Music
The organization of sounds in time
Four properties of music
Pitch; dynamics; tone color; duration
Pitch
relative lowness or highness of a sound.
Determined by frequency of its vibrations
fast = high
slow = low
tone
a sound that has a definite pitch
interval
the distance in pitch between two tones
octave
two pitches whose vibrational frequencies are multiples of each other
range
distance between the lowest and highest pitches an instrument can produce
dynamics
degrees of loudness or softness
determined by the amplitude of the vibrations: wide=loud; narrow=soft
accent
one tone played more loudly or longer or higher than the tones around it
tone color
the quality that distinguishes one instrument’s sound from that of another
descriptive terms: bright, brilliant, dark, rich
major scale
7 tones (whole + half steps)
chromatic scale
11 tones (all half steps)
bel canto
beautiful singing
register
part of the tonal range of an instrument or voice. Tone color may vary from one to another
musical instrument
any mechanism that produces musical sounds
6 families of Western music
strings
woodwinds
brass
percussion
keyboard
electronic
Rhythm
ordered flow of music through time; the pattern of durations of notes and silences in music
Beat
Regular, recurrent pulsation that divides music into equal units of time; “what you tap your feet to”
Meter
organization of beats into regular groups
Measure
Group containing a fixed number of beats
Duple meter
in 2
examples:
Yankee Doodle
Oh! Suzannah
Dixie
Triple meter
in 3;
examples:
waltz
America
Star-Spangled Banner
Happy Birthday
Amazing Grace
Quadruple meter
in 4
examples: America the Beautiful
Battle Hymn of the Republic
Auld Lang Syne
Sextuple meter
in 6
examples:
Home on the Range
Greensleeves
Silent Night
Syncopation
Rhythm in which the accented beat occurs where you would not expect it
Tempo
Speed of the beat
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
metronome
indicates number of beats per minute
Melody
a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole. It begins, moves, and ends; it has direction, shape, and continuity
How classical music is similar to a good novel
introduction–>conflict–>climax–>resolution
How notes in a melody may move
steps, leaps, or stay the same
conjunct
melody that moves mostly by steps
disjunct
melody that moves mostly by leaps
range
span of notes. May be wide or narrow
legato
smoothly
staccato
short; detached
phrase
short part of a melody; they often come in balanced pairs
sequence
repetition of a melodic pattern at a different pitch; often used in the Baroque period
cadence
resting place at the end of a phrase. May be partial or final.
Typically a progression from the dominant to the tonic chord
harmony
the way chords are constructed and how they follow each other. Adds support, depth, and richness to music
chord
combination of 3 or more tones sounded at once (may be block or arpeggio)
triad
3 tones played at once
tonic chord
chord built on the first note of the scale
dominant chord
chord built on the fifth note of the scale
Arpeggios
broken chords
key
refers to the presence of a central note, chord, and scale within a piece in relationship with all other tones in the competition (=tonality)
scale
basic pitches of a piece of music arranged in order from low to high or high to low. Major and minor are the two basic ones in Western music.
key signature
sharp and flat signs following the clef; indicate which key the piece is in
modulation
change of key
tonic key
central key; usually the beginning and the end
musical texture
how many different layers of sound are heard at once; whether they are melody or harmony; how they are related to one another. can be described as transparent, dense, thick, thin, heavy, or light
monophonic
single unaccompanied melody line
polyphonic
simultaneous performance of 2 or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest
counterpoint
technique of combining several different melodic lines into a meaningful whole
homophonic
one main melody accompanied by chords
musical form
the organization of musical elements in time
repetition
creates a sense of unity
contrast
creates forward motion, conflict, and change of mood
variation
some features are changed while others remain the same
ABA
A type of musical form (ternary)
example: Dance of the Reed Pipes from the Nutcracker Suite
contrapuntal texture
another term for polyphonic texture
imitation
when a melodic idea is presented by one voice or instrument then restated immediately by another
example: a round
musical style
a characteristic way of treating the various musical elements: melody, rhythm, tone color, dynamics, harmony, texture, and form
450-1450
Middle Ages
1450-1600
Renaissance
1600-1750
Baroque
1750-1820
Classical
1820-1900
Romantic
Stringed instruments
violin
viola
cello
bass
guitar
harp
pizzicato
plucked
double stop
2 notes played at once (stringed instruments)
vibrato
“throbbing” sound made by slightly wobbling the pitch of a note
mute
muffling the sound
tremolo
quick up-and-down movement of the bow
harmonics
whistle-like tones made by lightly pressing a string
woodwinds
piccolo
flute
clarinet
oboe
bassoon
sax
recorder
brass
trumpet
trombone
horn (formerly “French” horn)
tuba
percussion (definite pitch)
timpani
glockenspiel
xylophone
celesta
chime
percussion (indefinite pitch)
snare
bass drum
tambourine
triangle
cymbals
whip
gong
keyboard instruments
piano
harpsichord
organ
accordion
electronic instruments
tape studio
synthesizer
MIDI
cathedrals
places of learning in the Middle Ages; where the music happened!
Monasteries
where monks lived
convents
where nuns lived
vocal music
the most important form of music until the Romantic period
Gregorian chant
the official music of the Catholic Church until 1965–
Melody set to Latin text–
Sung without accompaniment–
Fluid rhythm, little sense of beat–
Melody intended to enhance the text of the mass and set the mood for prayer–
Not written down; learned by rote
Hildegard of Bingen
1098-1179
One of the few medieval composers whose name was signed to the music–
Convent in Rupertsburg, Germany–
Educated–
Musician and visionary–
Herbalist–
“O Successores”
troubadours and trouveres
traveling singers in the Middle Ages
We have some of their words but usually not the music
vida
poem about the troubadour’s life
estampie
medieval dance
One of the earliest surviving forms of instrumental music
rebec
bowed string instrument of the Middle Ages
pipe
tubular wind instrument of the Middle Ages
psaltry
bowed string instrument of the Middle Ages
Plays the drone in Estampie
organum
Medieval music consisting of Gregorian chant plus one or more additional melodic lines (usually parallel)
700-900
Paris
After 1150, the center of polyphonic music
School of Notre Dame
1170-1200 this school developed rhythmic notation and measured rhythm
humanism
movement in which primary emphasis on humans rather than divine;
Renaissance movement;
Revival of Greek thought/culture
triple impression printing
invented in 1501; necessary for printing music
Franco-Flemish
Leading composers in the Renaissance were this.
France, Netherlands, Belgium
characteristics of Renaissance music
Vocal music more important than instrumental;
Music written to enhance the text
moderation
word painting
representation in music of specific poetic images
Renaissance
“The Golden Age of A Cappella music”
Renaissance
in this period, polyphonic lines conceived linearly rather than harmonically; each has great rhythmic independence
mass
polyphonic choral composition made up of 5 sections of the ordinary mass
Kyrie
Gloria
Credo
Sanctus
Agnus Dei
5 parts of the ordinary mass
motet
polyphonic choral work set to a sacred Latin text other than the mass ordinary
Josquin Desprez
Flemish composer (1440-1521)
wrote “Ave Maria… Virgo Serena”
Ave Maria… Virgo Serena
Written by Josquin Desprez
4 voices
Uses imitation
duple–>triple–>duple
ends quietly and personally
madrigal
music for several solo voices set to a short poem, usually about love
madrigalism
another word for word painting
madrigals
Renaissance music that combined homophonic and polyphonic textures. More unusual harmonies than motets
Began in Italy; spread to England
Musica Transalpina
book of Italian madrigals published with English lyrics;
Began the English madrigal craze
Thomas Weelkes
1575-1623
Wrote “As Vesta Was Descending”
As Vesta Was Descending
Written by Thomas Weelkes
Possibly to honor Queen Elizabeth
baroque
in this period, music was mainly written to order
courts
Music was the main form of diversion in these.
music director
In the baroque period, this person: supervised performances; composed music for operas, church, dinner, concerts; was the disciplinarian for the other musicians; repaired instruments; and served as the music librarian.
baroque
old meaning: bizarre, flamboyant, elaborately ornamented
baroque
new meaning: “fills space with action and movement”
How to become a musician in the baroque period
Either by being born into it or apprenticing. Or in orphanages.
Barbara Strozzi
Francesca Caccina
Elizabeth Claude Jaquet de la Guerre
Three famous women composers of the baroque era
late baroque
in this time period, instrumental music finally rivaled vocal music for importance; polyphony returned.
unity of mood
a characteristic of Baroque music–one mood per piece
Doctrine of the Affections
Baroque period idea that humans could not experience more than one emotion at a time. Specific rhythms and keys were associated with specific moods.
baroque rhythm
forward motion; motor-like
da capo aria
baroque aria; ABA’ form. A’ = go back and do A again, but ornamented.
characteristics of baroque melody
opening melody heard again and again
sequence
ornamentation
characteristics of baroque dynamics
periodic sudden shifts–>terraced dynamics
terraced dynamics
baroque dynamic quality–sudden shifts like steps
characteristics of baroque texture
mostly polyphonic, with sequence/imitation
Soprano and bass the most important voices
More chordal
basso continuo
baroque accompaniment made up of a bass part usually played by 2 instruments: a keyboard and a low melodic instrument (almost always harpsichord);
arose during baroque period
figured bass
bass notes with figures (usually numbers) above to indicate chords
baroque orchestra
based on the violin family
small by today’s standards–10-40 players
basso continuo part usually played by harpsichord + cello or oboe
movement
piece that sounds fairly complete but is actually part of a larger work
in church
where commoners got to hear great music in the baroque period
servants
although musicians were often well-paid by the courts, they were still this.
concerto grosso
small group of soloists pitted against a larger group of players (tutti)–>creats contrasts between loud and soft
concerto
piece of music consisting of several movements that contrast in tempo and characterFirst and last movements often in ritornello form
ritornello
means “refrain”
typical 3 movements of a concerto
fast (vigorous, determined)
slow (quiet, lyrical, intimate)
fast (lively, carefree, dancelike)
ritornello form
form based on alternation between soloists and tutti.
Complete ritornello usually heard in 1st and last movements
tutti
means “all”
in a baroque concerto, usually 8-20 musicians, mainly strings and a harpsichord for the basso continuo
example: Brandenburg Concertos
Brandenburg concerto no 5, movement 1
one of the concertos written by Bach to honor the Margrave of ___.
Solos: flute, violin, harpsichord
tutti: strings
terms: ritornello; concerto; contrast
opera
drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment
opera: soloists
stars and secondary performers
opera: chorus
no solos; typically townspeople and soldiers
opera: dancers
typically not singers–provide dance numbers in an opera
extras
people who basically hold space on stage
scenery
by the end of the baroque period, this was the star of the show!
conductor
in an opera, must direct both the singers and the orchestra
prompter
helps the actors with lines
1600
date of the beginning of opera in Italy
libretto
the text of the opera
librettist
person who writes the text of the opera
coloratura soprano
female opera singer with VERY high range; known for rapid scales and trills
lyric soprano
female opera singer with a light voice; plays roles that call for grace and charm
dramatic soprano
female opera singer with a full, powerful voice; plays roles calling for passion and intensity
lyric tenor
male opera singer with a light, bright voice
dramatic tenor
male opera singer with powerful, heroic expression
basso buffo
male opera singer who plays comic roles; can sing very rapidly
basso profundo
male opera singer with very low range; can sing dignified roles
aria
song that is part of an opera. Solo voice with orchestral accompaniment. This piece will express the emotional state of the character
recitative
song from an opera that imitates the rhythms and pitch fluctuations of speech. Lot of repeated notes. Typically 1 note/syllable. Carries the action forward.
example: Tu se morta
ensemble
piece sung by 2, 3, or 4 singers. May be polyphonic. Mozart was the master of this.
opera: chorus
generates atmosphere and comments on the action. Modeled after the “Greek chorus”
overture
short musical composition, purely orchestral, that opens an opera and sets the overall dramatic mood
prelude
orchestral introduction to later acts in an opera
Florentine Camarata
Italian “thinking group” that started opera in 1600. Wanted to create a new vocal style modeled on speech.
Jacopo Peri
wrote the first opera in 1600
Monteverdi
Wrote Orfeo
Wanted to create music of emotional intensity–invented pizzicato and tremolo
Orfeo
earliest surviving opera.
Written by Monteverdi
story of Orpheus and Euridice
Tu se morta
“You Are Dead”
Act II recitative from “Orfeo” by Monteverdi
terms: word painting, recitative
Antonio Vivaldi
violin teacher, composer, conductor for the music school of the Pieta
wrote “The Four Seasons”
baroque program music
music associated with a story, poem, idea, or scene
example: Spring by Vivaldi
1st movement of Spring
Ritornello: birds–> streams–> thuinder/lightning–> birds again
2nd movement of Spring
illustrates shepherd sleeping. Violas are barking dog throughout
3rd movement of Spring
pastoral dance. Ritornello form. Dotted-note rhythm.
George Frederic Handel
Child prodigy, but not from a musical family
Employed in Germany but took an extended leave to England
Impresario, composer, performer
Handel
Most known for English oratorios and Italian operas
Used polyphony and changes between major and minor keys
The Hallelujah Chorus
By Handel.
Part of “The Messiah”
includes sudden changes among monophonic, polyphonic, and homophonic
The Triumphs of Oriana
anthology of English madrigals written to honor Queen Elizabeth I
secco recitative
a recitative accompanied by continuo alone, in which the continuo merely provides harmonic support; there are no melodic elements or ornamental elements to the continuo accompaniment
ex: Tu se morta
oratorio
large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra. Usually set to a narrative text.
ex: Handel’s Messiah
Royal Academy of Music
Handel’s opera company
recitative
the “talkie” part of an opera
Charles Jennens
put the words together for The Messiah
50
the number of movements in the Messiah
Ev’ry Valley Shall Be Exalted
Aria in Handel’s Messiah
terms: word painting; aria; oratorio
Hellelujah Chorus
most famous choral work ever
moves between poly-, mono-, and homophonic
Classical period
period of music that corresponded to the “Age of Enlightenment”
Style galant
mid-a8th century composers entertaining their listeners with music offering contrasts of mood and theme. Typically light and graceful in character
Classical period
period characterized by balance
strings
woodwind
brass
percussion
4 sections of orchestra in classical period
1. fast–sonata form
2. slow– theme & variations (sometimes sonata)
3. dancelike–minuet & trio or scherzo
4. fast–rondo or sonata rondo or sonata
4 movements of a symphony or string quartet
2 violins
1 viola
1 cello
instruments of a string quartet
sonata form
form of a single movement consisting of 3 main sections–exposition, development, recapitulation
Exposition
Theme 1 in tonic
Bridge
Theme 2 in new key
closing theme
Repeat
Development
middle section of sonata form; themes “duke it out” in fragments, many keys
Recapitulation
3rd section of sonata form
Theme 1
Bridge
Theme 2
Closing theme
(all in tonic)
coda
“tail”; optional ending to sonata form
Symphony no 40 in Gm 1st movement
Mozart symphony “Mr Mozart is in the closet”
in sonata form
Theme and variations
A basic musical idea is repeated over and over and changed each time
(ex: Haydn Symphony no 94 in Gmaj 2nd mvt (Surprise))
theme and variations
typical 2nd movement of a symphony, songlike, almost always NOT in tonic key
countermelody
melodic idea that accompanies a main theme–results in polyphony
Used in Haydn Symph. no 94 in G maj (Surprise Symphony)
scherzo
“joke”; same form as minuet and trio, but quicker, more energetic, rhythmic drive and rough humor
serenade
A work that is usually light in mood, meant for evening entertainment
theme and variations
graphed A A’ A” A”’ etc.
Symphony no 94 in G major
Symphony by Joseph Haydn, called the “Surprise Symphony”
Theme & variations form
Uses countermelody
Minuet & trio
in 3
often the 3rd movement of a symphony
3 sections
minuet & trio
a (repeat) b a’ (repeat)
c (repeat) d c’ (repeat)
a b a’
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik
Mozart
3rd movement
serenade
rondo
often the 4th movement in a symphony
upbeat, very stable due to constant return to theme A
ex: Beethoven String Quartet in C minor, op 18, no 4
rondo
graphed A B A C A or A B A C A B A
sonata rondo
A B A development section A B A
Beethoven String Quartet in C Minor, op 18, no 4, 4th movement
Rondo form
Folklike theme–sounds like gypsy music
opus
a group of works published together. Beethoven’s no 18 was a collection of string quartets
symphony
an extended, ambitious composition usually lasting between 20 and 45 minutes, expoiting the extended range of tone color and dynamics of the classical orchestra. Usually 4 movements: fast, slow, dancelike, fast
concerto
three-movement work for an instrumental soloist and orchestra
Joseph Haydn
“Father of the Classical Period”
Worked for the Esterhazy family in Vienna
Very prolific
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
child prodigy
died young
over 600 compositions
Don Giovanni
Mozart opera
unique blend of comic and serious
Don Giovanni
Leporello
Donna Anna
Don Ottavio
The Commandante
characters of Don Giovanni opening scene
Beethoven
the bridge between the classical and romantic periods
first ideal of the “creative genius”
deaf
opera buffa
comic opera
opera sera
serious opera
Fidelio
only opera written by Beethoven; revolutionary theme
Immortal Beloved
Letter from Beethoven to unknown lover
Eroica Symphony
Beethoven’s 3rd symphony
Written to honor Napoleon, but later B scratched his name out and renamed it
Heiligenstadt testament
letter written by Beethoven to his brothers, confessing his deafness and his near suicide–but that his art would keep him going.
The London Symphonies
two sets of symphonies written by Haydn to honor London
“fate knocking at the door”
name for the rhythm of Beethoven’s Symphony no 5
the horn call theme
name for the 2nd theme of Beethoven’s Symphony no 5
Romanticism
cultural movement that stressed emotion, imagination, and individuality
nationalism
deliberate use of folksongs, dances, legends, and history of the composer’s homeland
exoticism
music that draws on materials from a foreign land
chromatic harmony
harmony that uses chords containing tones not in the prevailing key
miniature
short piano pieces meant to be played in the home
thematic transformation
melody returns in a later movement or section, but its character is transformed by changes in dynamics, orchestration, or rhythm
ex: Symphonie fantastique
romantic period
period in which piano became a fixture in every middle-class home
art song
composition for solo voice and piano, in which poetry and music are intimately fused
ex: Erlkonig
lied
German for “song”
strophic form
same music is used for each stanza of a poem (ex: hymns)
through-composed form
new music for each stanza of a poem (ex: Erlkonig)
modified strophic
3 stanzas, A B A form
song cycle
Romantic art songs grouped in a set (ex: Schubert Die Winterreise)
Franz Schubert
Prolific composer in Vienna; died age 31
Lived Bohemian life with friends
Wrote over 600 songs
Schubertiades
parties in which only Schubert’s music was played
Frederic Chopin
Composer who wrote almost exclusively for piano
Polish/French
Made $$ teaching piano to daughters of the rich
Love affair with George Sand
Erlkonig
poem about dying boy, father trying to outrace death on horseback. Music by Schubert
Frederic Chopin
wrote miniatures
No programmatic titles
colorful harmonic chord progressions
hint of melanchoy
nocturne
night piece–slow, lyrical, intimate piano composition
program music
instrumental music associated with a story, poem, idea, or scene
ex: Symphonie fantastique
absolute music
NON-program music
(ex: Brahms)
concert overture
one movement, usually sonata form
NOT meant to usher in a stage work
program symphony
program music composition in several movements
ex: Symphonie fantastique
incidental music
music to be performed before and during a play
Hector Berlioz
Composer who fell in love with Shakespearean actress Harriet Smithson and wrote “Symphonie fantastique” about her
Well-known music critic
One of the first great conductors
wrote for HUGE orchestras
symphonic poem or tone poem
one-movement piece; ex: Sorcerer’s Apprentice
May be any form
Symphonie fantastique
5-movement symphony by Hector Berlioz about his obsession with Harriet Smithson
idee fixe
single theme meant to represent one thing
ex: “beloved” theme in Symphonie fantastique
nationalism
feelings awakened during French Revolution and Napoleonic Wars
Resulted in new enthusiasm for folk songs, legends, dances, fairy tales
Antonin Dvorak
Polish/French composer
Worked in both NY and Prague
Wrote New World Symphony (Symphony no 9 in Emin)
Giacomo Puccini
Major opera composer
Italian
Wrote:
La Boheme
Mme Butterfly
Tosca
La Boheme
4 normal characters live in a flat in Paris. One falls in love with the girl next door, who dies of TB
characters of Le Boheme
Rodolfo–poet
Marcello–painter
Colline–philosopher
Schaunard–musician
Mimi–seanstress
O successors
Hildegard of Bingen
Medieval
Gregorian chant
Estampie
Anonymous
Medieval
dance
Ave Maria… Virgen serena
Josquin Desprez
Renaissance
motet
As Vesta Was Descending
Thomas Weelkes
Renaissance
madrigal
Brandenburg Concerto no 5 in D Major, mvt 1
Bach
Baroque
concerto grosso
Tu se morta
Monteverdi
Baroque
Recitative
Hallelujah Chorus
Handel
Baroque
oratorio
Ev’ry Valley
Handel
Baroque
aria
Symphony no 40 in G minor, mvt 1
Mozart
Classical
sonata form
Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, mvt 3
Mozart
Classical
serenade (minuet & trio form)
Don Giovanni Act ! Intro
Mozart
Classical
opera
Symphony no 5 in C minor, mvt 1
Beethoven
Classical
symphony (sonata form)
Symphony no 94, “Surprise” symphony, mvt 2
Haydn
Classical
theme & variations
String quartet Op 18, no 4, mvt 4
Beethoven
Classical
string quartet (rondo form)
Erlkonig
Schubert
Romantic
art song
Symphonie fantastique
Berlioz
Romantic
program symphony
La Boheme, Act 1
Puccini
Romantic
Opera
Prelude to the Afternoon of a Faun
Debussy
20th-c.
ballet
Rite of Spring
Stravinsky
20th-c.
Ballet
Pierrot lunaire
Schoenberg
20th-c.
song cycle
Five Pieces for Orchestra
Webern
20th-c.
orchestral composition
Sonatas and Interludes for Prepared Piano
Cage
20th-c.
?
Poeme electronique
Varese
20th-c.
?
polychord
combinations of 2 chords heard at once
20th-c.
tone cluster
chord made up of tones only a half step or whole step apart
20th-c.
polytonality
use of 2 or more keys at once
20th-c.
bitonality
2 keys used at once
20th-c.
atonality
absence of tonality or key
12-tone system
developed by Schoenberg
Equal prominence given to each of the 12 chromatic tones
polyrhythm
2 or more contrasting, independent rhythms at the same time
ostinato
motive or phrase that is repeated persistently at the same pitch throughout a section
whole-tone scale
scale of 6 notes each a whole step apart
Impressionism
movement in art showing light and reflections rather than objects
Debussy’s music
Debussy
“Mr Tone Color”
“primitivism”
Movement in 20th-c. music to evoke primitive power through percussive sounds, intense rhythm.
ex: Stravinsky Rite of Spring