Indian Classical

Performers play entirely from ear

and from memory and learn from a

master performer Performances can last several hours and are

of indeterminate

length

The vast majority of the music is improvised. The performers are

constantly communicating and responding to each

other with their playing.

Three main parts that make up most indian

Classical Music - Raga, Drone and

Tala.

Raga - set of pitches like a scale. Hundreds of raga which would

be used at a particular time of day or at

different times of the year.

Each raga will have some notes

that are more important than

others.

Raga is normally produced on the Sitar - has aprox 20 strings -

only 7 are every plucked. 4 used to play the improvised rhythms while the three others

create a drone.

Although the Sitar is the main melody instrument other instruments can be

used - Sarod - fretless string instrument similar

to a lute - which is capable of creating long

glissandos.

Wind instruments

such as a bansuri and the shehnai (similar

to an Oboe)Techniques by the melody player - Pitch bends, fast scales /

runs, glissandos and ornamentation.

The Drone - repeated note(s)

played throughout a piece - this forms

the harmony. Traditionally played

on the Tanpura.

Tala - because the rhythm is

complex it uses a Tala - a cylcle

of beats that repeat.

1st beat is called the Sam

- most important and

is accented.

The Tabla plays the Tala - different

pitches and sounds can be created. The

rhythms are improvised.

Structure - Alap - opening section - slow, iprovised introcudction -

includes the melody instrucment (playing the raga) and the tanpura

(playing the drone). Gat - The tabla plays the tala - clear pulse - some

fixed phrases and lots of improvisation. Jhala - Excitement and

intensity. The raga and tala bcome more complex and more virtuosic.

Punjabi Bhangra

Bhangra - originally referred

to a type of Punjabi dancing

which people would take part in every year around

harvest - time.

Bhangra rhythm - The Chaal - repeated 4/4

rhythm which is played fast and is played on the Dhol - a double

headed drum played with sticks.

Another instrument used is the tumbi. It

is a stringed instrument often

used to play repeated riffs and

often uses the chaal rhythm.

The structure of Bhangra pieces is

similar to a standard pop song featuring

verses, choruses and instrumental sections.

Contemporary bhangra music is a fusion of different

influences. You will hear synthesisers, guitars, drum

machines and sample (which are often taken from

Bollywood fillm soundtracks.

Repetitive melodies

Simple Diatonic chords

Lyrics in Punjabi

Traditional instruments

used

Melody and accompaniment, but

several layers of melody and

percussion. Interplay between lead vocalist and backing singers

Electronic dance beats

Drum machines instead of the dhol.

DJ sound effects such as

scratching.

Drum loops (in contempory

bhangra)

Greek Folk

Many Greek Myths have

been turned into operas by

composers such as Mozart, Handel and Stravinsky.

Instruments - the Bouzouki - stringed insturment that has three of four pairs of strings - either tuned

the same or an octave apart. The defi - a hand drum with

bangles attached.

Features of the melody - simple with

lots of ornamentation, move

by step (use a small range), lyrical, often

harmonised by another part playing

a 3rd higher.

Tonality - diatonic major and minor chords, tonic and dominant notes of

each chord are emphasised by the bass instrument and there is

some modulation to other keys (usually the rel.

major or minor)

Structure - short sections and the

sections are repeated.

Timbre and articulartion - lots of stringed

instruments - either bowed or plucked,

tremolo and slides, wide range of hand percussion instruments and several

wind instruments resembling recorders

and clarinets.

Texture - melody line is

prominent with accompaniment, off-beat chords

are a feature

Tempo, Metre and rhythm - irregular time

signatures 5/8, 7/8, also 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. Often

the music is created for

dancing.

Outi (or oud), Laouto (or lute), Lyra (played with a bow, Floyera (a wooden

flute), Karamoudza (double reed wooden

instrument), Daouli - drum with two heads - two

different pitches, Toubeleki and Defi,

Syrtos - popular at weddings and

festivals - 4/4 time where the 8 quavers

are divided into a 3-3-2 pattern.

Kalamatianos - best-known greek dance - it is in 7/8

time and the beats follow a 3-2-

2 pattern

Zeibekiko - improvised dance for one person, it is in 9/8 time with the beats divided

as 2-2-2-3.

Israeli and Palestinian

Folk

Arabic music is usually accompanied by an oud - a

pear shaped stringed instrument - like a lute.

Typically 11 strings tuned in 5 pairs and one drone.

Functions as an accompaniment and a

melody instrument and is played with a pick.

Ouds also feature in Israeli music although

to a much lesser extent due to more Western

instruments being used like the guitar and

piano.

Melody in Arabic music is based on a Magam -

melodic modes or scales. Works in a similar way

to Raga in Indian Classical Music.

The doumbek also known as a darbuka is one of many goblet-shaped dums. It is

played with a lighter touch and can produce an even greater range of sounds compared to

a djembe.

Three main sounds associated with

doumbek - playing - Doum (D) - low

tone, Tek (T) high tone and Ka (K)

high tone.

Instruments include - Zither, Kanun, Oud,

Rababah, Mijwiz, Arghul, Shababa,

Doumbek, a Riq, the Deff and Zills.

Klezmer is a popular form of folk music in

Israel today. Instruments include -

Clarinet, violin, double bass, guitar, accordion,

cimbalom and percussion.

Rhythmic pattern in Arabic music is known

as a wazn - similar to a tala

in Indian Classical Music.

Israeli folk dances - 2/4 or 4/4 time signature, a bass part (normally bass guitar)

plays every crotchet beat, a chord instrument playing

chords on the off beat, a fast tempo, gradual accelerando

throughout the performance.

Characteristics of Israeli folk dance - Melodies are

often played on the clarinet, violin and

accordion, often using grace notes and pitch

bends to create a distinctive sound and

melodic decoration and ornamentation is used.

African Music

Music is performed for

occasions ranging from celebrations and funerals to everyday

tasks.

The sounds and rhythms of African

drumming are like a language that carries across both time and place, communicating

messages from one person or tribe to

another

Djembe - single headed drum,

shaped like a goblet that is played with the hands. It can produce different

sounds.

Dunun or dundun - larger, double - headed drum

played with a stick. It is often worn on the shoulder using a sting. Often a bell

like instrment is mounted on the dunun, It can produce 3 basic sounds - Open, Muted

or the bell.Agogo - Can create two

different pitches (low and high)

Polyrhythm - Combines

several different rhythms at the

same time.

Cross Rhythms - Complex type of

polyrhythms - often the rhythms do not follow the

same pulse.

Call and Response - One person shouts or plays a 'call' and the rest of the performers or audience respond. A caller might

start a rhythm, and pass it to another drummer. The caller controls the tempo

of the piece as well as when it starts and ends.

Many African pieces are

controlled by a master durmmer,

a virtuosic musician who acts

as the caller during a

performance.

Melodies are often short and contain just a few different

pitches.

Tonality - little harmony or

tonality as it is mainly

percussion based.

Rhythms are cyclic -

short repeated patterns

The Thumb Piano, Balafon

and Kora are all popular

instruments.

Singing is important - two main types of acappella singing - mbube - loud

and powerful singing with high pitched vocals over a four part

harmony bass line and isicathamiya - softer and gentler with frour-part

harmonies singing call and response. This also has dance moves such as

stampts and tip-toeing.

The Donno - known as the hourglass / talking drum, the Kagan, Kidi

and Sogo are all barrel-shaped drums - played

with wooden sticks. The Sabar - was traditonally used to communicate

bewteen villages.

Triplet rhythms are often

used

No sheet music is used - musicians

are taught by listening, copying

and remembering.

Calypso

Consists largely of songs, where the music and

lyrics are equally important.

The lyrics tell a story, or

comment on society.

Famous example - Lord Invader - 'Rum and Coca-Cola' which describes the

relationship between Trinidadians and the

American G.I's who were stationed on the island.

Steel Bands - consists of percussion instruments constrcuted from old oil drums. Different sized drums are used for the

melody, chords and bass line. Tuned Percussion.

Calypso has evolved into new styles - Rapso - 1960's - focuses on lyrics which are often about politcal and social issues. The style

develoed the used of synthesized instruments and modern production

techniques. Soca - has a faster beat than traditional calypso making it popular as

dance music. developed in the 1970s when calypso artists began using electronic

drums, synthesizers and studio effects in their recordings.

Uses Syncopated Rhythms usually

in 2/2 or 4/4 time.

Songs usually have verse-chorus or a

strophic structure

Texture can be homophonic with a main melody and

accompaniment, or polyphonic with

melodies and counter melodies.

Wide Range of instruments - Acoutsic,

electric and bass guitars, Trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxophones, bongos, conga drums, claves, bamboo sticks,

woodblocks and maracas. A modern drum kit could

be used too.

Samba

Comes from Brazil

Origin lies with African slaves

brought to Brazil between the 16th

and 19th Centuries.

Usually in 2/4 or 4/4 with the

emphasis on the second

beat of the bar.

Sounds cheery and is played at a fast tempo in a major

key.

Instruments include: the Portuguese guitar,

keyboards, whistles, saxohpones, trumpets,

trombones, Surdo, Caixa, Repinique, Cuica, Tamborim, Agogo, Shakers, Scrapers and

Tambourines.

Major feature of Brazillian carnivals.

Surdo de Primeira sets the beat - has the lowest pitch

and is struck on the second beat of the

bar. i.e. 2 and 4

Surdo de segunda (second surdo) -

slightly smaller and has a higher pitch than the surdo de

primeira. It emphaises the

opposite beat i.e. 1 and 3.

Surdo de terceira (third surdo) - smaller and at a higher pitch plays more

coplex, syncopated rhythms, adding a swing to the rhythm produced

by the surdos.

The Caixa plays faster rhythms -

variation is created by

playing accents on different

notes.

The other instruments add

in addtional contrasting

rhythms and syncopation.

The repinique leads call and response. The leader plays a

whistle as well - it is a two toned whistle called an apito. The whistle sets the tempo and

indicated the start of call and response sections. It also signals

breaks, where the band stops and then starts again, playing a different rhythm than before.

Baroque Concerto

E.G. Corelli's Concerto

Grosso in F Major.

Concerto - work for a solo

instrument that is accompanied by an orchestra.

Tutti - full orchestra

plays

E.g. Bach's Violin

Concerto in A Minor.

Concerto Grosso - Instead of a solo

instrument, it used a small group of soloists - usually

two to three movements.

Concertino - normally 2

violins and a cello. These are

the soloists.

The Ripieno - usually the

string section, alongside the

continuo.

Key Features - Use of Continuo section - Cello, Lute and either Harpsichord or

Organ.

Decorative melodies by

using ornamentaition.

Sudden Dynamics

Variety of Textures - Polyphonic /

Contrapuntal - independant melodies, Homophonic - all parts move in harmony and

melody and accompaniment - melody over the accompaniment.

Modulations to related

keys.

Orchesrta - Strings - 2/3, Woodwind - recorders or

wooden flutes, oboes, bassoon, Brass -

sometimes trumpets and horns (no valves), Timpani - two drums - tuned to the

tonic and dominant and Harpshichord.

1600 - 1750

Classical Concerto

Balanced Phrasing - 4 / 8

bars with question and

answer phrases

Melody was

usually in the 1st Violins

Harmony and tonality were diatonic - with modulations

going to closely related keys.

Use of Alberti Bass - in piano

music and orchestra

accompaniment

Dynamic ranges

increased

Woodwind and Brass

would be used to 'colour' the

texture

Brass was often used in loud passages accompanied

by timpani

The continuo section was no

longer required in the Classical

period as textures became fuller and

harmonies clearer.

Some orchestra still performed

without a conductor

(especially in a concerto)

Orchestra became larger - strings - up to six per section, woodwind - there would usually be two flutes,

two oboes, two bassoons, and towards the end of the period two clarinets, Brass - two french horns,

two trumpets we also used and Percussion - if trumpets were in the

orchestra they would usually be accompanied by two timpani.

New Instruments -

The piano - became popular

as a solo instrument and chamber music

instrument.

Changes in structure - Usually three movements which were

all longer than movements from the Baroque Period, The Cadenza became a part of the concerto usually towards the

end of the first movement and unlike the Baroque period - the soloist would not play in

the tutti sections.

1750 -

1810

E.g. Mozart - Flute Concerto

in D Major

E.g. Beethoven:

Piano Concerto No.3

Melody and accompanime

nt was the predominant

texture

Homophonic Textures

Romantic Concerto

1810 - 1900

Composers - Medelssohn,

Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.

The music was more dramatic

than the Classical Period. Composers

would try to portray emotions or themes such as

nature.

Nationalist styles also emerged

Movements and works

became longer

While the harmony was still diatonic - chromatic chords

and melodies were used mushc more as well as

creating more dissonance. this made the music more

expressive.

Melodies became longer - the clear

cadences from the Classical and Baroque

Period are often blurred by the use of

distantly related chords.

Modulations were often

made to distantly

related keys.Textures were much

denser / thicker - melodies would be doubled and there

were newer instruments

The woodwind and brass became

more prominaent often with lyrical

solo lines.

Dramatic contrast in textures,

exploring a wider range of pitches,

dynamics and timbre

Most orchestral performances

required a conductor as the

rhythms and textures had

become much more complex.

Rubato would often be used by the conductor and soloist - the strict

tempo would be relaxed briefly and this

contributed to the expressive nature of the

music.

The Orchestra - strings - there were larger sections and the double bass section would

have its own line of music, unlike the Baroque and Classical period where it would double

the cellos. Woodwind - the Clarinet had become an established member of this

section and two of each insytrument would be a standard insyrumentation. brass -

trumpets, french norns, trombones and tuba would often be found. The numner in each

section would vary depending on the composition. Percussion - other insturents joined the timpani: bass drum, side drum,

cymbals and more.

New instruments - piccolo, cor anglais,

bass clarinet and contrabassoon

extending the range and texture available for composers for the

orchestra.

Changes in the Concerto - Solosits writing was more virtuosic. The music had become exceptionally demanding in comparison with the Classical and Baroque Period. The cadenzas were rarely important - they were either

written by the composer or the performer, and there are often

multiple versions for performances to choose from. The usualy orchestral

introduction was sometimes abandoned for a dramatic opening

from the soloist.

Tutti melodies were not confined to the

1st violins - a greated selection of instruments would

play melodies.

E.g. Brahms 2nd Movement Violin

Concerto

E.g. Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto Op.18 No.2 1st

movement.

Film Music

Leitmotifs - a tune that returns throughtout the

film - it represent a particular object, idea or

character in the story and often returns in the

backgrouns or in an altered form.

Repetition is used alot - can be used to link different parts of the film

together. Often at the end there is a triumphant modulation of the main theme (as long as it has a happy ending). Its ends happy, uplifting key

with a drawn out cadence to show that the story of the

film has been resolved.

if the film does not have a hapy ending (or if

there is going to be a sequel) the theme may

be left unresolved, giving the film a more open or

darker ending.

Repetition can be used to

create tension and suspense.

Some films use pop songs as part of

their soundtrack to generate publicity.

The music can be used to create the

mood of a different time or

place by using tradition

instruments.

The music in war films creates an atmosphere.

Sound effects like explotions and gunfire

can be incorporated into the music to suggest war

Unnatural sounds can make strange places sound

stranger - can be created by - unusual harmonies and

time signatures, synthesisers and samples, instruments or voices distorted, dischords

and diminished chords, rapid scaleic patterns etc.

Style of music changes with the mood of the scene.

It is often the composers job to create a feeling of something being there thats not seen -

created by - minor and dissonant chords, low pitches,

percussive metallic sounds with reverb, suspensions,

variations in dynamics.

Ostinato patterns can be used to

create a tension to keep the audience

on edge.

Game Music

Early video game music was very simple - due to limited technology.

It was often Monophonic and very

basic Polyphony. Tended to be short

melodies or motifs that were on a loop.

Video game music developed

as technology developed.

MIDI (Musical Digital Interface) allowed

composers to write for a range of instruments

that played back consistently on different

pieces of equipment.

Nowadays, soundtracks can be created very

effectively using DAW (Digital Audio

Workstation) software like Logic Pro / Cubase.

Recent game music is

more like a film score.

Like films there are different

genres of game.

Game music uses

motifs

Polyrhythm, cross-rhythm and syncopation can be used to create a

sense of urgency or uncentainty. They can

represent chases or tense scenes and often

make the player feel unsettled.

Texture can show how the story is progressing

in a game - e.g. the music might start off

sparse and slow-moving, then the texture builds and becomes richer as

the situation builds to a climax.

Some games have full soundstracks

like Assassins creed, Halo and Advent Rising.

Pop music from the

1950's to the present day

Post second world war era was dominated by

ballads and sentimental songs by artists such as

Bing Crosby, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra.

Post 1950's - Rock 'n' Roll, rhythm and blues, and even country music - all from America have had a huge influence on the popular music that

we listen to today.

1960's were defined by the melodic pop of

artists such as The Beatles and The Beach

Boys.

1970's introduced more experimental music from the likes of Led Zeppelin and David

Bowie, alongside highly commercial groups like ABBA and The Jackson

5.

1980's - introduced

sampling and popularised

synthesisers and drum machines.

1990's - large number of dance music and

hip hop artists, whose music often realied heavily on sampling

Technology further developed throughout the 2000's with

music producers just as likely to use sampled and

synthesised sounds as live instruments, and many pop

vocalists relying on auto-tune to perfect their singing.

Music and recording technology changed

dramatically over the latter half of the 20th Century. The introduction of multi-tracking meant that producers could

record voices and instruments separately, giving them much

greater flexibility.

Rock 'n' roll of the

1950's and 1960's

Combines elements of rhythm and blues

music and aspects of country music,

essentially combining the music of the black and white American

populations.

Rhythm and blues

brought an edgy sound to popular

music.

Bill Haley and his Comets 'Rock Around

The Clock' attained mass appeal, it was

cerntainly not the first rock and roll hit.

Rocket 88, released by Jackie Brenston in 1951

is often cited as the first.

Rhythmic drive and

energy

Swing or boogie-woogie rhythm

Emphasis on primary

chords

Often 12-bar blues

chord structure

Walking Bass line

Instrumental solo section

Beats 2 and 4 emphasised by the snare

drum

Intense 'shouty' vocals

Instruments - Electric / Acoustic guitar, Double

bass (or bass guitar), Drum kit, Piano, Saxophones (less popular after the

1950's), Lead vocals sometimes accompanied

by backing vocalists singing in close harmony.

Elivis Presley - Born in 1935, attended church

regulary as a boy and sang alot of gospel music. Had

numerous hits - Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Blue Suede

Shoes. Notorious for his hip-swivelling and

provocative dance moves.

Technooogy used in Rock 'n' Roll - Electric guitars and

sometimes electric bass guitar played through

amplifiers. Guitar amplifiers were often overdriven to create

slightly distored sound. Very basic technology

effects; the only common effects were reverb and

echo.

The Beatles - british pop / rock group

from Liverpool who shaped the course of

rock 'n' roll and inspired counless pop and rock musicians.

The Beatles were songwriters as well as

performers. There songs move away from

the simplicity of the blues towards a more

complex style that often involved unusual

harmonies, rhythms and instrumentation.

Famous releases - Please Please Me, Help, Rubber Soul and Sgt.Pepper's

Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Beach Boys - american rock and pop band 1961.

Seen to represent Californian youth cultre

and the lyrics of their early songs were almost about surfing, cars, girls

and dancing.

The Beach Boys style was

characterised by its catchy melodies, close harmony

vocals (influenced by doo-wop and

barbershop groups) detailed production

and inventive arrangements

Famous Hits from The

Beach Boys - Good

Vibrations, Wouldn't it be Nice and

God only Know.

Rock Anthems of the 1970s and 1980s

Most rock music is 4/4 time, with

a heavy back beat.

Instruments usually included -

electric guitar, electric bass,

drums, keyboards and

vocals

Distorted electric guitars, using

additional effects such as delay,

chorus and wah-wah.

The rise of guitar heros - guitarists who combined

playing riffs with long, virtuosic,

improvised solos.

Songs often followed the conventional verse-chorus

structure

Lyrics have a darker mood

than standard pop

lyrics.

Rock Anthems have memorable and

sometimes repetive melodies and lyrics

especially during the chorus,

Queen - band formed in london in 1970. The bands

earlier works were influenced by progressive rock and heavy metal, but

eventually the band moved to more conventional and radio-friendly songwriting.

Bon Jovi - American rock band formed in 1983.

Richie Sambora is famous for using a talk box - an effects unit that directs

sound from an instruments ito a musicians mouth (via a tube) allowing the player to

create 'vocalised' sounds from their instrument.

Guns 'N' Roses - America Rock band

formed in 1985. Famous tracks include

- November Rain, Paradise City and

Patience.

Pop Ballads of the 1970s,

1980s and 1990s

The first form of ballad was a folk

song - a story sung to a simple

melody.

Usually in 4/4 with a slow

tempo Verse-Chours

Structure

Often (not always)

includes a piano /

electric piano

Sustained 'lush' chords in the instrumental

accompanimentDrum pattern usually accents beats 2 and 4

on the snare drum opportunities for the vocalist to express emotion through rubato, ornmentation and

melisma.

Lead singer often provides

ornamentaion and melisma at the

climax of the song.

Harmonic language strays a little beyond the primary chords but remains in the

key. Inversions of the chords are popular, which often create descending and rising bass lines by

step.

A typical ballad usually increases in

instrumentation and dynamics,

arriving at a climax during a big chorus or an instrumental

section.

Sentimental or romantic lyrics

Often alot of reverb added to

the lead and backing vocals especially in

ballads from the 1980s.

Bette Midler - 'Wind

beneath My Wings' (1988)

Elton John - 'Candle in The Wind' (1973)

Take That - 'Back for

Good'

Solo artists from the

1990s to the present day

Pop music diversified into many different

genres from the 1980s onwards.

Main strands running through pop music

included: rock, dance, rap and electronic

music, alongside more conventional pop

music.

Music videos had become as

important as the music itself.

Digital technology was well establish with digital effects often

being added to instruments and

vocals.

Alot of music was recorded on computer sequencers such as Pro

Tools or Cubase, allowing producers much greater control over their music.

Technology you may hear in 1990s music includes: Sampling,

Drum Loops, Reverb / echo, Overdubbing -

created thicker textures.

Michael Jackson - 'Black or

White' 1991

Kylie Minogue - 'Red Blooded

Woman' (2004)

Singer Effects

A Cappella - no instrumental

backing

Vibrato - when singers quiver up and down slightly

in pitch

Falsetto - When men (or occassionly

women) make their voices go really high

e.g. Sam Smith, Michael Jackon and

The Bee Gees

Portamento - when a singer slides from

one note to another.

Scat - improvising using syllables like

'doo' and 'dat'. Scat comes from

jazz music.

Riffing - when singers decorate and add bits to the tune. They often go up and down a scale before coming to rest on one

note. Usually comes at the end of a phrase, between sections

or to finish a song. E.g. Whitney Houston, Mariah

Carey and Celine Deon.

Electronic Effects

Reverb - adds an echo to a

sound

Mult-Tracking - is when each part is

recorded on its own track, and all

the tracks are played back

together.

Sampling - When you use a short

recording (a sample) of

someone else's voice in your song.

A Vocoder - (type of synthesiser) electronically

alters a voice recording and lets you create wierd

effects. Similar technology has been used

to auto-tune some singers.

Electric guitar effects

Distortion - a grungy, dirty

sound

Fuzz - fuzzy-sounding distortion

Chorus - makes it sound like

more than one instrument is

playing

Flanger and Phaser - create a

'whooshing' noise

Wah Wah - makes the guitar

go 'wah wah'

Compression - evens out the variations in

volume

Panning - Sends different sounds

through different

speakers. (left and Right)

Types of Rock

Hard Rock - loud and aggressive, dominated by a

distorted electric guitar, solos and power chords.

Bands include Led Zeppelin and The Who

Glam Rock - Theatrical and glitzy, easier to listen to than hard rock with a more rock 'n'

roll feel and catchy hooks. Performers dressed up in

spangly catsuits and wore lots of makeup. E.g. David Bowie and Kiss. Some of Queen's

songs are glam rock.

Heavy Metal - Harder and more distorted than hard rock, even longer guitar

solos. E.g. Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.

Progressive (Prog) Rock - Somgs were experimental and

complicated and albums often had a theme. Features long

instrumentals, electronic effects and mythological or nonsensical lyrics. E.g. Yes and Pink Floyd.

Punk Rock - Harsh and Angry, all about anarchy

and rebeliion. Lyrics were often shouted. E.g. The Sex

Pistols and Blondie.

The Elements of music - Things to

think about when describing

the music.

Dynamics - levels of loudness and

softness (Loud / Quiet)

Genre - category of music such as

bhangra, rock 'n'roll, calypso

etc.

Harmony - Chords used. i.e. major / minor /

tonic / dominant / subdominat

Melody - major, minor, chromatic, pentatonic, blue notes, modes, moves by steo / leap, smooth,

wide range of notes, high or low, scaleic pattern or arpeggios,

lyrical, legato / slurred, staccato / tongued, accented notes.

Metre - beat or pulse in the music. Simple / Compound - regular

metres. Irregular metres 5/4 or 7/8 found

in Greek and Balkan music.

Music Technology - describe multi-tracking, sampling, quantising, over-dubbing, remixing, looping, panning

and scratching. MIDI, synthesisers, drum machines,

sequencers, vocoders and moxing desks. Digital effects -

reverb, echo, distortion and delay.

Baroque (1600 - 1750)

Continuous driving rhythms

in fast pieces

Long ornamented

melodies

Clear conrtrasts beween loud

and soft (terraced dynamics)

Emphasis on treble and bass in some pieces or contrapuntal

textures in others

A consistant mood

throughout individual

movements

A Harpsichord (part of the continuo) is

often heard filling in the chords between treble and bass clef.

Small orchestra of strings and oboes, plus

trumpets and drums in

celebratory pieces.

Classical (1750 - 1825)

Gradual changes as well

as clear contrasts in

dynamicsHomophonic

Textures (chordal or melody and

accompaniment)

Many simple harmonies but melodies may

include chromatic decoration

Cadences at regular

intervals creating clear

phrasesPairs of balanced phrases in which the second can

give the impression of an

answer to the first

Contrasts of mood within the same movement

The piano replaces the

harpsichord as the main keyboard

instrument

Flutes, oboes, bassoons,

trumpets, horns and timpani start

to appear regulary in medium-sized

orchestra's.

Romantic (1825 - 1900)

Music that tells a story or paints a picture became

popular.

Many pieces convey emotions, evoking subjects such as dreams, love or nature.

Melodies are often memorable

and feature an expressive and singing quality

Extremes in length and

difficulty of pieces and in the range of dynamics used

are common.

Homophonic textures continue to predominate,

often with denser accompaniments

Expressive modulations to distant keys are

often used

The Orchestra grew to its largest size, typically 80 or more players.

Modern (1900 onwards including

orchestral film music)

Characterised by a diversity of styles

Some composers used chords for 'colour' rather than to define

keys and cadences

The increasing use of dissonance led some composers

to reject the concept of

tonality

Complex rhythms, angular melodies

and unusual metres feature in

some modern music

Traditionailsts continued to develop the symphony,

concerto and string quartet

Some pieces were influenced by folk

music, world music or jazz.

Rhythm

Refers to the patterns made by notes and rests.

Dont list duration / lengths of notes instead

focus on - syncopation,

triplets, dotted notes / sudden

silences.

Ostinato

Cross RhythmsSwung Rhythms

Phrases that begin with an anacrusis

Mood or style of music - e.g. steady

rhtyhm of a march, or the use of son clave, tala,

chall or polyrhythms.

Structure

Binary Form

ABTernary

FormABA

Rondo

VariationsVerse-and-

Chorus

Strophic

Through-composed

song

Cadences

Imperfect - any - V (Dominant) - like a comma

Perfect - V - IFull stop

Plagal - IV - IFull stop

Interrupted - V(7) to any EXCEPT I -

Sounds like a perfect cadence

has been interrupted!

Texture

Monophonic - unaccompanied

melodic line - performed by one

person or by a number of people

who all play or sing the same tune in

unison or in octaves.

Homophonic - Several parts move together

e.g. in the same rhythm

Melody and Accompaniment - if

the accompaniment is independent of the

tune then the texture can be described as

melody and accompaniment.

Polyphonic - Two or more simultaneous melodys. Can also be described as

having contrapuntal texture. So the parts

imitate one another? Are there any canons? How many independent lines

are there?

Heterophonic - different versions of

the melody are heard at the same time, such as when a folk tune is

decorate independently but simultaneously by

different performers.

Antiphonal - two or more spatially

separated soloists or groups perfrom

alternatively and in combination.