Questions and Answers
Timbre is synonymous with?
What are degrees of loudness and softness in music called?
dynamics
What is the relative highness or lowness of a sound called?
pitch
What is the distance between the lowest and the highest tones that a voice or instrument can produce?
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What are the Italian dynamic markings traditionally used to indicate very soft, loud, and very loud?
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The pitch of a sound is decided by the _______ of its vibrations.
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What is the distance in pitch between any two tones called?
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When two different tones blend so well when sounded together that they almost seem to merge into one tone, the interval is called a(n)?
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The frequency of vibrations is measured in?
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What occurs in music when a performer emphasizes a tone by playing it more loudly than the tones around it?
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What is a gradual increase in loudness known as?
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In music, a sound that has a definite pitch is called a?
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Music can be defined as?
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In general, the smaller the vibrating element, the ______ its pitch.
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What is a thin piece of cane, used singly or in pairs by woodwind players, called?
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How are the strings of a violin tuned?
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What is the lowest instrument in the orchestra?
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What are systems of electronic components that generate, modify, and control sound called?
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What is a specific part of an instrument's total range, like the low part, called?
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What is the bow that string players usually use to produce sound on their instruments made of?
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What is the highest woodwind instrument in the orchestra?
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What does a string player do to make the tone warmer and more expressive using vibrato?
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What is it called when plucking the string with the finger instead of using a bow?
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How do symphonic bands differ from symphonic orchestras?
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What is a piece of wood or plastic that brass players use to alter the tone of their instruments called?
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Why are woodwind instruments named as such?
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What does the range of a singer's voice depend on?
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What are the very high-pitched tones that are produced when a string player lightly touches certain points on a string called?
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What was the main tool of composers of electronic music during the 1950s?
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What is the regular pulsation that divides music into equal units of time known as?
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What is it called when a measure has two beats?
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What is the organization of beats into regular groups known as?
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What does 'Vivace' mean in terms of tempo indication?
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In syncopation, a _________ is accented.
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Rhythm is the ordered flow of music through?
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What happens when individual notes are stressed by being played louder or longer than surrounding notes?
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Which of the following tempo indications is the slowest: allegro, allegretto, vivace, presto?
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What is a system of writing music known as?
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The _______ shows the pitch of each line and space on the staff.
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What happens when adding a dot to a note?
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What shows the meter of a piece?
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A C# is _________ than a C.
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What is a combination of three or more tones sounded at the same time called?
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What does harmony refer to?
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What is the triad built on the fifth step of the scale called?
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What does resolution refer to in music?
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________ in music adds support, depth, and richness to a melody.
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When the individual tones of a chord are sounded one after another instead of simultaneously, what is it called?
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A combination of tones that is considered unstable and tense is called?
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Traditionally, a composition would almost always end on?
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What is a series of chords called?
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What is a combination of tones that is considered stable and restful called?
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Key refers to?
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Another term for key is?
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In traditional western music, the _______ is the smallest interval between successive tones of a scale.
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What is a shift from one key to another within the same composition called?
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What is the central tone around which a musical composition is organized called?
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What is it called when retaining some features of a musical idea while changing others?
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Ternary form can be represented as ______.
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What is the organization of musical ideas in time called?
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What would the form consisting of a musical statement followed by a counterstatement be called?
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Changes in musical style from one historical period to the next are usually?
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Why do we know little about the music of very ancient civilizations?
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Musical texture refers to?
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What is the technique called when a melodic idea is presented by one voice or instrument and then immediately by another?
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What is a round an example of?
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When there is one main melody accompanied by chords, the texture is?
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The texture of a single melodic line without accompaniment is?
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What do we call the performance of a single melodic line by more than one instrument or voice?
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What is the technique of combining several melodic lines into a meaningful whole called?
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When two or more melodic lines of equal interest are performed simultaneously, the texture is?
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What is contrapuntal texture sometimes used in place of?
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What is a melodic phrase ending that sets up expectations for continuation called?
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What is a series of single tones that add up to a recognizable whole called?
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What is the emotional focal point of a melody known as?
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What is the repetition of a melodic pattern at a higher or lower pitch called?
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What is a resting place at the end of a phrase called?
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What is a shorter part of a melody called?
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What does legato refer to in music?
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What is a melody that serves as the starting point for a more extended piece of music called?
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What is it called when a melody is said to move by steps?
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What is a short, detached style of playing a melody known as?
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What does a simple time signature consist of?
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What are sharp signs or flat signs immediately following the clef known as?
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What is the Italian term for string players to pluck the strings?
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What are major and minor scales that share the same key signature called?
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What is the type of scale that only has a half step between the second and third tones?
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What type of scale uses the 12 tones of the octave scale?
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Study Notes
Music Terminology and Concepts
- Timbre refers to the tone color of a sound, which distinguishes different types of sound production.
- Dynamics encompasses the degrees of loudness and softness in music, impacting emotional expression.
- Pitch signifies the relative highness or lowness of a sound, determined by the frequency of its vibrations.
- Pitch range is defined as the span between the lowest and highest tones an instrument or voice can produce.
Dynamic Markings and Frequency
- Italian terms for dynamics include pianissimo (very soft), forte (loud), and fortissimo (very loud).
- The frequency of vibrations is measured in cycles per second, affecting the perceived pitch.
- An interval describes the distance in pitch between two tones, while an octave specifically refers to two tones that blend almost seamlessly due to their harmonic relationship.
Instrumentation and Techniques
- A reed is a thin piece of cane used by woodwind players, while a mute alters the tone for brass instruments.
- Instruments like the contrabassoon are recognized as the lowest in the orchestra, and woodwinds are named for their original material.
- Vibrato enhances tone warmth and expression, achieved by rocking the left hand for pitch fluctuations.
Music Notation and Structure
- Notation is a systematic way of writing music, wherein the clef indicates the pitch for each line and space on the staff.
- Time signatures denote the meter of a piece, reflecting the organization of beats into regular groups.
- Crescendo signifies a gradual increase in loudness, while an accent stresses individual notes by playing them louder or longer than others.
Harmony and Chord Structures
- Harmony adds depth and richness to melodies, characterized by chord construction and progression.
- A chord is a combination of three or more tones played simultaneously, with specific types like dominant chords being built on the fifth scale step.
- Dissonance refers to unstable and tense combinations, while consonance denotes stable, restful combinations.
Musical Form and Texture
- The organization of musical ideas in time is referred to as form, with variations like ternary (A B A) and binary structures.
- Textural styles include homophonic (main melody with chords), monophonic (single melody), and polyphonic (multiple equal voices).
- Techniques such as imitation, counterpoint, and strict imitation (as seen in rounds) contribute to how musical lines interact.
Melody and Composition Techniques
- A melody is defined as a sequence of single tones that form a recognizable whole, with the climax serving as its emotional high point.
- The sequence is the repetition of a melodic pattern at different pitches, while cadences provide resting points at the phrases' end.
- Legato and staccato are techniques describing smooth connected playing versus short, detached playing styles, respectively.
Scales and Key Signatures
- Music employs scales, with major and minor scales sharing the same key signature being termed relative.
- The chromatic scale consists of all 12 tones of the octave, while a minor scale specifically features a half step between the second and third tones.
- Modulation involves shifting from one key to another within a composition, while tonality relates to the central tone, chord, and scale of a piece.
Historical Context
- Music from ancient civilizations is scarcely known due to the lack of surviving notated material.
- Changes in musical style across historical periods are typically continuous, influencing the evolution of musical forms and practices.
Studying That Suits You
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Description
Test your knowledge on key music concepts with these flashcards. This quiz covers essential terms like timbre, dynamics, pitch, and pitch range, fundamental to understanding music appreciation. Perfect for students looking to enhance their musical vocabulary!
