DURATION
Strong, definite, weak or indefinite.
What is the beat?
Ascending, descending, angular, static are all ways we can describe the
Melodic contour
Phrases, motifs, riffs, call and response are all examples of
Micro structures - the smaller sections within a macro (overall) structure
Italian term for very loud
fortissimo (ff)
The thickness or thinness of sound created by layers in a piece of music
What is density?
a short, distinct rhythm pattern that repeats over and over again without changing.
What is a rhythmic ostinato?
An untuned sound - eg birds, trees, untuned percussion (eg snare drum)
What is indefinite pitch?
Binary form, ternary form, 12 bar blues, verse/chorus form are all types of...
Macro structures (overall structures of a piece of music)
rapid alternation between two notes - a type of ornamentation
What is a trill?
The three roles that instruments/voices can play when referring to texture
Melodic; Harmonic; Rhythmic
A rhtyhmic device where stress or emphasis is placed on weak beats or offbeats instead of the expected strong beats
What is syncopation?
a change of key in a piece of music
What is a modulation?
Anything that is constant or reoccuring or that binds the piece together creates a sense of
What is unity?
An expressive technique that can be performed on a number of instruments that involves the vibrating or shaking of a note; a change in pitch
What is vibrato?
Membranophones, chordophones, aerophones and idiophones are all ways we can classify...
Instruments of world music (or any type of instrument)
A time signature with the number 8 on the bottom is subdivided in to counts of
Quavers
Pentatonic, gypsy scale, indian raga, gamelan are all types of...
World music scales
Anything that is new or changing, provides difference and makes the piece interesting is referred to as creating
What is contrast?
a musical technique that means "robbed time," where a performer subtly speeds up and slows down the tempo for emotional expression without changing the overall duration of the piece
What is rubato?
The texture type that has multiple melodies performing at the one time
What is Polyphonic texture?
Conflicting rhythmic patterns played simultaneously or conflicting metres (eg 3/4 against 4/4)
What is a cross rhythm?
the rate of change or how fast/slow the harmony moves through the piece of music
What is Harmonic Rhythm/ Harmonic rate of change?
A compositional technique that creates a sense of anxiety or uneasiness in the music, sometimes followed by a release or resolution.
What is tension?
loud and soft elements in a piece of music, but not gradations in between. A distinct feature of Baroque music.
What are terraced dynamics?
What is heterophonic texture?