Making Musical Connections Flashcards

S = STYLE M/H = MELODY HARMONY R/T = RHYTHM TEMPO T/S/F = TEXTURE STRUCTURE FORM T/D = TIMBRE DYNAMICS L = LITERACY

1
Q

what 4 group of singers are in a SATB chorus.?

M/H

A

Sopranos, Altos, Tenors and Basses, it is an SATB chorus. The chorus are also the group of singers heard in a musical/opera.

Listen to Story of my Life from Shrek the Musical.

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

what does A cappella mean?

M/H

A

A cappella means a singer or a group of singers are singing with no accompaniment.

Listen to RANGE singing excerpts from the 2016 Tony nominations.

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

what does accompanied mean?

M/H

A

accompanied is where singers are supported by other instruments.

Listen to RANGE singing excerpts from the 2016 Tony nominations.

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

what is 1 type of word setting?

it begins with s

M/H

A

Syllabic means every syllable of the word is given its own note.

Listen to Rend Collective singing Ding Dong Merrily on High. ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ is syllabic; ‘gloria’ is melismatic.

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

what is 1 type of word setting?

it begins with m

M/H

A

Melismatic means some syllables of the word are stretched out over several notes.

Listen to Rend Collective singing Ding Dong Merrily on High. ‘Ding dong merrily on high’ is syllabic; ‘gloria’ is melismatic.

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

what is a descant?

M/H

A

A descant is a melody sung above the main melody. They are mostly heard in the last verse.

Listen to King’s College Choir singing the ‘sing choirs of angels’ verse in O Come All Ye Faithful.

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

what is scat singing?

M/H

A

Scat singing is a type of vocal improvisation found in jazz, where the singer uses made up words.

Listen to the ending of Feeling Good performed by Nina Simone.

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

describe what A riff (or an ostinato) is

M/H

A

A riff (or an ostinato) is a short repeated pattern played over and over and over and over…

Listen to the bass riff in Summer Nights from Grease.

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

describe what unison means

M/H

A

When singers or instrumentalists play the same notes at the same time, they are in unison.

Listen to One Vision from We Will Rock You.

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

describe what harmony means

M/H

A

When they play or sing different notes at the same time, they are in harmony.

Listen to Revolting Children from Matilda the Musical.

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

what is the highest female voice?

T/D

A

Soprano

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

what is the middle female voice?

T/D

A

Mezzo Soprano

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

what is the lowest female voice?

T/D

A

Alto

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

what is the highest male voice?

T/D

A

Counter Tenor

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

what is the 2nd highest male voice?

T/D

A

Tenor

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

what is the middle male voice?

T/D

A

Baritone

17
Q

what is the lowest male voice?

T/D

A

Bass

18
Q

what is homophonic?

T/S/F

A

homophonic, you will hear many sounds moving at the same time.

Listen to At the End of the Day from Les Miserablès.

19
Q

what is polyphonic?

T/S/F

A

polyphonic, you will hear many sounds weaving in and out of each other.

Listen to Will I? from Rent.

20
Q

what is contrapuntal?

T/S/F

A

contrapuntal, you will hear several melodies at the same time.

Listen to One Day More from Les Miserablè

21
Q

what is strophic?

T/S/F

A

strophic, it uses the same tune for each verse/chorus.

Listen to So Long, Farewell from The Sound of Music.

22
Q

what is opera ?

S

A

opera is a large-scale production featuring soloists, a chorus and an orchestra.

Listen to Libiamo Ne’ Lieti Calici from La Traviata.

23
Q

what is an aria?

S

A

Individual pieces in an opera are known as arias. You will hear a soloist singing with an orchestra.

> Listen to the Queen of the Night aria from The Magic Flute.

24
Q

what is recitative?

S

A

Between arias you might hear recitative, where singers ‘half-speak/half-sing’ to move the story along. The accompaniment strips back to minimum.

Listen to the ‘there was a time when men were kind’ opening of I Dreamed a Dream from Les Miserablès.

25
Q

what is Gospel ?

S

A

Gospel is usually sung by a choir. The lyrics will have a Christian theme.

Listen to the FBCG Combined Gospel Choir singing O Happy Day.

26
Q

what is Musical Theatre?

S

A

Musical Theatre features soloists, chorus and an accompanying band or orchestra.

Listen to Idina Menzel performing Defying Gravity from Wicked.

27
Q

what is Folk music?

S

A

Folk music is traditional music that is passed down through families.

Listen to Glasgow Madrigirls performing The Circle March.

28
Q

what is Hymns?

S

A

Hymns are usually sung in church for Christian worship by a choir and congregation. The texture will be homophonic.

Listen to Eternal Father, Strong to Save.

29
Q

what does Accelerando mean?

R/T

A

Accelerando means the music is becoming gradually faster.

30
Q

what does Rallentando/ritardando mean?

R/T

A

Rallentando or ritardando means the music is becoming gradually slower.