Elements of Music

Music History

Sound

What is “sound”? Vibration of an object through a medium that is

transmitted to the brain by impulses from the eardrum

Organization of sound Pitch Dynamics Tone Color Duration

Pitch

relative highness or lowness of sound terms:

tone intervaloctavepitch range / range

Dynamics

relative loudness and softness accent dynamic range:

pp – pianissimo – very soft p – piano – soft mp – mezzo piano – moderately soft mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud f – forte – loud ff – fortissimo – very loud

gradual changes in dynamics crescendo / decrescendo

Tone Color / Timbre

the quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument from another

Identification of timbre is descriptive in naturebrightmellowdarkrich

Performing Media

Voices and Instruments

Voices

Womensopranomezzo-sopranoalto (or contralto)

Men tenorbaritonebass

Musical Instruments

FamiliesStringsWoodwindsBrassPercussionKeyboardElectronic

String Instruments

Orchestral (with bows) Violin Viola Cello Double Bass /

Contrabass / Bass

Plucked Harp Guitar others

String Techniques

Pizzicato Double stop (triple, quadruple) Vibrato Mute Tremolo Harmonics

Woodwind Instruments

Orchestral Piccolo Flute* Oboe* English horn Clarinet* Bass clarinet Bassoon* Contrabassoon

Other Recorder Saxophone

Reeds Single-reed Double-reed

Brass Instruments

Orchestral Trumpet French horn / Horn Trombone Tuba

Others Cornet Baritone horn Euphonium

Ways to alter sound slides / valves mutes

Percussion Instruments

Definite Pitch timpani (kettledrums) glockenspiel xylophone celesta chimes

Indefinite Pitch snare drum bass drum tambourine triangle cymbals gong (tam-tam)

Keyboard Instruments

Piano pedals – una corda (soft), sostenuto, damper

Harpsichord plectra

Organ stops pedals / manuals

Accordion

Electronic Instruments

Tape studio Synthesizer

Analog synthesis FM synthesis Effects devices Sampling MIDI

Computer computer music

Rhythm, Beat, Tempo, and Meter

What is the difference? Beat – the regular, recurrent pulse that divides music

into equal units of time Tempo – the speed of the beat Meter – the organization of beats into measures Rhythm –

the ordered flow of music through time the particular arrangement of note lengths in a piece of music

Meter

time signatures duple meter, quadruple meter triple meter, sextuple meter downbeat upbeat irregular meters accent syncopation

Tempo

largo – very slow, broad

grave – very slow, solemn

adagio – slow andante – moderately

slow, “walking pace” moderato – moderate

allegretto – moderately fast

allegro – fast vivace – lively presto – very fast prestissimo – as fast

as possible

Tempo (continued)

Qualifying words molto – much non troppo – not too much

Gradual changes accelerando – gradually faster ritardando – gradually slower

Metronome markings indicates number of beats per minute

Melody

definition – a series of single

tones which add up to a recognizable whole

contour steps / leaps

legato / staccato

phrases cadences

incomplete complete

climax sequence theme

Harmony

definition – the way chords are

constructed and how they follow each other

chord progression consonance dissonance

resolution triad important chords

tonic dominant

arpeggio

Key / Tonality

tonic scale

majorminorchromatic

key signature modulation

Musical Texture

monophonic single melodic line without accompaniment in unison or octaves

polyphonic two or more melodic lines of relatively equal

importance counterpoint imitation

homophonic one main melody accompanied by chords

Musical Form

Techniques that create musical form repetition

variation

contrast

Ternary (3-part) form: A (statement) B (departure) A (return)

Binary (2-part) form: A (statement) B (counterstatement)

Performance Practice

performer’s role improvisationembellishment

virtuoso conductor concertmaster

Musical Style

definition – a characteristic way of

using melody, rhythm, timbre, dynamics, harmony, texture, and form

Stylistic periods of western art music – Middle Ages (450-1450) Renaissance (1450-1600) Baroque (1600-1750) Classical (1750-1820) Romantic (1820-1900) Early 20th Century (1900-

1950) 1950-present