Listen to this
Genres
Story-telling
Name that Instrument
Who's that
100

Example #1

The Pink Panther Theme Music, Henry Mancini

100

This genre of is rooted in 15th and 16th century French Courts dances and became more realistic and expressive during the 18th and 19th century. It was then imported and developed in Russian Courts.

Ballet

100

The set of pitches that make up this kind of melody are often used to indicate sadness, foreboding, anticipation, or danger

Minor

100

Instrument #1

Finger Symbols
100

This was born in Inwood NYC to Puerto Rican parents. He grew up listening to salsa and American musicals and has worked in the field to create opportunities for more diverse casting.

Lin-Manuel Miranda

200

Example #2

Maple Leaf Rag

200

This genre of music involves story telling with dialogue and singing.

Musical Theater

200

This is a composition technique where instruments are used to imitate real world sounds

Mimesis

200

Instrument #2

Piano

200

This composer wrote Harpsichord Concerto No 1 in D Minor. 

Johann Sebastian Bach

300

Example #3

Vivaldi's Four Seasons: Spring

300

This genre is rooted in African American Cultural Traditions such as Boasting, Toasting and Playing the Dozens as well as the Black Arts Movements.

Hip Hop

300

These term describes when music is used to describe a particular story or narrative

Program Music

300

Instrument #3

Violin

300

This piano player wrote the Maple Leaf Rag and is considered the "King of Ragtime." 

Scott Joplin

400

Example #4

The Imperial March - Darth Vader's theme

400

This genre involves an orchestra underscoring the action in a film. An example would be John Williams' Star Wars. 

Symphonic Score

400

An approach to story-telling and musical compositions where parts of a large scale work are unified by a recurring melody

Cyclical Techniques

400

Instrument #4

Flute

400

This composer wrote a lot of program music as well as three famous ballet's, though he was more proud of his symphonies

Pyotr Ilich Tchaikovsky

500

Example #5

Attack on All Sides

500

This genre of music is not notated but is passed down through oral tradition. Each player has their own unique interpretation of the piece. 

Chinese Solo Repertoire

500

This is a 19th century, Romantic era trend where Wester Composers looked to far away lands seen as "inferior" in order to provide their audiences with "foreign, unusual or titillating" experiences. This resulted in a lot of musical stereotyping as the composers did not look to authentically represent the cultures.

Exoticism

500

Instrument #5

Pipa

500

This artist pioneered many DJ techniques turning turntables into instruments. 

Grandmaster Flash

600

Example #6

Threnody for the Victims of Hiroshima

600

This piano genre is a precursor to Jazz and is often played on an out of tune instrument. The left hand alternates high and low notes while the right hand plays intricate, syncopated melodies. 

Ragtime

600

This is a storytelling device used to signify hidden meanings. An example is the use of harpsichord in the song "I'll be back" from Hamilton

Allegory

600

Instrument #6

Trumpet

600

This Italian violinist and composer worked as an instructor at a local orphanage for girls. He also wrote program music based on the four seasons the first of which is in ritornello form.

Antonio Vivaldi

700

Example  #7

Flight of the Valkyries Richard Wagner

700

This genre is a work for instrumental soloists with orchestral accompaniment often used to display the players skills on the solo instrument

Concerto

700

This type of film music can be heard by the characters in the film

Diegetic (Source Music)
700

Instrument #7

Saxophone

700

This Polish composer used 20th century extended techniques and unique quality timbre to create a threnody (lament or poem or mourning) for the victims of Hiroshima

Krzysztof Penderecki

800

Example #8

You'll be back by Lin-Manuel Miranda

800

This genre began in African American communities and New Orleans and later moved to Chicago. Some defining characteristics include improvisation, syncopation and Swing. 

Jazz

800

A short, recurring, musical phrase tied to a specific character, setting, emotion or idea.

Leitmotif

800

Instrument #8

Harpsichord

800

This Trinidadian piano player composed the Black and White Rag

Winnifred Atwell