Musical Vocabulary

Question 1

Morality play

Answer 1

• a genera created in the Middle Ages combining drama and music
• used allegorical characters to teach lessons and portray desirable behaviour

Question 2

Monophonic texture

Answer 2

• a single line of unaccompanied melody

Question 3

Plainchant

Answer 3

• a sacred genera representing the earliest form of notated Western art music
• consists of a monophonic modal melody with unmeasured rhythm and Latin text

Question 4

Modes

Answer 4

• scale patterns with distinct relationships between whole steps and half steps
• served as the source of melody and harmony in the Middle Ages and Renaissance

Question 5

Polyphonic texture

Answer 5

• the combination of two or more independent melodic lines

- also known as contrapuntal texture

Question 6

Rota

Answer 6

• old English word for a “round”

- strict imitation is created through successive entries of a melody in several voices

Question 7

Ostinato

Answer 7

• a recurring rhythmic or melodic pattern

Question 8

Frottola

Answer 8

• a popular secular polyphonic vocal genera developed in Italy in the late 15th century
• based on playful poems and lighthearted word painting

Question 9

Word painting

Answer 9

• musical pictorialization

- the music mirrors the meaning of the words through melody, harmony, and rhythm

Question 10

A cappella

Answer 10

• literally means “for the chapel” but refers to vocal music without instrumental accompaniment
• this style was typical of renaissance vocal music

Question 11

Homorhythmic texture

Answer 11

• all voices have the same rhythmic pattern creating blocked choral style
• text is very clear and easy to follow as a result

Question 12

Gamelan

Answer 12

• a traditional Javanese instrumental ensemble

- features metallophones, gongs, xylophones (instruments with wooden bars), drums, and voices.

Question 13

Metallophones

Answer 13

• instruments featuring metal bars of different sizes that are struck with a variety of mallets
• produce a shimmering bell-like sound

Question 14

Raga

Answer 14

• literally means “Colour” or “atmosphere”; provides melodic structure of a composition of performance
• a pattern of pitches defined by the number of notes it contains as well as the pattern of intervals
• used as basis of extended improvisation

Question 15

Sitar

Answer 15

• a multi-stringed plucked instrument with moveable frets similar to a lute or guitar
• five strings are used to play melodies, while two strings are used for drone and percussive effects

Question 16

Tala

Answer 16

• literally means “clap”; provides rhythmic structure for a composition or performance
• a metric cycle or regularly repeating rhythmic phrase that can include from three to over one hundred rhythmic units
• often expressed by percussion instruments such as the tabla (pair of drums)