Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Music > Higher Concepts > Flashcards

Higher Concepts Flashcards

0
Q

Pavane and Galliard

A

A slow stately dance (2 beats in a bar), contrasted with a more lively dance (3 beats in a bar)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
1
Q

Retrograde

A

To go backwards. A melody or a section of music can be written/performed from the end to the beginning

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Mass

A

A sacred vocal work with 5 important parts. Look out for Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Antiphonal

A

Dialogue between voices or instruments- one group or voice answers the other. Stereo effect

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Renaissance

A

Describes the music of 1450-1600. A “rebirth” of interest in classical times of the distant past

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Motet

A

An unaccompanied vocal setting of religious words (usually in Latin). Polyphonic and written for four or five voices/parts

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Ayre

A

A madrigal which often used a lute and solo voice

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Mode

A

Before the idea of a key came to be accepted. The arrangement of tones and semitones are in a different order in each Mode. Can be used in Jazz music

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Madrigal Proper

A

A through-composed madrigal using word painting

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Consort

A

A group of instruments in the renaissance period. Can be broken or whole

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Hemiola

A

A rhythmic device giving the impression of a piece of music changing from duple (2) or triple (3) time or vice versa

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Ballett

A

A strophic madrigal with a “Fa la la” chorus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

German Lied

A

German song in which the voice and piano play an equal part

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Counter-Subject

A

In a fugue after the subject or answer is played, the continuation on that same instrument or voice is called the counter subject

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Tone Row

A

An arrangement of the twelve notes of the octave which forms the basis of a composition (serialism). Each note is as important as another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Neo-Classical

A

Composers wanted to return to styles and structures of earlier period but continued with dissonant, tonal and even atonal harmonies.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Ripieno

A

When the whole orchestra play in a concerto grosso. The “filling”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Bridge

A

A link between two themes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Serial

A

A 20th century technique where the composer arranges 12 notes of the chromatic scale into any order of his/her choice.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Idée fixe/lietmotiv

A

A recurring theme which was used in the romantic period to represent an object or person.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Inversion

A
  1. To be turned upside down

2. When the bass note in a chord is not the root. Eg 3rd or 5th in the bass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Suite

A

Group of dances written for one or more instruments

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Nationalist

A

Where a composer deliberately aim to express strong feelings for his country in his music, or bring a distinctive flavour by which his nationality may be easily recognised.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Chaconne

A

Variations over a repeated chord progression.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Transition

A

A passage which leads from one well identified section of a piece of music to another

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Plagal Cadence

A

A phrase ending which sounds complete. Goes from chord IV - I

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Chorale Prelude

A

A popular type of piece for the organ based on a chorale melody. (German Hymn Tune)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Turn

A

An ornament which consists of four notes- The note above, the note itself, the note below and the note itself

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Harmonic Minor

A

Scale which uses the same key signature as the relative major, but raises the 7th by a by a semitone

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Passacaglia

A

Variations over a ground bass

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Melodic Minor

A

Scale which shares the same key signature as its relative major but raises the 6th and 7th notes by a semitone on the way up, and similarly lowers them on the way down

31
Q

Acciaccatura

A

An ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly just before it

32
Q

Appogiatura

A

An ornament which sounds like a leaning note. It takes half the value of the main note which follows it or two thirds of the value if the note is dotted

33
Q

Mordent

A

An ornament which sounds the main note, the note above and then the main note again. An inverted mordent sounds the main note, the note below and then the main note again.

34
Q

Tonal sequence

A

A pattern immediately repeated higher or lower and remaining in the same key (see sequence). A tonal sequence can also be identified if even one interval of the sequential phrase is different from the 1st phrase. A real sequence occurs if the intervals of the sequential phrase are exactly the same as the 1st phrase (see tonal answer)

35
Q

Microtone

A

Any interval noticeably smaller than a semitone which may be found in the music of Eastern European countries and also Indian and Arabic music. 20th century composers are also known to have used them

36
Q

Tri-tone

A

Interval of an augmented 4th. (Eg C-F or F-B) It is made up of 3 tones.

37
Q

Interrupted Cadence

A

A phrase ending which sounds incomplete. An interrupted cadence is usually formed by the chords V-VI. (In the key of C major, chords G to A minor.) This is known also as the surprise cadence as the listener may be expecting V-I which has a more final sound.

38
Q

Dominant 7th

A

Chord built on the dominant (5th) note of a key which adds the 7th note above its root. It is sometimes written as V7 or, in the key of C major, G7 (GBDF)

39
Q

Diminished 7th

A

A chord consisting of three intervals of a minor 3rd built one on top of the other, the interval between the lover and top note being diminished 7th. This can be a very useful chord for modulation to distant keys.

40
Q

Augmented chord

A

The chord is formed by a major triad in which the 5th degree is raised by a semitone.

41
Q

Added 6th

A

Root, 3rd and 5th of the chord with 6th added. This is used frequently in jazz and popular music

42
Q

Polytonality

A

The use of 2 or more keys played or sung at the same time. (eg. The melody may be in the key of C major whilst the accompaniment might be in E major. Many 20th century composers eg Bartok, Ives, Holst and Stravinsky used the device.

43
Q

Irregular metres/Time changes

A

Often in modern or rhythmically based ethnic music, grouping of notes change, but the underlying pulse remains constant. Grouping of 2 and 3 produce irregular accents and metres. Sometimes composers in the 20th century would try to destroy the feeling of regular down beat by changing the time signature frequently. Stravinsky often used this technique, particularly in “Rite of String”.

44
Q

Three against two

A

One line of music may be playing quavers in groups of two whilst at the same time another line of music will be playing triplets. Other note values can be similarly used. See cross rhythms.

45
Q

Augmentation

A

An increase in length of notes. The music will sound slower when imitated or repeated.

46
Q

Diminution

A

A decrease in the length of notes. The music will sound faster when imitated or repeated.

47
Q

Episode

A

A section of music linking 2 appearances of the same material. In fugue an episode is used as a modulating link between entries of the subject and is frequently based on fragments from the subject or counter-subject

48
Q

Subject

A

The main theme in a composition, the main themes in sonata form or the fugue

49
Q

Exposition

A

The 1st section of a movement in sonata form (exposition - development - recapitulation) or the 1st section of a fugue where each voice has played or sung at least one entry of a subject or answer

50
Q

Real answer

A

If the intervals of the answer are exactly the same as the subject, the answer is real.

51
Q

Heterophony

A

A melody being played in different ways at the same time. A strong feature of gamelan

52
Q

Harmonics

A

The high eerie like sounds produced on a bowed string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain points. On a guitar these will sound “bell like”

53
Q

Coloratura

A

The elaborate ornamentation of a melody (eg runs, scales, trills). Usually refers to a soprano voice and is often extemporised.

54
Q

Stretto

A

Where voices or instruments enter very quickly one after the other, as in fugue. Each entry or part enters closely after the previous part thus adding tension and excitement.

55
Q

Sprechgesang

A

A technique used in vocal music where the singer is required to use the voice in an expressive manner half way between singing and speaking. It appears in a no of pieces by Schöenberg and Berg (20th century)

56
Q

Organised sound

A

The twentieth century composer Varese used this term instead of “music” to describe his compositions which discarded the elements of pitch, rhythm and harmony.

57
Q

Ritornello

A

Return and refers to a main theme which was played by the orchestra at the beginning of a piece and returned after each solo section played by the concertina or soloist.

58
Q

Tonal Answer

A

In a fugue after the subject is played the same tune appears in another voice or part in the dominant (5th higher or 4th lower). This is called an answer. If the intervals of the answer are not exactly the same as the subject, the answer is tonal.

59
Q

Basso Continuo

A

This was a bass-line played by a low string instrument, such as the cello, which continued through the piece. Another player filled out the harmonies by playing chords on a harpsichord, organ or lute, called a continuo part. This was used in the Baroque period.

60
Q

Sonata form

A

Sometimes known as 1st movement form. This term is used to describe the structure of many sonatas, symphonies and often overtures. It falls into 3 sections; exposition - development - recapitulation. The exposition introduces 2 contrasting themes in related keys. These are developed and heard again in the recapitulation, this time in the same key.

61
Q

Jazz funk

A

A combination of jazz improvisation and the amplified instruments and character of rock

62
Q

Musique Concrete

A

Recorded natural sounds which are transformed using simple editing techniques such as cutting and reassembling, playing backwards, slowing down and speeding up.

63
Q

Late romantic

A

Music of the late 19th century and early 20th century which retains the dramatic intensity of earlier 19th century music. The music is characterised by the use of vast instrumental forces, increased chromaticism and large scale composition. Composers included Wagner, Mahler and Strauss

64
Q

Plainchant

A

Plainchant and plainsong is the earliest music we know. It was sung in the church (sacred) and consists of a single melody line sung without accompaniment (a cappella). This chant is in free rhythm and uses modal scales.

65
Q

Madrigal

A

These were regarded as the secular counterpart to the motet. It is a vocal composition for several voices, usually a cappella. The words are always secular (non-sacred), but can be serious as well as light-hearted. In England there came to be three types of madrigal: the “madrigal proper”, the “ballett”, and the ayre (air)

66
Q

Chant

A

Series of chords to which words of psalms are sung in the Church or England

67
Q

Air

A

English for Aria. Song or simple melody, sometimes the title of a movement of a suite

68
Q

Italian Overture

A

Opening to Italian opera or oratorio. In three sections -fast, slow, fast

69
Q

French Overture

A

An overture is an “opening piece” of instrumental music to be performed before an opera or oratorio or an independent work for performance in a concert hall. In the Baroque era, the French Overture was the opening to opera, oratorio or ballett. It begun with a slow section with dotted rhythms followed by a lively fugal section.

70
Q

Concerto Grosso

A

This consisted of two contrasting groups of instruments; a small group of soloists (often two violins and cello) called the concertino, against an orchestra of strings called the ripieno (filling). A harpsichord or organ continuo filled out the texture when the ripieno group was playing, and continues to provide supporting harmonies on occasions when the concertino instruments played on their own

71
Q

Solo Concerto

A

From the concerto grosso grew the solo concerto, in which a single instrument played against the weight of the orchestra. The idea of contrast became stronger still, and the composer often gave the soloist some difficult and exciting passages to play.

72
Q

Anthem

A

This is the Protestant equivalent to the motet, which was sung in the Catholic Church. An Anthem is sung by a choir during services in Protestant Churches and is set in English, not Latin.

73
Q

Symphonic/ Tone Poem

A

This is a one movement programme piece for orchestra which also uses a recurring theme (idee fixe/leitmotiv). Dance Nacabre by Saint-Saens is a Symphonic tone row

74
Q

Da Capo Aria

A

An aria in ternary form (ABA) used in operas and oratorios in the 17th and 18th centuries. The 3rd section is not written out but the instruction “Da Capo” (from the beginning) is given instead. The repeat of the A section was performed with the solo ornamented.

75
Q

Fugue

A

A polyphonic piece, based on a subject, which is then imitated by other voices in close succession. It is usually written in three or four parts called voices (whether the fugue is vocal or instrumental) and these are referred to as soprano, alto, tenor and bass. (See handout on fugue for the exposition, subject, counter subject, real/tonal answer, episode and stretto.

Music (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2024 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions