music151-chapters4-8

8/10/2019 Music151-Chapters4-8

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Texture: how thick or thin is the music?

Monophony- (adjective is monophonic) refers to music

that is simply one voice (voice refers an individual part,and can refer to instruments as well).

Example: Gregorian Chant

Polyphony-(adjective is polyphonic) refers to music that

has multiple voices or musical lines.

Some compositional devices that use texture:

Imitation: One melodic idea is presented in one voice,

and then re-stated in another voice, and then another.

As the imitating voice(s) takes over the melodic idea, the

other voice part(s) continue with new material thatsupports the imitation.

Canon (or round): Strict imitation, no deviance from the

imitated material

Example: Row, row, row your boat

Frere Jacques

Bigger compositional devices!!


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Form (in music): larger organizing structures in musical

compositions.

Binary form: two parts, A-BTernary form: three parts, A-B-A

Theme and variations: One melodic idea that is

progressively changed throughout a piece, but is still

recognizable. This uses thematic development.

Theme: A melodic idea that is used as a building block forthe construction of a musical work.

**Very often, VERY often, composers separate different

forms into movements.

Movement(s): Complete and relatively independent

sections of a large-scale musical work.Example: movements of a symphony, concerto, sonata,

choral piece, or solo musical work.


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Musical expression: how do we describe the music?

Tempo: how fast or slow music is, its rate of speed

Tempo is very commonly described using standard Italian

terms:

Presto- very fast!

Allegro- fast (cheerful)

Moderato- moderate, moderately

Andante- walking tempo

Adagio- quite slow

Dynamics: how loud or soft is the music?

More Italian terms (and their symbols)!!

Fortissimo (ff)- very loud!!

Forte (f)- loud

Mezzo forte (mf)- moderately loud

Mezzo piano (mp)- moderately soft

(In Italian, mezzomeans half or somewhat)

Piano(p)- soft


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Pianissimo (pp)- very soft (shhhhh)

Voices and musical instruments (now were gettingsomewhere interesting.)

The human voice: the most natural of all musical

instruments, every culture has some form of vocal music.

Throughout the ages, we have settled on some standard

terms for human voice types, depending on how high orlow they can sing:

*Female voices:

Soprano- the highest voice type

Mezzo-soprano- somewhat high

Alto/Contralto- lowest female voice type

*Male voices:

Tenor- highest male voice type

Baritone: middle male voice type

Bass- lowest male voice type


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The non-human musical instruments (you know, just

regular instruments):

Four families of instruments:

1.The beautiful and illustrious string family:

-these instruments are played with a bow

(pronounced boh) rubbed across the strings, and

finger position on the five strings which press the

string into the board to change pitch.

*Violin (the highest)

*Viola (somewhat high)

*Cello (somewhat low, very similar in range to a human

baritone voice)*Double bass (very low)

**Famous string players:

Joshua Bell (violin),

Yo-Yo Ma (cello)


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2.The charming woodwind family:

-these instruments are played by sending air into

their inner column which then vibrates along its

length, and pitch is changed through holes that are

covered or uncovered.

*Piccolo- literally little flute,very high sound, capable

of rapid passages

*Flute- the soprano of the woodwind family, held side-

ways and made of metal

*Oboe- medium-high nasal sound, played using a double

reed (wooden mouthpiece)

*Clarinet- played using a single reed, very wide range,

and capable of rapid passages

*Bassoon- the baritone of the woodwind family, played

using a double reed like the oboe

*Saxophone- a recent newcomer to the woodwind

family, played using a single reed, and a characteristic

instrument of jazz and band ensembles


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music151-chapters4-8

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