MUS 1P DEFINITIONS SPRING 2004, TEST 1
MELODY
Melody
A succession of single tones or pitches perceived as a unity.
Pitch
The highness or lowness of a tone, depending on the frequency (rate of
vibration). Also, a musical sound.
Interval
The distance and relationship between two pitches.
Range
The distance between the lowest and highest tones of a melody, an
instrument, or a voice. This span can be generally described as
narrow, medium, or wide in range.
Shape
The shape of a melody is determined by the direction a melody takes
as it turns upward or downward or remains static. On a line graph, a
melody might be charted as an ascending line, a wave, or a static line.
RHYTHM
Rhythm
The element of time in music. (Since music is an art that exists solely
in time, rhythm controls ultimately all the relationships within a
musical work.)
Beat
Regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time.
Accent
Emphasis on a note, so that it is louder or longer than another.
Meter
The grouping of beats into larger, regular patterns, notated as
measures. The two basic meters are duple (two beats) and triple (three
beats); quadruple (four beats) is the most common. In simple meters,
such as duple, triple, and quadruple, each beat subdivides into two; in
compound meters, such as sextuple, each beat divides into three.
Measure
A rhythmic group or metrical unit that contains a fixed number of
beats, divided on the musical staff by bar lines. Also known as Bar.
HARMONY
Harmony
The simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships
of intervals and chords; the vertical relationship of combined notes.
Not all musics of the world rely on harmony for interest, but it is
central to most Western music.
Chord
Simultaneous combination of tones (typically three or more) that
constitute a single block of harmony.
Scale
A series of tones or pitches in ascending or descending order. Scale
tones are often assigned numbers (1-8) or syllables (do-re-mi-fa-sol-la-
ti-do).
Dissonance
A combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable, in need
of resolution.
Consonance
A concordant, harmonious combination of tones that provides a sense
of relaxation and stability in music.
TEXTURE
Texture
The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic (vertical)
elements in the musical fabric. Texture is generally described as
monophonic (single line), heterophonic (elaboration on a single line),
homophonic (single line with accompaniment), or polyphonic (many
voiced).
Monophonic
Single-line texture, or melody without accompaniment.
Homophonic
Texture with a principal melody and accompanying harmony; as
distinct from polyphony.
Polyphonic
Occurs when two or more melodic lines combine into a multi-voiced
texture, as distinct from monophonic.
Heterophonic
Texture in which two or more voices (parts) elaborate the same
melody simultaneously; often the result of improvisation.
FORM
Form
The structure or shape of a musical work, based on repetition,
contrast, and variation; the organizing principle of music. Binary and
ternary are basic forms, while more sophisticated forms include rondo,
sonata-allegro, minuet and trio, theme and variations, ritornello, and
fugue.
Repetition
Within a form, repetition fixes the material in our mind and satisfies
our need for the familiar; it provides unity to a form.
Contrast
Within a form, contrast sustains our interest and feeds our love of
change.
Variation
A formal principle in which some aspects of the music are altered but
still recognizable.
Theme
A melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construction of a
composition. (The main theme of a fugue is called a "subject.")
TEMPO
Tempo
The rate of speed or pace of the musical pulse. Tempo markings are
traditionally given in Italian.
(more below)
DYNAMICS
Dynamics
Designations for the relative loudness or quietness of music. The
main dynamic terms are based on the Italian words for loud ("forte")
and quiet ("piano"). These words can be modified by the prefix
"mezzo" (medium) or the suffix "issimo" (more).
(more below)
TIMBRE
Timbre
The quality of a sound that distinguishes one voice or instrument from
another. Also called "tone color".
Properties of Musical Sound
Musical sound can be said to have four properties: pitch, duration,
volume and timbre.
String family
The members of the string family include two types of instruments:
bowed and plucked. The standard bowed string instruments, from
highest to lowest, are: violin, viola, cello, and double bass. The harp
and guitar are common plucked string instruments. String
instruments often play special effects, including: trill, pizzicato,
harmonic, and arpeggio. The bowed strings (violin, viola, cello, double
bass) form the core of the orchestra.
Woodwind family
The woodwind family is less homogeneous in construction and sound
production than the strings; it includes the piccolo, flute, oboe,
clarinet, English horn, and bassoon. The saxophone is a more recent
woodwind instrument that is frequently heard in jazz.
