tonality

Question 1

tonality

Answer 1

Tonality refers to the group of notes on which a composer has based their music, nd the techniques they use to reinforce the tonality. The tonalities with which you are probably most familiar (as western music is largely based on these) are the major and minor keys. Most of your set works are based on these.

Question 2

Pentatonic Scale

Answer 2

The pentatonic scale (5 pitches) is commonly used in jazz, folk music from all round the world, Gamelan and in music by Debussy!

Question 3

modes

Answer 3

The modes are just different types of scale. They originate from the early medieval period. In fact it wasn’t until the 17th century that major and minor scales really came into common usage. Notice that they are equivalent to the white notes on the piano.

Question 4

Pedal Notes

Answer 4

Pedal notes help to define the key of a piece by retaining usually either the tonic or the dominant note whilst chords change around it. This will result in some dissonances, but with the sustained (or reiterated) key note heard constantly somewhere in the texture.
(Think back to texture: you need to state where the pedal note is in the texture, for example, upper tonic pedal (Star Wars opening) or inner dominant pedal.)

Question 5

Atonal

Answer 5

Atonal describes the absence of tonality ie: all notes are used, and all notes have equal weighting.