Manner in which individual notes are played.
• Legato: Smooth and connected notes.
• Staccato: Notes played in a detached manner.

Historical Context

• Genre: Broad categories of musical works.
• Medium: Instruments used to perform music.
• Medieval Period (Middle Ages): 450-1450.
• Sacred Music: Music associated with religious worship.
• Secular Music: Non-religious musical expressions.

Noteworthy Concepts

• Gregorian Chant: Official chant of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Syllabic: Each syllable set to one note.
• Melismatic: Multiple notes for a single syllable.
• Old Church Modes: Scales from medieval and renaissance periods.
• Organum: Early example of polyphonic music from around 1000 AD.
• The Mass: Official liturgical rite of the Roman Catholic Church.
• Motet: Sacred vocal composition in polyphony, typically a cappella.
• Troubadours/Trouveres: Higher-class poet-singer-composers.
• Jongleurs: Lower-class performers with a less reputable status.
• Machaut: Key 14th-century composer, noted for his mass settings.
• Chanson: Songs derived from courtly love poetry.

Renaissance Insights

• Renaissance Period: 1450-1600.
• A Capella: Vocal music without instrumental backing.
• Word Painting: Musical gestures illustrate the meaning of the text.
• Josquin: Significant Renaissance composer around 1500.
• Ordinary of the Mass: Refers to liturgical fixed texts.
• Kyrie: A plea for mercy.
• Gloria: Expression of praise.
• Credo: Declaration of beliefs.
• Sanctus: Expression of praise.
• Agnus Dei: Prayer for mercy.
• Palestrina: Composer known for clear text settings in homophonic texture.
• Madrigal: Secular vocal music derived from motets, often romantic in text.
• Reformation/Counter-Reformation: Movement rejecting Catholic authority.