Music Terms: Elements of (film) music

Question 1

a regularly recurring sound that divides the passing to time into equal units; the basic pulse of music. The dialogue/action often has a ____ of its own, often synchronized with the music
what is it an element of?

Answer 1

Beat, element of rythm

Question 2

Perceived rate (beat or pulse) of sound or musical events 
allegro, presto: 
accelerando:
ritardando

Answer 2

Tempo

• allegro presto; lento, grave
• accelerando; speeding up (gradually)
• ritardando; slowing down (gradually)

Question 3

The organization of the beat into groups of two (duple _____) or three (triple _____)
Give examples

Answer 3

Meter

• duple: imperial march
• triple: waltz

Question 4

The organization of time in music

• gives shape or profile to the melody
• provides vitality and definition to a melody
• divides long spans of time into smaller, more easily comprehendible units

Answer 4

rhythm

Question 5

What is the most fundamental element of music? and why

Answer 5

Rhythm

• links music to the images: it will reflect the rate of change or pace of the action/images.
• linked to the action: the music will accentuate a fight sequence or other movements.

Question 6

Repeating rhythmic figures with a repeating melodic pattern that create a sense of time passing, urgency, or to provide a constant beat

Answer 6

Ostinatos

Question 7

what influences our reaction to music and to a scene?

Answer 7

dynamics- how loud or soft the music is

Question 8

very loud

Answer 8

fortissimo-ff

Question 9

loud

Answer 9

forte-f

Question 10

moderately loud

Answer 10

Mezzo forte-mf

Question 11

moderately soft

Answer 11

Mezzo piano- mp

Question 12

Soft

Answer 12

piano-p

Question 13

very soft

Answer 13

pianissimo-pp

Question 14

sound that usually have a low volume level can be mixed at a high level. what does it mean to be high level?
example?

Answer 14

loud dynamics

whispering

Question 15

loud combination of sounds. can be mixed to a low volume level. what does it mean to have a low volume level?
example?

Answer 15

soft dynamics

full orchestra

Question 16

Gradual increase in volume

Answer 16

crescendo

Question 17

Gradual decrease in volume

Answer 17

decrescendo/diminuendo

Question 18

what is a post recording way of playing with the dynamic levels?

Answer 18

“Fading” up or down

Question 19

gives the illusion of a sound entering and exiting our range of hearing
particularly associated with pre-existing music (songs) rather than original scores

Answer 19

Fading in or out.

Question 20

The unique character or quality a musical (or non-musical) tone; also called timbre

Answer 20

Colour

Question 21

What are some timbre effects in film and give examples

Answer 21

• timbre of a particular instrument/sound element can be manipulated or accentuated, giving it less or more importance in a scene.
• > elements like reverberation can play an important role in the storu music is telling us
• Using one kind of timbre can have special meaning, either culturally derived or derived from the context of the film itself
• > solo trumpet call - military charge
• > star wars imperial march - played on the solo harp instead of brass as the timbre in a full orchestra

Question 22

What elements change the timbre and what effects does it have? Give an example

Answer 22

range of an instrument or voice

• make the sound more harsh or mellow, and influences emotional effect on people
• Timbre of scream is diff from that of a yell or murmur.

Question 23

Musical measure of frequency; indvidual music notes
-organized into collection or sequences (6,8 or more per sequence). Each ___ having a particular role within the sequence

Answer 23

pitch

Question 24

The high or low range of an instrument or voice

• affects timbre
• used to create specific effects in the score

Answer 24

Tessitura

Question 25

how high or low an instrument can play

Answer 25

range

Question 26

how high or low the instrument sounds within their own range

Answer 26

tessitura

Question 27

A sequential arrangement of pitches | ascend and descend in an unvarying pattern

Answer 27

scale

Question 28

term describing a general type of scale: major, minor, etc. and often affects the mood of music

Answer 28

mode

Question 29

A seven note scale | usually associated with joy, confidence, tranquility

Answer 29

major scale

Question 30

A seven note scale | usually associated with fear, anxiety, sorrow, despair, longing, etc.

Answer 30

minor scale

Question 31

uses all twelve pitches equally divided within the octave | usually associated with extreme minor mode feelings/situations or with exotic images.

Answer 31

chromatic scale

Question 32

Span between the first note and the eighth note of a scale

Answer 32

octave

Question 33

the distance between any two pitches. an octave is a large ______

Answer 33

Interval

Question 34

A series of notes (pitches) arranged in order to form a distinctive, recognizable musical unit; the "tune"

Answer 34

Melody

Question 35

Composers use this to connote specific meaning- to represent objects or characters

Answer 35

motives

Question 36

Short-memorable fragment of music that can acquire specific meaning, but is not whole on its own (not a complete melody). Give example

Answer 36

motive | The shark motive from Jaws.

Question 37

``` melodies are composed on smaller segments called? function the same way as a question and answer dialogue with each contributing to the overall discussion--> give examples ```

Answer 37

phrases | -mozart, Beethoven, X-files theme

Question 38

chords that conclude phrase, either leaving it open-ended or closed.

Answer 38

cadences

Question 39

Accompanying sounds of one or more pitches that provide the support and enrichment for melody - _______: a group of two or more pitches that sound at the same time - the basic chord in western music?

Answer 39

harmony built on chords triad

Question 40

complex of three or more notes that sound simultaneously - used to add drama or emphasis - described in terms of colour or timbre, harsh or sweet, hollow or full, consonant or dissonant

Answer 40

chord

Question 41

pitches sounding agreeable and stable - joyful, lively and triumphant - creates a sense of calm - musical or sweet sounding

Answer 41

consonance | - convey wide range of emotion

Question 42

pitches sounding momentarily disagreeable; unstable - sense of tension and anxiety - unmusical or harsh - exotic and mysterious

Answer 42

Dissonance | - convey wide range of emotion

Question 43

Classified by range into 4 parts (according to range or tessitura) -soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass

Answer 43

Voice

Question 44

each individual voice has a distinct ____ due to our uniquely constructed _____ _____

Answer 44

timbre, vocal chords

Question 45

many voices join together form a ______

Answer 45

chorus

Question 46

5 instrument families:

Answer 46

``` strings woodwinds brasses percussion keyboard (piano and organ) ```

Question 47

Violin, viola, cello, bass, harp | -core of the western symphony orchestra

Answer 47

strings

Question 48

1. a controlled wobble in pitch 2. plucking the strings rather than bowing 3. rapidly repeating the same pitch to create a musical tremor 4. rapidly alternating between two neighbouring pitches 5. rapid run up and down the strings 6. playing the notes of a triad in quick succession

Answer 48

1. vibrato 2. pizzicato 3. Tremolo 4. Trill 5. Glissando 6. Arpeggio

Question 49

Lovely, silvery tone Single reed instrument, open, hollow sound double reed; nasal, slightly exotic sound Double reed; has similar role as the cello Single reed; featured in jazz groups

Answer 49

``` Flute (woodwind) Clarinet (woodwind) Oboe (woodwind) bassoon (woodwind) saxophone ```

Question 50

use a cup shaped mouthpiece

Answer 50

brasses

Question 51

1.High, bright sound

Answer 51

trumpet

Question 52

a plug places in the bell of the instrument to lessen the sound

Answer 52

mute

Question 53

2. Uses a slide to change pitch 3. Mellow sound; comes from hunting horns 4. Largest and lowest brass instrument

Answer 53

2. trombone 3. french horn 4. tuba

Question 54

Resonating objects that sound when hit or scraped

Answer 54

Percussion

Question 55

percussion instrument most often heard in classical music

Answer 55

Timpani

Question 56

Non pitched percussion instruments

Answer 56

Snare drum, bass drum, cymbals

Question 57

combining instruments from different________ produces different ______ effects and tone _______ that can create _______ _______

Answer 57

families, timbral, colours, different moods