Exam #1 vocab

Question 1

vibrations that are transmitted, usually through air, to the eardrum, which sends impulses to the brain

Answer 1

sound

Question 2

4 main properties of musical sounds

Answer 2

pitch, dynamics, tone color, duration

Question 3

the relative highness or lowness we hear in a sound

Determined by the frequency of its vibrations
Faster the vibrations, the higher the pitch (short string)
Slower the vibrations, the lower the pitch (long string)

Answer 3

pitch

Question 4

a sound that has a definite pitch

Answer 4

tone

Question 5

The ‘distance’ between any two tones

Answer 5

interval

Question 6

Interval between two tones in which the higher tone has twice the frequency of the lower tone

ex. Somewhere over the rainbow: tone of -where sounds like the tone of -some, even though it is higher. An ____ lies between them

Answer 6

octave

Question 7

The distance between the lowest and highest tones hat a voice or instrument can produce

Answer 7

pitch range

Question 8

A noise that the listener finds to have little harmony or hard to identify a specific pitch

ex. such as those made by a bass drum or cymbals
Some percussion instruments, gongs, cowbells, and woodblocks, come in different sizes and produce higher or lower ____ pitches

Answer 8

Indefinite pitch

Question 9

A pitch which the listener can discern into a specific pitch and has harmony

Answer 9

definite pitch

Question 10

Degrees of loudness or softness in music

Answer 10

Dynamics

Question 11

Related to the amplitude of the vibration that produces the sound

Answer 11

Loudness

Question 12

Emphasis of a note, which may result from its being louder, longer, or higher in pitch that the notes near it

Answer 12

accent

Question 13

very soft dynamic

Answer 13

pp (pianissimo)

Question 14

soft dynamic

Answer 14

p (piano)

Question 15

loud dynamic

Answer 15

f (forte) / fortissimo (FF)

Question 16

gradually softer >

Answer 16

descrescendo

Question 17

gradually louder <

Answer 17

crescendo

Question 18

Quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another

Described by words such as bright, dark, mellow, and rich

Answer 18

timbre (tone color)

Question 19

Western system of dividing octave into 3 types of sounds
(major, minor, and chromatic)

Answer 19

Key

Question 20

8 notes, has a brighter tone

Answer 20

major

Question 21

8 notes, has a ‘sad’ tone

Answer 21

minor

Question 22

First note of scale which defines the key

Answer 22

keynote

Question 23

Successive ascending or descending leaps in pitches

Answer 23

arpeggio

Question 24

Multiple pitches played simultaneously (chord) consonant or dissonant intervals/harmony

Answer 24

Harmony

Question 25

(voice) vibrate around main pitch

Answer 25

vibrato

Question 26

rapidly alternate main and a higher pitch

Answer 26

trill

Question 27

smooth 'glide' from low to high pitch

Answer 27

glissando

Question 28

(strings) Bow 'trembles' quickly

Answer 28

tremolo

Question 29

(strings) pluck string with finger

Answer 29

pizzicato

Question 30

(strings) two strings at one

Answer 30

double stops

Question 31

(strings) produce specific overtones/whistles

Answer 31

harmonics

Question 32

A pattern of sound and silence flowing through time

Answer 32

Rhythm

Question 33

Measurement of musical time; A regularly, recurring pulse

Answer 33

beat

Question 34

Rhythmic increment smaller than a beat/divides beat

Answer 34

subdivision

Question 35

relative speed of beat (and rhythm)

Answer 35

tempo

Question 36

Acceleration of beat/rhythm

Answer 36

acclereando

Question 37

Deceleration of beat/rhythm

Answer 37

ritardando/rallentando

Question 38

Elastic stretching or increase of tempo for expressive highlight (expressive performance technique)

Answer 38

Rubato

Question 39

Regular grouping of beats (strong and weak)

Answer 39

Meter

Question 40

first beat of measure, followed by weaker beats

Answer 40

downbeat

Question 41

beat/note before downbeat

Answer 41

up-beat/pick up

Question 42

A dynamically stressed note or beat

Answer 42

Accent

Question 43

An accent in between beats or on "off" beats

Answer 43

synchopation

Question 44

Long - short pattern (used in marches)

Answer 44

dotted rhythm

Question 45

An organized combination of pitch and rhythm , typically containing shape/contour, climax, and cadence; may be either consonant or dissonant, long or short, etc

Answer 45

melody/tune

Question 46

Shape of melodic line (pitch), conjunct or disjunct

Answer 46

Contour

Question 47

High or low point of melody: in pitch, dynamically, rhythmically

Answer 47

climax

Question 48

resting point at end of melody (pitch and rhythm)

Answer 48

cadence

Question 49

sub sections of melody, which sub-cadences (a, b, c)

Answer 49

phrases

Question 50

A small rhytmic or melodic cell/building block

Answer 50

motive

Question 51

repetition of a motive at different pitch levels

Answer 51

sequence

Question 52

Repitiion, contrast, sequence, and vibration Binary (a, b) and ternary (a, b, c, a, b, c) Forms are common

Answer 52

melodic form

Question 53

A melody which is the basis of a large piece of music

Answer 53

Theme

Question 54

Combination (vertical) of multiple melodies or harmony

Answer 54

texture

Question 55

One melodic line (one or many unison voices)

Answer 55

Monophonic

Question 56

Multiple melodic lines, simultaneously parallel or imitative, non imitative counterpoint

Answer 56

Polyphonic

Question 57

A main melody accompanied by harmony (chordal) Harmony supports melody, vertically, provides, direction

Answer 57

homophonic

Question 58

guitar and violin, viola, cello, and double bass Vary in tone color, size, and range. Have the greatest versatility and expressive range

Answer 58

string

Question 59

flute and clarinet, oboe, bassoon Named because they produce vibrations of air within a tube that traditionally was made of wood Can only produce one note at a time

Answer 59

woodwind

Question 60

trumpet and trombone, french horn, tuba, cornet, baritone horn, and euphonium Uses valves and slides to change length of tube through which the air vibrates

Answer 60

brass

Question 61

bass drum and cymbals, triangle, gong, xylophone (definite pitch) Vibrations are stretched by membranes or by plates or bars. Used to emphasize rhythm and to heighten climaxes.

Answer 61

percussion

Question 62

organ and piano (can play melody and accompaniment at same time), accordion Permits player to play several tones at the same time easily and rapidly

Answer 62

keyboard

Question 63

synthesizer is an example of this instrument (tape studio)

Answer 63

electronic

Question 64

part of the total range

Answer 64

register

Question 65

the principal first violinist

Answer 65

concertmaster

Question 66

WHen a player presses their finger to the fingerboard to change the pitch

Answer 66

stopping

Question 67

systems of electronic components that generate, modify, and control sound (manipulate pitch, color tone, loudness, and duration)

Answer 67

synthesizer

Question 68

very slow, broad

Answer 68

largo

Question 69

slow

Answer 69

adagio

Question 70

moderately slow, a walking pace

Answer 70

andante

Question 71

fast

Answer 71

allegro

Question 72

very fast

Answer 72

presto

Question 73

What group dominated, politically and intellectually during the Medieval Period/Middle Ages?

Answer 73

Roman Catholic Church

Question 74

3 classes of society

Answer 74

noblemen, clergy, Peasants (serfs)

Question 75

Among the classes of society that were not illiterate

Answer 75

clergy

Question 76

How was music passes down in the Medieval periods?

Answer 76

rote tradition; later by clergy/scribes

Question 77

Gregorian chant

Answer 77

Catholic religious texts/liturgy, set melodically and sung in Latin by Clergy. Based on church Modes, not modern major/minor scales (instruments generally not allowed in church)

Question 78

Church modes

Answer 78

One of the eight scales prevalent in medieval music each utilizing a different pattern of intervals and beginning on a different tone

Question 79

Chant

Answer 79

meter less, calm, fluid, otherworldly melodies with generally conjunct shape and narrow vocal range.

Question 80

Texture and which position phrasing comes in chant

Answer 80

Phrasing follows text. Monophonic texture with some responsorial setting. Later develops into early polyphonic textures through use of drones and organum

Question 81

secular music

Answer 81

Troubadour songs (notated ballads, love songs), accompanied by harp, fiddle, drum with clear meter and beat Instrumental dance music with modest accompaniment (drones) and clear meter/beat

Question 82

1450-1600

Answer 82

Renaissance period

Question 83

Advances in science, art (realism/depth perspective), music (polyphony, word painting and instrumental music) philosophy and secular literature.

Answer 83

rise of humanism

Question 84

Artists in the Renaissance period

Answer 84

Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Chaucer, Galileo

Question 85

Generaly vocal, sacred text, polyphonic, complex

Answer 85

motet

Question 86

Vocal, secular text, polyphonic clear beat; Instrumental dance music, introduction of keyboard instruments - organ/harpsichord

Answer 86

Madrigal

Question 87

Multiple pitches under syllable

Answer 87

melissma