Unit 1- elements of music

Terms in this set (93)

periods of sound and silence that are organized to give a desired effect

4 elements of sound

1. pitch
2. duration
3. volume
4. timbre

the highness or lowness of a given sound (frequency)

the number of vibrations per second. higher pitches have a faster __________ and more vibrations per second. lower pitches have a slower ______________ and fewer vibrations per second

the distance or space between any two given pitches

a large interval; it is doubling of the frequency. the 8th letter tone above or below any given note. A-A or Do-Do

the smallest interval that is used in western music; there are 12 different ___________ within an octave

on piano, the pitch gets higher as we move to the _________

on piano, the pitch gets lower as we move to the __________

the length of time a particular sound or silence lasts

the loudness or softness of a given sound

(tone color)the way each instrument sounds different. This is why you can tell the difference between a trumpet, flute, piano, etc... when listening to music; general quality of the sound

characteristics of timbre

mellow, rough, bright, brassy

the process of taking the musical terms we have discussed and translating them into written words and symbols that all musicians can recognize

where all musical symbols are recorded; a set of 5 lines and 4 spaces upon which we write music

instruments that produce pitch need this on the staff; a symbol placed at the beginning (left side) of the staff. It is used to help indicate where pitches lie

g clef; used to indicate higher pitches and is placed on the left side of the staff; instruments such as the trumpet, violin, and flute use this clef (also guitar, piano, clarinet, french horn, xylophone, saxophone)

f clef; is placed at the left side of the staff and is used to indicate low pitches. low pitches instruments such as the double bass, bassoon, and the tuba all use this clef (also baritone, trombone, bass, and piano)

created when a treble clef staff and bass clef staff are combined. this is used for keyboard instruments, such as the piano, due to the extensive range of the instrument

used to indicate pitches that lie above or below the staff. can go above, below, or through the center of the note head

symbols that represent various durations of sound (pitch) in music. There are several types. making changes to individual parts of the _______ or adding parts to the ____ will affect the duration of the sound letters A-G

symbols used to represent various durations of silence; several types of ______, many which have unique design

for every ____ there is a corresponding _____ of equal value

ppp (description)

very, very, soft

pp (description)

p (description)

mp (description)

moderately soft

mf (description)

moderately loud

f (description)

ff (description)

fff (description)

very, very, loud

< (description)

gradually getting louder

decrescendo or diminuendo

> (description)

gradually getting softer

4 elements of music

1. melody
2. harmony
3. rhythm
4. form

a series of single pitches of particular duration. also called "a tune". this is the part of the song which most people sing along with. there are 3 types of ______ movement in music

3 types of melodic movement

1. static movement
2. stepwise movement
3. movement by skip/leap

static movement

here an individual pitch is repeated several times before it changes to a new one which in turn repeats several times before changing again

stepwise movement

here pitches move in very small intervals; typically from one line to the next space above or below it. the notes of the melody remain close together

movement by skip/leap

the pitches in the melody move in very large/wide intervals. these tend to be several lines or spaces between each note

created when a minimum of two or more different pitches are sounded together.

form a basis for most harmony; created when three or more different pitches are sounded together

also known as "broken chord". this is created by playing each pitch of a chord at one time

consonant harmony

harmony chords that sound "traditional", stable, agreeable, good, or nice. the vast majority of music that we listen to predominantly

dissonant harmony

combinations of notes causing instability or tension. often described as sounding bad or disagreeable. most music uses some, but it usually resolves to the other kind

a system which establishes the dominance of certain pitches and chords around which we write our melody and harmony; relates to how all the other notes relate to that note (what will sound right or wrong)

an arrangement of pitches within an octave following a preset pattern. usually a major or minor. provide the raw materials upon which we build melodies or harmonies

happy, energetic, etc

sad, dreary, depressed, etc.

home base around which we build the scale

a shift from one key/scale/tonic to another. often gradual and undetectable. occasionally sudden and disturbing

the organization of time in music. made up of beats. the actual durations of long and short notes and rests as measured against beats

units that measure equal length of time and are felt as pulses while the music is playing. some pieces have a strong/clear sense of ______ (i.e. marches), whereas others have a weak sense of _____. some styles of music have no sense of ___ at all

groupings of the beat marked by accents. (heavier/stressed beats). overall this organization creates meter

duple and quadruple meter

placing the accents on every other beat within your grouping

grouping the accents every 3 beats; waltzes are an example that is always written in this way

irregular meter

uneven groupings of beats. fives, sevens, eleven. very hard to tap along with since the accents fall at uneven spaces

can meter change within a piece

measures go together; logical segment of melody; a certain number of measures where you feel a natural break

accenting a weak beat or portion of a beat. a disturbance of the expected accented beats

the speed of the music; how fast or slow the beat passes you by; can be separated into three categories: fast-medium-slow

slow tempo terms:

-largo/lento
-grave
-adagio dolce

slow and ponderous

medium tempo terms:

-moderato
-andante

moderately paced

moderate speed; walking tempo

fast tempo terms

-allegro
-allegro vivace
-presto
-prestissimo

fast and lively

as fast as possible

the organization of musical ideas; verse, chorus, refrain, bridge, etc. how they are assembled

two ideas contrasting elements in relation to form:

-unity
-variety

like or similar musical ideas

new or different musical ideas

often leads to boredom from hearing constant repetition of single musical ideas

too much variety

often leads to confusion or lack of understanding from not having anything familiar

one music idea repeated throughout a piece of music. the same melody is used in each stanza although the words may change. this is the most familiar form; hymns, carols, folk tunes, and patriotic songs. AAAAA

rondo/alternating form

one familiar musical idea is repeated on an alternating basis with new musical ideas; opening section should also be the last idea in the piece. ABACA

through composed form

uses no repetition of musical ideas or phrases; salve regina; ABCDE

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