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Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Arch form

A

A sectional structure based on repetition in reverse order. Height of composition is in middle, ends and begins similarity
ABCBA , C is the climax
Ex. Distant memories - Louie

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2
Q

Atonality

A

Total absence of any key centre, characterized by unresolved dissonances
Ex. Petrushka– Stravinsky

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3
Q

Ballet

A

Highly stylized dance which often interprets a story

Ex. Petrushka– Stravinsky

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4
Q

Berceuse

A

French for lullaby

Ex. Distant memories– Louie

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5
Q

Cha-cha

A

Latin-American ballroom dance (originating from Cuba) from early 1950s derived from the mambo, with small steps
Ex. West side story– bernstein

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6
Q

Changing meter

A

Shift of metrical groupings through changes of time signature
Ex. Petrushka–Stravinsky

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7
Q

Choreography

A

The art of designing the dance steps or movements in a stage work (musical, opera, ballet)
Ex. West side story– choreographer Gerome Robbins

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8
Q

Flutter tongue

A

Roll of the tongue while playing a wind instrument as if sounding a letter r
Ex. Rite of spring– Stravinsky

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9
Q

Antique cymbals

A

Small brass disks, finger cymbals, produce a gentle ringing sound

Ex. Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune –Debussy

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10
Q

Absolute music

A

Music with no literary or pictorial associations

Ex. Quinten–Haydn

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11
Q

Binary form

A

A musical form With 2 sections, both are usually repeated
AB
Ex. 3rd movement of Eine Kleine- menuet=AB

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12
Q

Coda

A

Italian for tail. The ending of a piece

Ex. Beethoven symphony no 5, final movement

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13
Q

Cyclical structure

A

Material heard in one movement recurs in later movements, creates unity in a multi-movement work
Ex. symphony no 5 –Beethoven

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14
Q

Development

A

The second main edition of sonata form. Manipulation of the empathic material presented in exposition, may also present new material
Ex. Beethoven–symphony no 5, first movement

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15
Q

Exposition

A

The first main section of sonata form. Consists of the first theme, (in the tonic key) bridge, second theme (often in dominant or relative key)
Ex. Beethoven–sym no 5, first movement.

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16
Q

Menuet and trio

A

ABA form
Menuet - a French dance developed in baroque period, in 3/4 time, graceful and elegant
Trio-a contrasting middle form
Ex. Mozart-Eine kleine, 3rd movement

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17
Q

Recapitulation

A

The third main section of sonata form. First and second themes restated in tonic key. Ends with a coda
Ex. Beethoven –symp no 5, 1st movement

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18
Q

Rocket theme

A

Rapidly ascending melody outlining an arpeggio

Ex. Eine kleine nachtmusik– Mozart

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19
Q

Rondo form

A

A musical form with the a section recurring alternating sections creating contrast. (A section is heard 3 or more times in the tonic key)
ABACA or ABACABA
Ex. Eine kleine, second movement -Mozart

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20
Q

Rounded binary

A

ABA
A musical form with 2 sections where A section returns after the B
ex eine kleine 3rd movement

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21
Q

Folk Song

A

songs of unknown authorship passed down through oral tradition rather than written down
petrushka- stravinsky

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22
Q

Glissando

A

from French for “slide”. On the harp a quick strumming of all strings with a sweeping hand movement. creates a shimmering effect
Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune - Debussy

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23
Q

Hemiola

A

shift of metrical accents, notes grouped in 3 are momentarily grouped in 2 or vice-versa.
America-WSS–Bernstein

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24
Q

Impressionism

A

19th century style of painting led by manet, monet, degas

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25
impressionism in music
suggests rather than directly depicting. Features innovative orchestral colours, no strong sense of beat, muted instruments prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune- Debussy
26
Mambo
afro-Cuban dance from 1940/1950's characterized by rhythmic ostinatos Wss- Bernstein
27
musical
a uniquely American genre- a play with spoken dialogue but featuring musical numbers, song, dancing, staging WSS- Bernstein
28
pentatonic scale
a scale consisting of 5 notes
29
Petrushka Chord
a dissonant polychord used as a signature theme for the character of Petrushka. Consists of a C major and F sharp major arpeggios played together
30
Polyrhythm
two or more rhthms going on simultaneously | petrushka-stravinsky
31
primitivism
an effect created through rhythm using strong accents, heavy syncopation, polyrhythms, and an expanded percussion section rite of spring--stravinsky
32
senza misura
"without measure" played freely, without strict time | Distant Memories- Alexina Louie
33
Symbolism
French literary movement. evokes, rather than depict. unorthodox grammar and syntax led by Baudelaire....also Mallarme, remaud
34
Tritone
interval of aug 4 or dim 5. 3 whole steps | Maria-WSS -Leonard Bernstein
35
Verse-Chorus structure
common song structure in popular music. verse develops storyline, chorus repeats the same words. America-WSS -Leonard Bernstein
36
Whole-tone scale
scale of 6 pitches all spaced by a whole tone | Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faune- Claude Debussy
37
Motive
a short melodic or rhythmic idea, used to form melody or theme ex Symphony no. 5 -Beethoven
38
Scherzo and Trio
a form where the scherzo replaced the minuet in the third movement in the sonata cycle. the Scherzo ( meaning joke) is more dramatic than the minuet, more humorous or ironic ex Sym No. 5, 3rd movement- Beethoven
39
Sonata form
consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation | ex. Beethoven- Sym no 5 first movement
40
sonata cycle
``` multi-movement structure demonstrated in symphony, and concerto that emerged in the classical era first movement=sonata form 2nd= a slow tempo 3rd=dance form like minuet and trio 4th= rondo, sonata, other form.. ```
41
ternary form
a three part musical form, ABA | quinten- 3rd movement -Haydn
42
theme and variations
a melody is stated and then undergoes a series of transformations. changes can be made to the melody, harmony, rhythm, or orchestration Sym no 5, 2nd movement- Beethoven
43
Subject
the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue - tonic key. Bach- WTC
44
Answer
the second statement of the main theme in a fugue, usually dominant key Bach- WTC
45
Real Answer
an exact transposition of the subject
46
tonal answer
a statement of the subject that begins the same, but one or more intervals are adjusted to accommodate the harmony
47
counter subject
a recurring counter melody (different melody) that accompanies entreis of the subject and answer
48
Fugue
a highly structured contrapuntal composition where a single theme or subject prevails Bach- WTC
49
Inversion
thematic material presented upside down
50
augmentation
thematic material presented in longer time values
51
diminution
thematic material presented in shorter time values
52
stretto
Italian for 'tighten' -subject entries overlap in close succession
53
episode
a passage in a fugue where neither subject nor answer is present. often in sequence
54
terraced dynamics
changing dynamics abruptly, creates stark contrast rather than a gradual change. Common in baroque
55
Figured bass
a type of shorthand developed in baroque era where numbers are placed below the bass line showing the harmonic progression. performed by the basso continue provides structure for improvisation
56
Prelude
a short keyboard work in improvisatory style used to introduce a fugue Bach- WTC
57
tierce de picardie
work in a minor key ends in the tonic major. common in baroque music
58
Aria
Italian for 'air' . A highly emotional or virtuosic solo in an opera, oratorio or cantata. may have lyrical or dramatic character madama butterfly- puccini
59
chromaticism
extensive use of notes outside the key signature, creates heightened expression. Polonaise in A flat major- Chopin
60
cloches
French for 'bells' - a pitched percussion instrument, emits a ringing sound when struck with a hammer or mallet. Symphonie fantastique- Berlioz
61
col legno
Italian for 'with the wood' - a novel string effect invented by Berlioz, players tap on the strings with the wooden part of the bow Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
62
dies Irae
latin for 'day of wrath' - drawn from the roman catholic requiem mass for the dead, a melody associated in 19th century with funeral Symphonie fantastique- Berlioz
63
Exoticism in music
fascination with foreign lands and cultures influenced 19th music through melody, rhythm, harmony and orchestration madama butterfly - puccini
64
habanera
a Spanish dance in slow duple time | Carmen- Bizet
65
idee fixe
French for 'fixed idea' coined by berlioz a recurring theme which undergoes transformation but creates unity in multi-movment work. Represents the beloved in Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
66
Lied
german art song. - musical setting of a german poem. for solo voice generally with piano accompaniment Erlkonig- Schubert
67
nationalism in music
patriotism expressed through music in 19th century, through folk song and dance, myths and legends, landscapes and historical events polonaise in a flat major - Chopin
68
Ophicleide
brass instrument, predecessor of the tuba | symphonie fantastique- berlioz
69
pentatonic scale
a scale consisting of 5 notes | madama butterfly -puccini
70
prelude (in opera)
an orchestral work serving as an introduction to an opera, took the place of a traditional overture, includes themes to be heard later in the opera Madama Butterfly- Puccini
71
Polonaise
polish dance in triple meter. Chopin transformed into a virtuosic piano composition. Stately, proud, majestic. includes characteristic rhythmic figures polonaise in a flat major - chopin
72
portamento
Italian for 'carrying'- a technique of sliding smoothly from one note to the next, originally a vocal technique that berlioz adapted as a novel instrumental technique Symphonie Fantastique- Berlioz
73
program music
instrumental music with pictoral or literary associations, a descriptive title identifies the connection. some works include a text provided by the composer Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
74
Romanticism
reaction against classicism, emphasized creative imagination, and expression of emotions
75
Rubato
Italian for 'robbed' time- with rhythmic flexibility, speeding up or slowing down. allows for more expression in interpreting music
76
symphonic poem
form of orchestral program music- with literary or pictoral associations. single movement work, generally free form. Prelude a l'apres midi d'un faun- Debussy
77
verismo
Italian for 'realism'- a style of opera where the story is based on gritty reality, often with a tragic or violent ending Madama butterfly- puccini
78
through-composed
(durchkomponiert) a song structure that avoids repetition of entire sections of music. the melody, harmony, and piano accompaniment reflects the meaning of the text erlkonig- schubert
79
ritornello form
the opening passage (ritornello) is restated throughout the movement. Use in the 1st and 3rd movements of baroque concerto spring-vivaldi
80
ripieno
Italian for "full" or "complete". use of the full orchestra in the baroque concerto
81
ostinato
Italian for "obstinate". a rhythmic or melodic pattern that is repeated
82
drone
a sustained ass note that provides a rudimentary harmonic foundation
83
programmatic writing
music with a descriptive element, inspired for example by a story or painting spring- vivaldi
84
solo concerto
instrumental genre in baroque era for soloist and orchestra. generally in 3 movements (fast, slow, fast). Frequently used ritornello form. Showcases the virtuosity of the soloist. spring-vivaldi

Music History 1 (7 decks)

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