FA Section I (Music) Flashcards
(250 cards)
1
Q
What is music?
A
sound organized in time
2
Q
What is required to make music?
A
a time frame, sound waves, and a cognizant mind to perceive and interpret those sounds
3
Q
Who is the person who first imagines a piece of music?
A
the composer
4
Q
What is a composer?
A
the person who first imagines a piece of music
5
Q
What is necessary for music to exist?
A
some degree of human intention and perception
6
Q
What is sound?
A
a wave of energy
7
Q
What are the attributes of a sound wave?
A
amplitude and frequency
8
Q
What is amplitude?
A
how loud or soft a sound is, the volume
9
Q
What is frequency?
A
the pitch of a sound
10
Q
What is amplitude measured in?
A
decibels
11
Q
What is frequency measured in?
A
cycles per second (Hz)
12
Q
What is Hz?
A
cycles per second
13
Q
What does the frequency of a sound wave have to be in order for humans to be able to hear?
A
20-20,000 cycles per second
14
Q
When the frequency of a sound wave is between 20 and 20,000 cycles per second, what do we hear?
A
a single, sustained tone
15
Q
What does a pure sine wave at 440 Hz sound like?
A
an A above middle C
16
Q
What do musicians in the US tune their instruments to?
A
A-440, or 440 Hz
17
Q
What are the two types of musical sound?
A
pitched and non-pitched
18
Q
What instrument group provides most of the non-pitched sounds?
A
percussion
19
Q
What are non-pitched sounds?
A
Sounds with no discernable pitch that sounds irregular and short
20
Q
What type of sound would be dropping a book on the ground?
A
non-pitched
21
Q
What are scholars who study the music of cultures called?
A
ethnomusicologists
22
Q
What are ethnomusicologists?
A
scholars who study the music of cultures
23
Q
Who created the Sachs and Hornbostel categorization of instruments?
A
Curt Sachs and Erich von Hornbostel
24
Q
When did Sachs and Hornbostel create their instrument classifications?
A
the late 19th century
25
What were the 4 groups of instruments categorized by Sachs and Hornbostel?
chordophones, aerophones, membranophones, and idiophones
26
How do chordophones produce sound?
by striking a string to create a vibration that produces sound waves
27
How do aerophones produce sound?
by creating a vibrating column of air
28
What instrument families are included in aerophones?
the woodwinds and brass
29
How do membranophones produce sound?
by striking a membrane that vibrates to produce sound
30
What do membranophones have that the player strikes to create sound?
a membrane, sometimes made of skin
31
How do idiophones produce sound?
by striking the body of the instrument
32
What was the 5th Sachs and Hornbostel category that was added later?
electrophones
33
How do electrophones produce sound?
by using an oscillator to produce sound waves
34
What are electrophones dependent upon?
electricity
35
How were instruments grouped before the Sachs and Hornbostel categories?
they were grouped into families
36
What are the instrument families?
strings, brass, woodwinds, percussion, and keyboards
37
What are brass instruments made of?
metal
38
What are reeds usually made of?
wood
39
What instrument family are idiophones and membranophones?
percussion
40
How do brass instruments create sound?
through the buzzing lips of the performer
41
How do woodwind instruments create sound?
by moving a column of air or the vibrating of reeds
42
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the violin in?
chordophones
43
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the piccolo in?
aerophones
44
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the timpani in?
membranophones
45
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the marimba in?
idiophones
46
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the trumpet in?
aerophones
47
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the piano in?
varies
48
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the viola in?
chordophones
49
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the harpsichord in?
varies
50
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bass drum in?
membranophones
51
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the flute in?
aerophones
52
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the xylophone in?
idiophones
53
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the trombone in?
aerophones
54
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the vibraphone in?
idiophones
55
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the french horn in?
aerophones
56
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the cello in?
chordophones
57
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the oboe in?
aerophones
58
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the snare drum in?
membranophones
59
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the organ in?
varies
60
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the double bass in?
chordophones
61
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the clarinet in?
aerophones
62
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification are the tubular bells in?
idiophones
63
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the celesta in?
varies
64
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the tuba in?
aerophones
65
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification are the gongs in?
idiophones
66
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the guitar in?
chordophones
67
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bassoon in?
aerophones
68
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the flugelhorn in?
aerophones
69
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the lute in?
chordophones
70
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the baritone in?
aerophones
71
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the triangle in?
idiophones
72
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the tambourine in?
membranophones
73
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the bugle in?
aerophones
74
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the saxophone in?
aerophones
75
Which Sachs and Hornbostel classification is the wood block in?
idiophones
76
When did the first electronic instruments begin to appear?
the early 20th century
77
What is one of the best-known early electronic instruments?
the theremin
78
When playing the theremin, what does the performer use their hands for?
they use their hands to regulate frequency and amplitude
79
How does the performer play the theremin?
by using their hands to disturb electrical fields that surround the bars
80
Who invented the theremin?
Leon Theremin
81
At the end of what war did electronic instruments advance a lot?
World War II
82
By the end of World War II, advances in what technology had been made?
radio technology and electronics
83
After WWII, studios made for wartime were used for what?
making music
84
Composition where recordings are edited, manipulated, and recombined is known as what?
musique concrete
85
What is musique concrete?
where recordings of music are edited, manipulated, and recombined to form collages of sound
86
Why is musique concrete a French word?
because many of the early practitioners of this style were based in Paris
87
What are the basic techniques of tape music?
looping and splicing
88
What cities in particular had famous postwar centers for electronic music?
Rome, Paris, Cologne, and NYC
89
A musical sound has what 4 properties?
pitch, duration, volume, and timbre
90
What is pitch?
the highness or lowness of a sound
91
How does a tuba's pitch compare to a piccolo's pitch?
the tuba has a much lower pitch
92
What do musicians refer to when they speak of a pitch?
a single tone whose pitch doesn't change
93
A piano keyboard provides excellent visual aid for understanding ____________ and _____________.
pitch and harmony
94
Where are the higher-sounding pitches on a piano located?
to the right
95
Where are the lower-sounding pitches on a piano located?
to the left
96
What is moving from left to right on a keyboard called?
moving up the keyboard
97
What is moving from right to left on a keyboard called?
moving down the keyboard
98
What is moving up the keyboard?
moving from left to right
99
What is moving down the keyboard?
moving from right to left
100
What note on a piano is equidistant from both ends?
middle C
101
How are the black keys arranged on a piano?
in alternating groups of 3 and 2
102
What is the distance between 2 adjacent keys on a piano called?
a half-step or semitone
103
What is another word for half-step?
semitone
104
What are the basic intervals of a scale?
whole and half steps
105
What is a whole step?
the distance between every other key
106
What is a scale?
a sequence of pitches in ascending or descending order
107
What are the white keys on a keyboard referred to as?
the natural keys
108
What letters do notes span?
A-G
109
What do musicians assume if there is no natural sign?
the pitch is natural
110
What is the symbol for a sharp?
#
111
What is the symbol for a flat?
♭
112
What does a sharp sign indicate in music?
to raise the pitch a half-step, ex: C becomes C#
113
What does a flat sign indicate in music?
to lower the pitch a half-step, ex: B becomes B-flat
114
What is m2?
a half-step
115
What is M2?
a whole step
116
What is m3?
a minor third
117
What is M3?
a major third
118
What is P4?
a perfect fourth
119
What is aug4, d5, or TT?
augmented fourth, diminished fifth, and tritone
120
What is P5?
a perfect fifth
121
What is m6?
a minor sixth
122
What is M6?
a major sixth
123
What is m7?
a minor seventh
124
What is M7?
a major seventh
125
What is P8?
an octave
126
How many half-steps are in m2?
1
127
How many half-steps are in M2?
2
128
How many half-steps are in m3?
3
129
How many half-steps are in M3?
4
130
How many half-steps are in P4?
5
131
How many half-steps are in aug4, d5, and TT?
6
132
How many half-steps are in P5?
7
133
How many half-steps are in m6?
8
134
How many half-steps are in M6?
9
135
How many half-steps are in m7?
10
136
How many half-steps are in M7?
11
137
How many half-steps are in P8?
12
138
What interval is C-D-flat?
m2
139
What interval is C-D?
M2
140
What interval is C-E-flat?
m3
141
What interval is C-E?
M3
142
What interval is C-F?
P4
143
What interval is C-F#?
aug4
144
What interval is C-G-flat?
d5
145
What interval is B-F?
TT
146
What interval is C-G?
P5
147
What interval is C-A-flat?
m6
148
What interval is C-A?
M6
149
What interval is C-B-flat?
m7
150
What interval is C-B?
M7
151
What interval is C-C?
P8
152
What is an interval?
the distance between any 2 pitches
153
What is the distance between any 2 pitches called?
an interval
154
Intervals can be performed to be what?
harmonic or melodic
155
What are melodic intervals?
intervals occurring in succession
156
Melodic intervals are either ______________ or _______________.
ascending or descending
157
What are harmonic intervals?
2 pitches of the interval occurring simultaneously to form harmony
158
What are the intervals that exceed an octave?
m9, M9, m10, M10
159
What is the most common scale?
the major scale
160
What is the second most common scale?
the minor scale
161
What are the 3 types of minor scales?
natural (pure), harmonic, and melodic
162
What are natural minor scales also referred to as?
pure minor scales
163
What do all minor scales feature?
a lowered 3rd scale degree
164
What are relative scales?
scales that use the same pitches but on different tonics
165
E-flat major and C natural minor scales are ____________ scales.
relative
166
What are scales that use the same pitches but on different tonics called?
relative scales
167
Scales with blue inflection combine elements of which other scale types?
minor and major scales
168
What is a melody?
a series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole
169
How many pitches usually occur at a time in a melody?
1
170
Why would there be 2 or more pitches in a melody?
to form harmony or counterpoint
171
What is a series of successive pitches perceived by the ear to form a coherent whole?
melody
172
What is the way music is organized in time?
rhythm
173
What is rhythm
the way music is organized in time
174
What is the steady pulse that underlies most music?
beat
175
What is beat?
the steady pulse that underlies most music
176
What is the speed of the beat?
tempo
177
What is tempo?
the speed of the beat
178
What language are words for tempo in?
Italian
179
Why are Italian terms used to mark tempo?
because the terms predate the invention of actual timekeeping
180
What do the Italian names for tempo indicate?
mood or other expressive qualities related to tempo
181
What does Allegro mean?
cheerful
182
What does Allegro mean in terms of tempo?
fast
183
What is called when the tempo slows down?
ritardando
184
What is called when the tempo speeds up?
accelerando
185
What is called when the tempo changes gradually?
poco a poco
186
What is called when the tempo changes suddenly?
subito
187
What is called when the tempo changes for expressive effect?
rubato
188
What is a piece that doesn't have a steady beat considered to be?
unmetered
189
Are all beats of equal length?
Yes
190
Are all beats of equal importance?
No
191
What are beats grouped into?
measures
192
What are measures separated by?
bar lines
193
What is usually the strongest beat of a measure?
the first beat, or downbeat
194
What is the first beat of a measure called?
the downbeat
195
What is meter?
the pattern of emphasis on certain beats
196
What are the main meters in music?
duple, triple, quadruple, or irregular
197
What is another term for irregular meter?
asymmetrical meter
198
How many beats per minute is Presto?
200 bpm
199
How many beats per minute is Allegro?
120 bpm
200
How many beats per minute is Moderato?
108 bpm
201
How many beats per minute is Andante?
84 bpm
202
How many beats per minute is Adagio?
72 bpm
203
How many beats per minute is Lento or Grave?
40 bpm
204
What does Presto mean in terms of tempo?
very fast
205
What does Moderato mean in terms of tempo?
moderate
206
What does Andante mean in terms of tempo?
at a walking tempo
207
What does Adagio mean in terms of tempo?
slow
208
What does Lento or Grave mean in terms of tempo?
very slow
209
What is the pattern of emphasized beats in duple meter?
STRONG-weak-STRONG-weak
210
What is the pattern of emphasized beats in triple meter?
STRONG-weak-weak-STRONG-weak-weak
211
What meter is this pattern in: STRONG-weak-STRONG-weak?
duple meter
212
What meter is this pattern in: STRONG-weak-weak-STRONG-weak-weak?
triple meter
213
What is the longest note symbol used today?
the whole note
214
What does a dot behind a note indicate?
to add half its value
215
What does a tie in music do?
it ties the values of the notes together
216
What are symbols for silence?
rests
217
What are rests in music?
symbols for silence
218
What is harmony?
2 or more tones sounding simultaneously
219
What is it called when 2 or more tones are sounding simultaneously?
harmony
220
What is a chord?
3 or more pitches sounding simultaneously
221
What is 3 or more tones sounding simultaneously?
chord
222
What is the key of a piece?
the set of 7 notes, or scale, selected for the piece
223
Unless specified, the key of C is assumed to be what?
the key of C major
224
What is form in music?
how music is organized on a larger time scale, the architecture of music
225
Form is the ______________ of music.
architecture
226
What is the smallest unit form?
motive
227
What is a motive?
the smallest identifiable recurring musical idea
228
A motive has a distinctive _____________ and ____________ profile.
melodic, rhythmic
229
What is a motive that is repeated many, many times in immediate succession?
an ostinato
230
Ostinato comes from the Italian word for what?
obstinate
231
What is a cohesive musical thought?
a phrase
232
What is a phrase?
a cohesive musical thought
233
What is a theme?
a set of phrases that make a complete melody
234
A theme is a set of phrases that make a complete ___________.
melody
235
What does a theme play a prominent role in?
a longer piece of music
236
What do many pieces of music begin with?
an introduction
237
What is an introduction in music?
music that precedes the first main theme
238
What do many pieces end with?
a coda
239
What is coda Italian for?
tail
240
How does a coda sound?
conclusive, like it's wrapping up the piece
241
What do codas and introductions serve as in music?
an outer frame for the central piece
242
Why are codas and introductions usually disregarded when analyzing form in music?
because they mainly serve as the outer frame for the main music
243
What does musical form control?
larger spans of time
244
What operate in musical form?
balance, proportion, drama, climax, and denouement
245
What are the most basic formal processes in music?
repetition, variation, and contrast
246
What is repetition in music?
the repeating of musical material
247
What is a musical idea repeated at a different pitch level?
sequence
248
What is a sequence in music?
musical idea repeated at a different pitch level
249
What are sections of music labeled with?
capital letters
250
What is variation?
repetition with enough alterations that the listener senses continuity and contrast
