The Fundementals

Question 1

Rhythm

Answer 1

gathering or arrangement of successive tones according to their relative accentuation and duration

Question 2

Meter

Answer 2

the regularity of accents or beats in given units of time (measures/bars)

Question 3

Simple Meter

Answer 3

duple, triple, and quadruple meters (2/4, 3/4 4/4)

Question 4

Compound Meter

Answer 4

6/8, 9/8, 12/8, 6/4, 12/16, etc…

Question 5

Combination Meter

Answer 5

a meter in which multiple simple meters are added together (5/4, 7/8, etc…)

Question 6

Polymetric Meter

Answer 6

the simultaneous use of more than one meter in a composition; see Fascinating Rhythm by George Gershwin

Question 7

Multimetric Meter

Answer 7

the intentional disturbing of the regularity of the forward flow of the music by frequent changes of meter, often within a short span of measures; see Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun by Debussy

Question 8

Nonmetric Meter

Answer 8

the lack of a meter signature without a regularly recurring accent; draws its rhythm from the prose rhythm of the text to which it is set; see Gregorian chants

Question 9

Rhythmic Patterns

Answer 9

the duration of tones, note value, and displaced accents

Question 10

Syncopation

Answer 10

the use of a strong accent in an unexpected place within the measure; see mm248-79 of Symphony No. 3 by Beethoven

Question 11

Tempo

Answer 11

the rate or speed in time of the musical composition

Question 12

The Metronome

Answer 12

invented by Johann Mälzel in 1816

Question 13

Melody

Answer 13

a succession of tones related to one another and to the whole in such a way as to express a satisfying and coherent musical idea or entity

Question 14

Tune/Air

Answer 14

a self contained melody organized in a few simple phrases; church hymns, etc…

Question 15

Theme/Subjec

Answer 15

a melody that is capable of development or manipulation throughout the course of the musical composition

Question 16

Rising Melodic Line

Answer 16

brings a feeling of tension, possibly due to the fact that tones building to a higher range actually require greater physical effort on the part of the performer

Question 17

Melodic Cadence

Answer 17

a line falling into a resting place; implies relaxation

Question 18

Static Melody

Answer 18

a melody that moves horizontally in a line

Question 19

Counter Melody

Answer 19

a second theme that compliments another melody, often a static melody

Question 20

Diatonic Melody

Answer 20

closely allied to the prevailing scale

Question 21

Chromatic Melody

Answer 21

with added accidentals not found in the prevailing scale

Question 22

Conjunct

Answer 22

mostly stepwise

Question 23

Disjunct

Answer 23

mostly by skip

Question 24

Narrow vs. Wide Range

Answer 24

implies the range of the melody

Question 25

Short and Terse vs. Long and Flowing

Answer 25

implies the length of the melody

Question 26

Mood Painting

Answer 26

melodies called upon to through their sound or activity to express mood

Question 27

Text Painting

Answer 27

melodies called upon to enhance the word/words in a text

Question 28

Organum

Answer 28

a sacred style of music developed in the 9th century A.D.; harmony originated in organum

Question 29

Harmony

Answer 29

the vertical element of music

Question 30

Harmonic Interval

Answer 30

the association of a pair of simultaneously sounded tones

Question 31

Dissonance

Answer 31

the quality of a harmony being harsh and clashing

Question 32

Consonance

Answer 32

the quality of a harmony being gentle and blending

Question 33

Key

Answer 33

the organization of the tones of the major or minor scale around a center called the tonic

Question 34

Chord

Answer 34

an association of three or more tones consisting of a root with superimposed thirds

Question 35

Triad

Answer 35

a chord with three tones

Question 36

Seventh Chord

Answer 36

a chord with four tones

Question 37

Ninth Chord

Answer 37

a chord with 5 tones

Question 38

Tonic Chord

Answer 38

I chord

Question 39

Supertonic Chord

Answer 39

ii chord

Question 40

Mediant Chord

Answer 40

iii chord

Question 41

Subdominant Chord

Answer 41

IV chord

Question 42

Dominant Chord

Answer 42

V chord

Question 43

Submediant Chord

Answer 43

vi

Question 44

Subtonic/Leading Chord

Answer 44

vii

Question 45

Modulation

Answer 45

the changing of keys involving either a pivot chord or an absolute establishment of the new key

Question 46

Church/Ecclesiastical Modes

Answer 46

Dorian, Phrygian, Lydian, and Mixolydian modes

Question 47

Authentic Plagal Modes

Answer 47

Hypodorian, Hypophrygian, Hyplydian, and Hypomixolydian plagal modes

Question 48

New Modes

Answer 48

Ionian and Aeolian modes

Question 49

Polytonal

Answer 49

the the quality of a composition having two or more keys combined simultaneously

Question 50

Multitonal

Answer 50

the quality of a piece in which the tonal centers are changed so fast that the key feeling is disturbed; Suite provencale by Milhaud and Concerto No. 3 for Piano and Orchestra by Prokofiev

Question 51

Microtonality

Answer 51

the quality of a piece in which each half step is divided into quarter steps

Question 52

Twelve-Tone/Serial Technique

Answer 52

a technique/system of composition in which every one of the twelve chromatic tones of our scale is given equal importance; Variations for Orchestra, Op. 31 by Arnold Schoenberg, Wozzeck Act II Scene 5 by Alban Berg, and Passacaglia and Gigue movements of Septet of 1953 by Igor Stravinsky

Question 53

Major Scale

Answer 53

T-T-S-T-T-T-S up and S-T-T-T-S-T-T down

Question 54

Melodic Minor Scale

Answer 54

T-S-T-T-T-T-S up and T-T-S-T-T-S-T down

Question 55

Harmonic Minor Scale

Answer 55

T-S-T-T-S-T.5-S up and S-T.5-S-T-T-S-T down

Question 56

Dynamics

Answer 56

the volume of sound to be used

Question 57

Tempo

Answer 57

the rate of speed at which the music is to be played