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music
Term | Definition |
---|---|
interval | The distance between any two pitches of a melody. |
conjunct | Melodies that move principally by small intervals in a joined, connected manner |
climax | the high point in a melodic line |
phrase | is a unit of meaning within a larger structure |
cadence | The phrase ends in a resting place |
meters | organizing patterns of rhythmic pulses |
Simple meters | Meters in which the beat has duple subdivisions |
Compound meters | the beat is divided into three |
melody | the line, or tune, in music. |
beat cycle | |
pulse | |
syncopation | a deliberate upsetting of the normal pattern of accents. Instead of falling on the strong beat of the measure, the accent is shifted to a weak beat or to an offbeat (in between the stronger beats |
downbeat | In music, the fi rst accented beat of each pattern is known as |
duple meter | The most basic pattern, known as duple meter, alternates a strong downbeat with a weak beat: ONE- two, ONE- two, or, in marching, LEFT- right, LEFT- right. |
chord | is the simultaneous sounding of three or more pitches or tones; chords are built from a particular scale, or sequence of pitches. |
triad | which has three notes built on alternate pitches of a scale. The most common chord in Western music, a particular combination of three tones |
tonic | is the central tone around which a melody and its harmonies are built; this principle of organization is called tonality |
major scale | 7 notes in it, music sounds very happy |
minor scale | very sad, dark |
diatonic | Music in a major or minor key focuses on the seven tones of the respective scale |
chromatic | every single note not diatonic |
modulation | Composers begin by establishing the home key, then change to a related key, perhaps the dominant, through a process known as modulation |
octave | an interval of eight tones |
atonality (non-diatomic) | no central tone |
sequence vs imitation | Or the idea may be restated at a higher or lower pitch level; this restatement is known as a sequence. |
strophic form | common in songs, features repeated music for each stanza of text. |
motive | A motive is the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic- rhythmic unit |
variation | where some aspects of the music are altered but the original is still recognizable |
tempo | is the rate of speed, or pace, of the music |
dynamics | describe the volume, or how loud or soft the music is played; Italian terms for dynamics include forte (loud) and piano (soft). |
A capella | Choral groups often feature a cappella singing, with no accompaniment. |
ostinato | melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic— that is repeated throughout a work or a major section of a composition |
crescendo | a gradual increase in loudness in a piece of music. |
Chamber music | is ensemble music for small groups, with one player per part. |
timbre | also known as tone color or tone quality from psychoacoustics, is the quality of a musical note, sound, or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production |