musical elements: melody

Question 1

define melody

Answer 1

succession of notes that form a tune

Question 2

define anacrusis

Answer 2

one or more unstressed notes before the first bar line of a piece

Question 3

define conjunct

Answer 3

a melody that moves by steps (stepwise)

Question 4

define disjunct

Answer 4

a melody which uses angular leaps (larger intervals than a 2nd)

Question 5

define arpeggio

Answer 5

playing the notes of a chord one at a time, up and down over one or more octaves

Question 6

define broken chord

Answer 6

playing the notes of a chord one at a time

Question 7

define scalic

Answer 7

ascends or descends a portion of a scale

Question 8

define range

Answer 8

a region in which the pitches of a section, part of a piece appear

Question 9

define low pitch

Answer 9

notes toward the bass end of the pitch range (low frequency)

Question 10

define high pitch

Answer 10

notes toward the treble end of the pitch range (high frequency)

Question 11

define sequence

Answer 11

repetition of a phrase at a higher or lower pitch

Question 12

define imitation

Answer 12

(loose) copying of a melody in other parts

Question 13

define leitmotif

Answer 13

in opera and film, a musical idea that represents a character, place, item or idea

Question 14

define motif

Answer 14

short, characteristic musical idea that is used prominently within a piece

Question 15

define semitone

Answer 15

the smallest interval from one note to another e.g. C-C*

Question 16

define tone/ major 2nd

Answer 16

an interval of 2 semitones

Question 17

define major 3rd

Answer 17

the interval between the tonic and third notes of the major scale e.g. C - E

Question 18

define perfect 4th

Answer 18

the interval between the tonic and subdominant of a major or minor scale e.g. C - F

Question 19

define perfect 5th

Answer 19

interval between the tonic and dominant of a major or minor scale e.g. C - G

Question 20

define major 6th

Answer 20

interval between the tonic and sixth note of a major scale e.g. C - A

Question 21

define major 7th

Answer 21

interval between the tonic and the seventh note of a major scale e.g. C - B

Question 22

define octave

Answer 22

interval between two notes of the same name

Question 23

define microtone

Answer 23

intervals smaller than a semitone

Question 24

define chromatic movement

Answer 24

melodic movement by semitones (notes outside the key of music)

Question 25

define pentatonic

Answer 25

melody using five notes (of a five note pentatonic scale)

Question 26

define blue notes

Answer 26

flattened notes, esp. thirds and fifths, typical of blues and jazz

Question 27

define ornamentation

Answer 27

decorative elements added to a melody, esp. in classical music

Question 28

define trill

Answer 28

a type of ornament where there is rapid alternation between two adjacent notes

Question 29

define mordent

Answer 29

type of ornament where there is a single rapid alternation with the note above or below

Question 30

define appogiatura

Answer 30

type of ornament which is a ‘lean’ lasting half the value of the main note

Question 31

define turn

Answer 31

type of ornament where notes sound in the order note: above, main note, note below, main note

Question 32

define acciaccatura

Answer 32

type of ornament where a note is played just before the main note

Question 33

define countermelody

Answer 33

melody that sounds against the main melody

Question 34

define answering phrase

Answer 34

phrase that forms a natural pair with an opening phrase

Question 35

define thematic

Answer 35

reusing parts of a theme/ main melody

Question 36

define fanfare

Answer 36

short, musical idea that introduces something important