Elements of Music

Question 1

Duration

Answer 1

Organisation of sound and silence and their lengths in music

Question 2

Duration descriptors

Answer 2

Rhythm, metre, beat & pulse, tempo, syncopation, subdivision, swing time, free time

Question 3

Pitch

Answer 3

The relative highness and lowness of sounds

Question 4

Melody

Answer 4

The organised patterns of sounds or pitches

Question 5

Melody descriptors

Answer 5

contour, range, steps & leaps, tones/semitones, intervals, melodic patterns (ostinato), sequence, imitation, riff/hook, motif, arpeggiation, ornamentation

Question 6

Harmony

Answer 6

Simultaneous sounding of more than one pitch and vertical organisation in music

Question 7

Harmony descriptors

Answer 7

triads, cadences, 7 9 11 chords, drone, power chords, chord progression, consonance/dissonance, suspension/resolution, chromaticism, chromatic/altered chords

Question 8

Tonality

Answer 8

The organisation of pitches that establishes tonal relationships

Question 9

Tonality descriptors

Answer 9

Diatonic, modal, chromaticism, modulation, related key, atonality & tone row, polytonality

Question 10

Texture

Answer 10

How sounds are combined, and how they interact and function in a piece of music

Question 11

Texture descriptors

Answer 11

Layers, dense, sparse, voicing, layering of instruments, changes in layers, roles of instrument & voices, monophony, homophony, polyphony

Question 12

Structure

Answer 12

The organisation of a piece of music on both a macro and micro level

Question 13

Structure descriptors

Answer 13

Sections, repetition, contrastm, unity, variety, call & response, common structures

Question 14

Dynamics

Answer 14

The relative volume or intensity of a sound(s) or note(s)

Question 15

Dynamic descriptors

Answer 15

Loud, moderate, soft, dynamic variation (crescendo/diminuendo), terraced, mixing

Question 16

Articulation

Answer 16

Refers to how specific notes or passages are played or sung

Question 17

Articulation descriptors

Answer 17

accent, staccato, marcato, tenuto, spiccato, off/onset, legato, phrasing, slur, pizzicato, touch and fingering

Question 18

Repetition

Answer 18

A musical pattern or idea that is established and used again

Question 19

Variation

Answer 19

Changes or modifications to establish musical ideas or patterns while retaining ideas or patterns

Question 20

Transition

Answer 20

The shift from one musical idea or section to another

Question 21

Contrast

Answer 21

Where significant musical material is introduced or where significant musical changes are made to established music patterns

Question 22

Diminution

Answer 22

The shortening of the time values of notes in a melodic part

Question 23

Augmentation

Answer 23

The lengthening of the time values of notes in a melodic part

Question 24

Inversion

Answer 24

To invert a chord or an interval so that the original bottom note becomes an upper note

Question 25

Counter melody

Answer 25

A group of notes perceived as a melody to be played with the original melody

Question 26

Fills

Answer 26

A short musical passage, riff or rhythmic sound that helps sustain the listeners attention in between melodies

Question 27

Retrograde

Answer 27

A melodic line that is the reverse of a previously stated line