Melody
succession of single tones or pitches perceived by the mind as a unity
Countermelody
an accompanying melody sounded against the principal melody
Interval
distance and relationship between two pitches
Conjunct
smooth, connected melody that moves principally by small intervals
Disjunct
disjointed or disconnected melody with many leaps
Phrase
musical unit, often a component of a melody
Cadence
resting place in a musical phrase; music punctuation
rhythm
the controlled movement of music in time
beat
regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time
meter/time signature
organization of rhythm in time; the grouping of beats into larger, regular patterns, notated as measure. In simple meters, such as duple, triple, and quadruple, each beat subdivides into two; in compound meters, such as sextuple, each beat divides into three
measure & measure lines
a rhythmic grouping or metrical unit that contains a fixed number of beats;in notated music, as it appears as a vertical line through the staff
downbeat
first beat of the measure, the strongest in any meter
upbeat
last beat of a measure, a weak beat, which anticipates the downbeat(the first beat of the next measure)
offbeat
a weak beat or any pulse between the beats in a measured rhythmic pattern
duple meter
basic metrical pattern of two beats to a measure
triple meter
basic metrical pattern of 3 beats to a measure
quadruple meter
basic metrical pattern of 4 beats to a measure
syncopation
deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse through a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an offbeat
polyrhythm
simiultaneous use of several rhythmic patters or meters, common in 20th-century music and in certain African music
nonmetric
music lacking a strong sense of beat or meter, common in certain non-Western cultures
additive meter
groupings of irregular numbers of beats that add up to a larger, overall pattern
simple meter/complex meter
grouping of rhythms in which the beat is subdivided into 2 as in duple, triple, and quadruple/subdivided into 3
Chord
Simultaneous combination of three or more tones that constitute a single block of harmony
Scale
a series of tones or pitches in ascending or descending order. Scale tones are often assigned numbers(1-8) or syllables(do-re-mi-fa-so-la-ti-do)
Octave
interval between two tones seven diatonic pitches apart; the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower
Triad
a common chord type consisting of three pitches built on alternate scale tones of a major or minor scale(1-3-5 or 2-3-6)
Tonality
based on principles of major-minor tonality, as distinct from modal
Dissonance
Combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable, in need or resolution
Consonance
Concordant or harmonious of tones that provides a sense of relaxation and stability in music
Half-step/Whole-step
smallest interval used in the Western system; octave divides into twelve such intervals, on the piano, the distance between any two adjacent keys, whether black or white/interval consisting of two half-steps, or semitones
Sharp/Flat
musical symbol (#) that indicates raising a pitch by a semitone/musical symbol(b) that indicates lowering a pitch by a semitone
Key
defines the relationship of tones with a common center or tonic. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind instrument
Diatonic
melody or harmony built from the seven tones of a major or minor scale. Encompasses patterns of seven whole tones and semitones
Chromatic
melody or harmony built from many if not all 12 semitones of the octave. Consists of an ascending or descending sequence of semitones
Pentatonic
five-note pattern used in some African, Far Eastern, and Native American musics; can also be found in Western music as an example of exoticism
Modulation
process of changing from one key to another
Tonic(II)
the first note of a scale(keynote “do”), which serves as the home base around which the other pitches revolve and to which they ultimately gravitate
Subdominate(IV)
fourth scale step, fa
Dominant
the fifth step, sol
Transposition
shifting a piece of music to a different pitch level
Monophonic
Single-line texture, or melody without accompaniment.
Heterophonic
Texture in which two or more voices (or parts) elaborate the same melody simultaneously, often the result of improvisation.
Homophonic
Texture with principal melody and accompanying harmony, as distinct from polyphony.
Homorhythmic
texture in which all voices or lines move together in in the same rhythm
Polyphonic
Two or more melodic lines combined into a multivoiced texture, as distinct from monophonic
Counterpoint
The compositional art of combining two or more simultaneous melodic lines (polyphonic texture); term means “point against point” or “note against note.”
Imitation
Compositional technique in which a melodic idea is presented in one voice (or part), then restated in another while the first voice continues with new material.
Canon
Type of polyphonic composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout.
Round
Perpetual canon at the unison in which each voice enters in succession with the same melody (for example, Row, Row, Row Your Boat).
Improvisation
Creation of a musical composition while it is being performed, seen in Baroque ornamentation, cadenzas of concertos, jazz, and some non-Western musics. See also embellishment.
Strophic
Song structure in which the same music is repeated with every stanza (strophe) of the poem.
Binary
Two-part (A-B) form is based on statement and departure. Also two-part form.
Ternary
Three-part (A-B-A) form based on a statement (A), contrast or departure (B), and repetition (A), Also three-part form.
Theme
Melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construction of a composition. Also subject.
Motive
Short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-harmonic-rhythmic unit.
Call-and-response
Performance style with a singing leader who is imitated by a chorus of followers. Also responsorial singing.
Ostinato
A short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout a work or a section of one.
Movement
Complete, self-contained part within a larger musical work.
Tempo
Rate of speed or pace of music. Tempo markings are traditionally given in Italian;
grave
Solemn; very, very slow.
largo
Broad; very slow.
adagio
Quite slow.
andante
Moderately slow or walking pace.
moderato
Moderate.
allegro
Fast, cheerful
vivace
Lively.
presto
Very fast.
Dynamics
Element of musical expression relating to the degree of loudness or softness, or volume, of a sound.
pianissimo
The Italian term for “very soft,” indicated in the musical score by the marking
mezzo piano
The Italian term for “moderately soft,” indicated in the musical score by the marking
mezzo forte
The Italian term for “moderately loud,” indicated in the musical score by the marking
forte
The Italian term for “loud,” indicated in the musical score by the marking
fortissimo
The Italian term for “very loud,” indicated in the musical score by the marking
crescendo
The dynamic effect of gradually growing louder, indicated in the musical score by the marking “<."
decescendo
The dynamic effect of gradually growing softer, indicated in the musical score by the marking “>.” Also referred to as diminuendo.
sforzando
A sudden stress or accent on a single note or chord, indicated in the musical score by the marking
The Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Date:1946
Composer: Benjamin Britten
Alleluuia, O virga mediatrix
(Alleluia, O mediating branch)
Date: Late 12th century
Composer: Hildegard of Bingen
Gaude Maria virgo
(Rejoice Mary, virgin)
Date: Early 13th century
Composer: Notre Dame School
Sumer is icumen in
(Summer is come)
Date: c.1250
Composer: Anonymous
Puis qu’en oubli
(Since I am forgotten)
Date: Mid 14th century
Composer: Machaut
Ave Maria,,,virgo serena
(Hail Mary…gentle virgin)
Date: 1480s
Composer: Josquin – uses canon technique, sacred and secular music
Latin Motet, acapella, sacred, imitation in voices
Pope Marcellus Mass, Gloria
Date: Published 1567
Composer: Palestrina – polyphony, diatonic, modal, imitative counterpoint
11 bianco e dolce cigno
(The white and sweet swan)
Date: Published 1538
Composer: Arcadelt
Fair Phyllis
Date: Published 1599
Composer: Farmer
Three Dances
Date: Published 1551
Composer: Susato