Music Chapter 3 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What is pitch?

The perceived highness or lowness of a musical sound.

Which of the following conditions allows pitch to be useful? (Select all that apply)

Be a part of a series of pitches that forms a logical unit of music—MELODY. (correct)

Be a part of two or more logical series of pitches sounded in contrast with each other—COUNTERPOINT. (correct)

Be a part of several pitches sounded at the same time—HARMONY. (correct)

Be a single isolated pitch.

What is a theme in music?

A central melody in a musical work.

What does counterpoint refer to in music?

A central melody in a musical work. Signup and view all the answers

What are modulations in music?

Changing the tonal center as the music progresses, usually without a break. Signup and view all the answers

What is dissonance?

A group of simultaneous sounds that seems disagreeable or harsh. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a melody?

A series of consecutive pitches that form a cohesive musical entity. Signup and view all the answers

What are phrases in music?

A rather short, logical segment of music; comparable to a clause or phrase in language. Signup and view all the answers

What is imitation in music?

The repetition of a theme in another part or line or a few beats later. Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a canon in music?

Music in which one or more lines imitate one another for almost the entire work. Signup and view all the answers

What is harmony?

The simultaneous sounds of several pitches, usually accompanying a melody. Signup and view all the answers

What is a tonal center?

The specific pitch around which a piece of music is centered. Signup and view all the answers

What is the scale in music?

A series of pitches that proceeds upward or downward according to a prescribed pattern. Signup and view all the answers

What is a chord?

The simultaneous sounding of three or more pitches. Signup and view all the answers

What is a tonic chord?

A chord built on the first degree of a major or minor scale. Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'interval' refer to?

The distance between two pitches. Signup and view all the answers

What is an octave?

A pitch that has twice or half the frequency of vibrations of another. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Major scale?

A series of seven different pitches within an octave, with half steps between the third and fourth steps and the seventh and eighth steps. Signup and view all the answers

What defines a Minor scale?

A series of seven pitches within an octave, with a half step between the second and third steps. Signup and view all the answers

What is consonance?

A group of simultaneous sounds that seems agreeable or restful. Signup and view all the answers

What are cadences in music?

A melodic or harmonic formula that gives a sense of phrase ending. Signup and view all the answers

What is texture in music?

The basic setting of the music: monophonic, homophonic, or polyphonic. Signup and view all the answers

What is monophonic music?

One melodic line without any accompaniment. Signup and view all the answers

What is homophonic music?

The texture consisting of a line of melody with accompaniment. Signup and view all the answers

What is polyphonic music?

Music in which two or more melodic lines of approximately equal importance are sounded at the same time. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Music Terminology and Concepts

Pitch: Refers to the perceived highness or lowness of a musical sound.
Functional Pitch Conditions:
- Melody involves a series of pitches forming a coherent unit.
- Counterpoint contrasts multiple logical series of pitches.
- Harmony consists of several pitches sounding simultaneously.
Theme: The central melody of a musical composition.
Counterpoint: Melodic interdependence often involving imitation and contrast.

Tonality and Harmony

Modulation: The shift in tonal center during a piece, resulting in a change of key.
Dissonance: A combination of sounds perceived as harsh or disagreeable.
Melody: A cohesive sequence of consecutive pitches.
Phrases: Logical shorter segments of music, akin to clauses in language.
Imitation: Repetition of a theme or motif in another part or shortly after.
Canon: A form of music where lines imitate each other throughout the piece.
Harmony: The combination of multiple pitches, creating chords that accompany a melody.

Musical Structures

Tonal Center: The pitch around which a piece of music is centered.
Key: Refers to the tonic or root note of a scale.
Scale: A defined series of pitches that ascend or descend based on specific patterns.
Chord: Combination of three or more pitches sounded together.
Tonic Chord: Built on the first degree of a major or minor scale.
Interval: Measures the distance between two pitches.

Scales and Modes

Octave: Relationship of pitch where one frequency is double or half that of another.
Major Scale: Comprises seven distinct pitches within an octave with specific half-step placements.
Minor Scale: Also consists of seven pitches, differing in half-step arrangement.

Sound Qualities

Consonance: Simultaneous sounds perceived as agreeable or restful.
Cadences: Melodic or harmonic formulas that signal the end of a phrase.
Texture: The arrangement of melody and harmony into forms such as monophonic, homophonic, or polyphonic.

Texture Types

Monophonic: One melodic line without accompaniment.
Homophonic: A primary melody supported by accompanying harmony.
Polyphonic: Multiple melodic lines of similar importance played simultaneously.

General Principles

Sound arises from vibrating molecules in the air.
The rate of vibration determines pitch; more rapid vibrations yield higher pitches.
Musical notes are designated by the first seven letters of the alphabet, repeated in each octave.
Higher and lower pitches from the same note differ in their frequency, being either halved or doubled.
Melody is formed from consecutive pitches and can be segmented into phrases, influenced by harmony and instrumentality.
Most music centers on a tonal note, with frequent modulations occurring throughout compositions.
Scales establish the tonal foundation for music, with major and minor scales providing a contrasting musical character.

Textural Understanding

Modern music predominantly features homophonic texture; polyphony includes forms of imitation like canons, or simultaneous melodic lines.

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Description

Explore key terms and concepts in Chapter 3 of music studies with these flashcards. Learn about pitch, melody, counterpoint, and harmony, along with their definitions. This quiz will help reinforce your understanding of essential musical terminology.