Melody
succession of single tones or pitches percieved by the mind as a unity
rhythm
controlled movement of music in time
meter
the grouping of beats into larger, regular time; notated by measures
nonmetric
music lacking a strong sense of beat or meter
harmony
simultaneous combination of notes resulting in intervals and chords
consonance
concordant or harmonious combination of notes resulting in a sense of stability in music
dissonance
combination of tones that sounds discordant and unstable
tonality
principle of organization around a tonic pitch
texture
the interweaving of melodic or harmonic elements in the musical fabric
monophonic
single line texture or melody without accompaniment
polyphonic
two or more melodic lines combined into a multivoiced texture as distinct from monophonic
homophonic
texture with principal melody and accompanying harmony
homorhythm
texture in which all voices or lines move together in the same rhythm
imitation
melodic idea presented in one voice and then restated in another each part continuing as others enter
form
structure and design in music based on repetition, contrast, and variation: the organizing principle of music
binary form
two part (A-B) form with each section normally repeated
ternary form
three part (ABA) form based on statement (A), contrast or departure (B), and repetition (A)
movement
complete self contained part within a larger musical work
theme
melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construction of a composition
thematic development
musical expansion of a theme by varying its melodic outline, harmony, or rhythm
dynamics
element of musical expression relating to the degree of volume of a sound
tempo
rate of speed or pace of music
timbre
the quality of sound that distinguishes one voice or instrument from another
register
specific area in the range of an instrument or voice
a capella
choral music performed without instrumental accompaniment
chamber music
ensemble music for up to ten players with one player on a part
orchestra
ensemble of multiple strings with various woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments
style
characteristic presentation of musical elements
genre
standard category and overall character of a work
medium
performing forces employed in a certain musical work
word painting
musical pictorialization of words from the text as an expressive device
basso continuo
baroque practice: an independent bass line
rectative
solo vocal declamation that follows the inflection of the text. found in opera, cantata, oratorio
aria
lyric song for solo voice with orchestral accompaniment. opera, cantata, oratorio
chant
a sacred piece of music, unaccompanied, non-rhythmic, and following the inflection of the words
organum
genre in which voices are added above a plainchant. earliest kind of polyphony
chanson
french polyphonic song, middle ages/renaissance, set to courtly or popular poetry
motet
polyphonic vocal genre, secular in the middle ages but sacred thereafter
mass
service of the roman catholic church
madrigal
renaissance secular work for voices, set to a short lyric love poem
monody
vocal style established in the Baroque, with a solo singer and instrumental accompaniment
opera
music drama that is generally sung throughout, combining the resources of vocal and instrumental music with poetry and drama, acting, scenery and costumes
cantata

vocal genre for solo singers, chorus and instrumentalists based on a lyric or dramatic poetic narrative. consists of several movements: recitatives, aria, and ensemble numbers

chorale fugue
polyphonic form for voices in which one or more themes are developed by imitative counterpoint
chorale
congregational hymn of the German Lutheran church
oratorio
large scale dramatic genre originating in the baroque, based on a text of religious or serious character. performed by solo voices, chorus and orchestra
concerto
instrumental genre in several movements for solo instrument and orchestra
Dates of the Middle Ages
476-1450
Dates of the Renaissance
1450-1600
Dates of the Baroque
1600-1750
What are the characteristics of melody?
range, contour, intervals, and cojunct/disjunct movement
properties of sound
pitch, volume, duration
structural concepts of form
repetition/contrast, variation, theme, sequence/motive
what language is used for musical terminology?
Italian
name the vocal ranges from high to low
soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto, tenor, baritone, bass
four families of orchestral instruments
brass, percussion, woodwind, strings
two major developments at the beginning of the baroque period
new texture: homophony; and establishment of major and minor tonality