Homework/Study Guide #1.
Name_______________________
Ngoc Thy Nguyen
Complete and turn in before the test for credit.
- A succession of tones arranged in a specific rhythm.
Music- - Organized sound and silence in a specific time frame.
Utility music- music used for a specific purpose.
Absolute music- comes from the composer's imagination rather than outside influences.
does not have a subject that it is meant to represent or depict.
Art music- music intended for careful attention to its sounds and expressive qualities.
Musical connotations- associations people make between music and a set of personal or cultural events or
experiences.
4 properties of sound- Pitch - Volume - Duration - Tone color
5 elements of music- Rhythm - Pitch - Design - Expression - Timbre
Beat- an even pulse in music that divides the passing of time into equal segments.
Meter- the gathering of beats into regular groups.
Rhythm- the organization of time in music, dividing up long spans of time into smaller more easily comprehended
units.
Syncopation- the displacement of an accent so that it occurs where it is not normally expected or does not occur
where it is expected - places the accent (musical stress) on a weak beat or between the beats.
Polyrhythm- two or more rhythm patterns occurring simultaneously.
Staff- all notes on the grand staff from bass clef Low C to treble clef High C
Clef signs- each clef points out a landmark note, which can then be used to find other notes, show specific
regions of notes.
Scale- a series of pitches that proceeds upward or downward in a prescribed pattern.
Melody- a series of consecutive pitches that form a cohesive musical identity.
Harmony- the simultaneous sounds of several pitches, usually accompanying a melody.
Chord- three or more notes sounded simultaneously.
Arpeggio- sounding of the individual tones of a chord in sequence rather than simultaneously.
Key- tonal center - the centering of pitches around a particular pitch (or scale or chord) in a piece in relationship
to which everything else is heard.
Modulation- changing the key or tonal center as the music progresses.
Consonance- a group of sounds that sound agreeable or restful.
Dissonance- a group of sounds that sound disagreeable or restless.
Texture- how sound is layered (monophonic - homophonic - polyphonic)
Monophonic- single melodic line without accompaniment.
Homophonic- one melody line accompanied by chords.
Polyphonic- two or more lines of equal importance played at the same time (counterpoint - imitation)
Dynamics- the amount of loudness in music
Crescendo- getting louder
Decrescendo- getting quieter (diminuendo)
Tempo- the speed of the beats in a piece of music
Articulation- the way the parts are played or enunciated
Staccato- detached, separated
Legato- connected, smooth
VibratoTimbre- Slight, rapid fluctuations of pitch
Fanfare- a short ceremonial tune or flourish played on brass instruments, typically to introduce something or
someone important.
Coda- a concluding section that is based, as a general rule, on extensions or reelaborations of thematic material
previously heard
Cadenza- a loose term for pretty much any short somewhat rhythmically free solo performed by a single musician
or maybe a small group of musicians during a larger work.
Cadence- a melodic or harmonic formula that gives a sense of phrase ending
Unity and Variety or Repetition/variation/contrast
Unity - repetition, staying the same or using similar ideas during a piece of music
Variety - new ideas, patterns or musical elements
Listening:
Know the correct title and the composer’s name.
Write your listening clues below. They should be specific observations: what you hear not what
you feel.
Star Wars- John Williams
powerful
using a lot of violin family and brass family
Hoe-Down from Rodeo – Aaron Copland
fast, lively
cheerful melody
Farandole from L’Arlesienne- George Bizet
I've listened to this piece quite a lot
the melody flows smoothly from dramatic passages to more gentle sections
Simple Gifts- Aaron Copland
peaceful, simple
Concierto de Aranjuez, 2nd movement- Joaquin Rodrigo
guitar
A Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra- Benjamin Britten
enthusiastic melody
changing instrument
