The Modern Era terms Flashcards
1
Q
modal scales
A
- the use of scales (modes) in which the pattern of whole steps and half steps is different from conventional major and minor scales; for example, dorian, lydian, mixolydian
- common in music of the Middle Ages and renaissance, rediscovered by 20th century composers
2
Q
whole tone scale
A
- a non traditional scale employed by composers of the late 19th and 20th centuries
- consists of six different pitches, all spaced a whole tone (whole step) apart; for example, c-d-e-fsharp-g-sharp-a-sharp-c
3
Q
pentatonic scale
A
- a scale consisting of five different pitches, for example, c-d-f-g-a
- easily rendered by playing the five black keys on the piano
- common to the folk music of many European and asian cultures
4
Q
expanded tonality
A
- the use of extremely chromatic harmony while still maintaining allegiance to a tonal center
5
Q
polytonality
A
the simultaneous use of two or more tonal centres
6
Q
atonality
A
- the total absence of any tonal center
- characterized by unresolved dissonances
7
Q
changing meter
A
- shift of metrical groupings
- manifested through changes of time signature
8
Q
polyrhytm
A
the simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms
9
Q
symphonic poem
A
- one of the most important forms of orchestral program music
- a single- movement work, generally free in form, with literary or pictorial associations
- invented by franz liszt
10
Q
impressionsm in music
A
- parallel the French movement in visual art
- employs expanded harmonic vocabulary: whole tone, modal, pentatonic scales, parallel chords
- suggests images rather than directly depicting them
- features innovative orchestral colours, including individual treatment of instruments and use of muted instruments.
- metric pulse is frequently obscured
11
Q
symbolism
A
- a French literary movement of the late 19th century
- symbolist writers include Paul Verlaine and Stephane Mallarme
- authors sought to suggest subject matter rather than depict it specifically
- stresses the beauty of the word itself
12
Q
ballet
A
- a highly stylized type of dance that often interprets a story
- first developed in the 17th century at the court of Louis xiv; flourished in the 19th century Russian court
- many significant composers, including Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Debussy, and Prokofiev, composed music for ballets
13
Q
choreography
A
the art of designing the dance steps and movements in a ballet (or musical)
14
Q
primitivism
A
- an effect created largely through rhythm
- use of strong accents, heavy syncopation, polyrhythms, expanded percussion section
- desmontrated best in Stravinsky’s the rite of spring
15
Q
musical
A
- a unique genre developed in the united states
- a play with spoken dialogue but featuring musical numbers: songs, dances, choruses
- Staging (sets, costumes, lighting) is often spectacular
