MUS 139 Vocabulary

Question 1

Name and define all time periods in classical music.

[M] Mighty
[R] Reef
[B] Bats
[C] Catch
[R] Robot
[M] Monsters

Answer 1

Middle Ages: 400 - 1450
Renaissance: 1450 - 1600
Baroque: 1600 - 1750
Classical: 1750 - 1825
Romantic: 1825 - 1900
Modern: 1900 - present

Question 2

melody

Answer 2

Succession of single TONES or PITCHES perceived by the mind as a unity.

Question 3

contour

Answer 3

The overall shape of a melodic line. It can move upward, downward, or remain static.

Question 4

range

Answer 4

Distance between the lowest and highest TONES of a MELODY, an instrument, or a voice.

Question 5

interval

Answer 5

Distance and relationship between two PITCHES.

Question 6

conjunct

Answer 6

Smooth, connected MELODY that moves principally by small INTERVALS.

Question 7

disjunct

Answer 7

Disjointed or disconnected melody with many leaps.

Question 8

phrase

Answer 8

Musical unit; often a component of a MELODY.

Question 9

cadence

Answer 9

Resting place in a musical PHRASE; music punctuation.

Question 10

countermelody

Answer 10

An accompanying MELODY sounded against the principal MELODY.

Question 11

rhythm

Answer 11

The controlled movement of music in time.

Question 12

meter

Answer 12

Organization of rhythm in time; the grouping of BEATS into larger, regular patterns, notated as MEASURES.

Question 13

measure

Answer 13

Rhythmic group or metrical unit that contains a fixed number of BEATS, divided on the musical staff by bar lines.

Question 14

beat

Answer 14

Regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time.

Question 15

downbeat

Answer 15

First BEAT of the MEASURE, the strongest in any METER.

Question 16

simple meter

Answer 16

Grouping of RHYTHMS in which the BEAT is subdivided into two, as in duple, triple, and quadruple meters.

Question 17

compound meter

Answer 17

METER in which each beat is subdivided into three rather then two.

Question 18

upbeat

Answer 18

Last BEAT of a MEASURE, a weak BEAT, which anticipates the DOWNBEAT.

Question 19

offbeat

Answer 19

A weak BEAT or any pulse between the beats in a measured rhythmic pattern.

Question 20

syncopation

Answer 20

Deliberate upsetting of the METER or pulse through a temporary shifting of the ACCENT to a weak BEAT or an OFFBEAT.

Question 21

polyrhythm

Answer 21

The simultaneous use of several rhythmic patterns or METERS, common in twentieth-century music and in certain African musics.

Question 22

nonmetric

Answer 22

Music lacking a strong sense of BEAT or METER, common in certain non-Western cultures.

Question 23

Name and define the three layers of listening.

[S] Slacking
[E] Every
[M] Monday

Answer 23

SENSUAL: Listening to music while unengaged. You are playing music as background noise.

EXPRESSIVE: Listening to music while interpreting the artists meaning. What story does the music tell?

MUSICAL: Listening to music while analyzing its musical components. What is the melody, rhythm, harmony, and other elements?

Question 24

harmony

Answer 24

The simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships of INTERVALS and CHORDS.

Question 25

chord

Answer 25

Simultaneous combination of three or more TONES that constitute a single block of HARMONY.

Question 26

scale

Answer 26

Series of tones in ascending or descending order; may present the notes of a KEY.

Question 27

triad

Answer 27

Common CHORD type, consisting of three PITCHES built on alternate TONES of the SCALE (e.g. steps 1 - 3 - 5, or do - mi - sol).

Question 28

major scale

Answer 28

Scale consisting of seven different tones that comprise a specific pattern of WHOLE and HALF STEPS. It differs from a MINOR SCALE primarily in that its third degree is raised half a step.

Question 29

minor scale

Answer 29

SCALE consisting of seven different TONES that comprise a specific of WHOLE and HALF STEPS. It differs from the MAJOR SCALE primarily in that its third degree is lowered half a step.

Question 30

tonality

Answer 30

Principle of organization around a TONIC, or home, PITCH, based on a major or minor SCALE.

Question 31

tonic

Answer 31

The first note of the SCALE or KEY, "do." Also KEYNOTE.

Question 32

dissonance

Answer 32

Combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable, in need of a resolution.

Question 33

consonance

Answer 33

Concordant or harmonious combination of TONES that provides a sense of relaxation and stability in music.

Question 34

octave

Answer 34

INTERVAL between two tones seven diatonic pitches apart; the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower.

Question 35

half step

Answer 35

Smallest INTERVAL used in the Western system; the OCTAVE divides into twelve such INTERVALS; on the PIANO, the distance between any two adjacent keys, weather black or white. Also SEMITONE.

Question 36

whole step

Answer 36

Interval consisting of two HALF STEPS, or SEMITONES.

Question 37

chromatic

Answer 37

MELODY or HARMONY built from many if not all twelve semitones of the OCTAVE. A CHROMATIC SCALE consists of an ascending or descending sequence of SEMITONES.

Question 38

diatonic

Answer 38

MELODY or HARMONY built from the seven tones of a MAJOR or MINOR SCALE. A diatonic scale encompasses patterns of seven WHOLE TONES and SEMITONES.

Question 39

sharp

Answer 39

Musical symbol (#) that indicates raising a pitch by a SEMITONE.

Question 40

flat

Answer 40

Musical symbol (b) that indicates lowering a pitch by a SEMITONE.

Question 41

microtone

Answer 41

Musical interval smaller then a SEMITONE, prevalent in some non-Western musics and in some twentieth-century art music.

Question 42

tonic chord

Answer 42

TRIAD built on the first scale TONE, the I chord.

Question 43

active chords

Answer 43

In the DIATONIC system, chords which need to resolve to the TONIC CHORD. These include the DOMINANT CHORD and the SUBDOMINANT CHORD.

Question 44

dominant chord

Answer 44

CHORD built on the fifth scale step, the V chord.

Question 45

subdominant chord

Answer 45

CHORD built on the fourth scale step, the IV chord.

Question 46

transposition

Answer 46

Shifting a piece of music to a different pitch level.

Question 47

key

Answer 47

Defines the relationship of TONES with a common center or TONIC. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind.

Question 48

modulation

Answer 48

The process of changing from one KEY to another.

Question 49

Name all four musical voice ranges. [S] Susan [A] Always [T] Toots [B] Brazenly

Answer 49

Soprano Alto Tenor Bass