Concepts Flashcards
1
Q
Plainchant
A
- Latin text
- Unaccompained or in unison
- No regular metre
- Origionally sung by monks as worship
2
Q
Mass
A
- Choral work
- Polyphonic texture
- Inludes words (Kyrie, Gloria, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, Credo)
- First masses were acapella
3
Q
Mode/Modal
A
- Seven note scale
4
Q
Anthem
A
- Sung in English
- Sacred choral work
- Polyphonic texture
- Usually a capella
- Prodistent version of a motet
5
Q
Ayre/Air
A
- A type of madrigal
- Strophic form (AAA)
- Could be performed:
solo voice with lute accompaniment
solo voice with viols
all voices with out without accompaniment
6
Q
Ballett
A
- A type of madrigal
- “fa-la-la” heard at section endings
- Mainly homophonic texture
- Strophic form (AAA)
7
Q
Madrigal
A
- Secular (non-religious)
- Set to a short poem for 3 - 6 voices
- Usually accompanied
- Homophonic and polyphonic texture
- Use of imitation
- Sung in English
8
Q
Pavan
A
- Slow moderate dance with 2 or 4 beats in a bar
9
Q
Galliard
A
- Lively spirited dance
- Usually performed after a pavan
- Main theme of pavan can be used but in triplet time
- Uses hemiolas
10
Q
Motet
A
- Sacred chroal piece
- Sung in Latin
- Polyphonic texture
- Use of imitation
- Usually performed over a capella
- Catholic version of an Anthem
11
Q
Secular
A
- More light hearted and upbeat
- Madrigal (English)
- Ballett (English)
- Ayre (English)
12
Q
Sacred
A
- Serious and slower tempo
- Motet (Latin)
- Anthem (English)
- Mass (Latin)
- Plainchant (Latin)
13
Q
Consort
A
- Small group of instruments either from the same family (group of lutes) or mixed (recorder and lute)
14
Q
Hemiola
A
- Feels like music is going into a different time signature but still remains in normal time signature
- Can sound like syncopation
- It is done by regrouping the notes
15
Q
Oratorio
A
- Usually a story from the Bible set to music
- For soloists, chorus and orchestras
- Include recitiatives, arias, duets and chorus
- No stage design or costumes
16
Q
Aria
A
- Melody is more important than the worlds
- The melody will be beautiful
- Usually convey strong emotions that the character is feeling
17
Q
Recitative
A
- Almost like speaking but still in tune
- Usually a chord or short passage is played before soloist tells story
- Lots of words can be crammed in a short space of time
18
Q
Coloratura
A
- Involves scales, runs, ornamients and melisma
- Dectorative singing
- Often improvised
19
Q
Obbligato
A
- Prominent solo instrument in a piece of vocal music
20
Q
Concerto Grosso
A
Concertino - small group of soloists
Ripieno - larger ensamble group
Basso Continuo - bass line and harmony
21
Q
Ritornello
A
- A returning theme
- Used in rondo form (ABACAD…)
- Key feature in a Concerto Grosso
22
Q
Passacaglia
A
- Variations over a ground bass
- Slow dance in 3/4
23
Q
Fugue
A
- Built on imitation
- Contrapuntal/Polyphonic texture
- Exposition, middle section, final section
24
Q
Exposition (Fugue)
A
- Plays the subject (distinctive melody)
- Played in the tonic key
- A second voice answers in the dominant (5th) key with the same melody (called the answer)
- 3rd voice answers in tonic key
- 4th voice replies in dominant key
- Each voice goes into another melody in counterpoint
25
Middle Section (Fugue)
- Enteries of the subject called middle entries occur in related keys
- Can occur in solo or groups as subject and answer
- Other passges of music enter called episodes
- Used as a relief from the subject but will have similarities
26
Final Section (Fugue)
- Sometimes a stretto is used meaning the subject and the answer follow closely one after another so that they overlap
- This section returns when the subject returns in the tonic key
27
Chorale
- German hymn sung by a choir
28
Antiphonal
- A group of voices (normally on the left) are heard in alternation with another group (on the right)
- Both groups answer eachother
- This can be done with contrasting instruments or sections of the orchestra
29
Countertenor
- An adult male voice higher than a tenor (alto range)
30
Appoggiatura
- A leaning note
- Steals half the value of the main note or 2/3 if the main note is dotted
- Can sound like a leading note
31
Acciaccatura
- Crushed quickly either on the beat or just before it
32
Turn
- Consists of 4 notes "turning" around the main note
- The note above, the main note, the note below and the main note again
- Inverted turn - note below, main note, note above, main note
33
Suspension
- The effect which occurs when a note, having formed part of the harmony is repeated or held over (suspended) above the next, creating a discord
34
Sonata Form
- Exposition: where two key contrasting themes are introduced
- Development: the section where these key themes are developed
- Recapitulation: where the key themes are heard again
35
Bridge
- A term used to describe a passage of music which serves as a link
- Leads from one theme to another
- Used in sonata form to link subjects together
36
Sonata
- Solo instrument (which can accompany itself) i.e. Piano/Harp
- Solo instrument accompanied by a piano
37
String Quartet
- 2 violins, a viola and a cello
38
Chamber Music
- Originally performed in homes by amateur musicians
- Limited space
- Small instrument ensembles with one player to part
39
Piano Trio
- Camber music composed for piano, violin and cello
40
Nationalism
- Using musical ideas of motifs which can be identidied with a certain country, religon or ethnic
41
Retrogade
- When a piece of music is played backwards
42
Lied
- Vocal music (German) and piano
- Both of equal importance
- Usually strophic but not always
43
Through Composed
- The opposite of strophic
- Little or no musical repetition
44
Leitmotiv
- A reoccurring theme throughout the music representing a person, object, emotion or and event or place
45
Song Cycle
- A set or sequence of songs, linked together by being based on the same poetic theme or story
46
Impressionist
- Focuses on a suggestion or atmosphere ratehr than story telling
47
Whole Tone Scale
- A Scale that uses only tones
- Sounds mysterious/dreamy
48
Musique Concrete
- Recorded natural sounds which are edited
49
Jazz Funk
- Sub-genre or Jazz
- Jazz features but with drums, bass guitar, rhythm guitar and synths
50
Soul Music
- Combination of gospel, bleus and country music
- Its gritty sound reflected what was happening socially in america at the time
51
Time Changes
- Changes in the time signature
52
Irregular Time Signatures
- When the music does not fall into equal groupings: 5/4, 7/4
53
3 Against 2
- A type of cross rhythm
54
Polytonality/Bitonality
- The use of two or more keys simultaneously
- Example: melody in one key and the harmoney in another
55
Tritone
- Used to be known as the devils chord
Concists of an interval of an augmented 4th which spans 3 whole tones (i.e. F-B)
56
Sprechgesang
- A style of vocal performance midway between song and speech in which the performed approximates the pitch of each note instead of pitching exactly
57
Contemporary Jazz
- A modern take on Jazz
- Use of modern instruments such as synths
- Fusion of genres i.e. pop, rock and funk
- Some features of origional jazz remain such as brass or improv
58
Electronic Dance Music (EDM)
- Music created for clubs, raves and festivals
- Usually performed by DJ's
59
Serialism - Tone Row/Note Row
- A method of composing
- A method of composition using series of pitches, rhythms, dynamics, timbres or other musical elements
60
Neo Classical
- Music that drew its inspiration from the classical period
- Instead of composing for a huge orchestra, the composer would write for a smaller orchestra choosing instrumental timbres which are contrasting and avoiding expression of emotion and instead aiming for a cool clear texture
- Could be abrupt key changes, unexpected melodic twists, clashing harmonies or a surprising choice of instruments
