Arts and Humanities Exit Exam MUSIC REVIEW Elements

Arts and Humanities Exit Exam MUSIC REVIEW

Elements of Music • • Rhythm Tempo Melody Harmony Form Timbre Dynamics

Rhythm • The pattern of notes and rests • Important Rhythm Terms – Syncopation • Placing emphasis on the weak or off beats – Meter • (AKA Time Signature) • 3 Types – Simple: 4/4 – Compound: 6/8 – Asymmetrical: 5/4

Note and Rest Values • Whole Note= 4 beats • Half Note= 2 beats • Quarter Note= 1 beat • Eighth Note= ½ beat • Sixteenth Note= ¼ beat

Tempo • The speed of the music • Accelerando – Gradually speed up • Ritardando – Gradually slow down

Tempo Markings • Largo – Very slow • Andante – Walking speed • Moderato – Medium speed • Allegro – Fast tempo • Presto – Very fast

Melody • The main part of the song that can be hummed by the listener • Key Signature – Sharps and flats placed @ the beginning of the music that show the scale on which the music is based.

Harmony • Two or more notes sounded together • Consonance – Harmony that is pleasing to the listener • Dissonance – Harmony that is “harsh” to the listener

Form • The way the music is organized • Opera Forms – Overture • Introduction for operas and ballets – Aria • Song for solo voice that is very melodic in character – Recitative • Song sung in a speaking manner

Types of Forms • AB – 2 contrasting sections • ABA – 2 contrasting sections that repeats back to the 1 st section • Call and Response – One group performs and another group echoes • Theme and Variations – Basic melody performed in a variety of ways

Timbre • The unique characteristic of sound • VOCAL TIMBRES – Soprano • High Female Voice – Alto • Low Female Voice – Tenor • High Male Voice – Bass • Low Male Voice

INSTRUMENT FAMILIES • Woodwind – Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon • Brass – Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba • String – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar • Percussion – Drums, Xylophone, Tambourine, Cymbals

Dynamics • The loudness or softness of music • • • Pianissimo (pp) Piano (p) Mezzo Piano (mp) Mezzo Forte (mf) Forte (f) Fortissimo (ff) Very Soft Moderately Loud Very Loud

Music Symbols • Staff • Treble Clef • Bass Clef • Sharp • Flat • Natural

Symbols, cont. • Crescendo • Decrescendo • Accent • Fermata • Coda

More symbols • DC- Repeat to the beginning • DS- Repeat to the sign • Fine-The End

Renaissance Period • Most important composer – Giovanni Palestrina • He utilized the “counterpoint” system

Baroque Period • Important Composers – George Frederic Handel • Known for oratorios (“The Messiah”) – Johann Sebastian Bach • Cantatas for his church services • Fugue- An imitative style of composition developed during this period

Classical Period • Important Composers – Franz Josef Haydn • “The father of the Symphony” – Ludwig Van Beethoven • Most well known is his “ 5 th Symphony”

Romantic Period • Important Composers – Richard Wagner • Known for his operas • Ride of the Valkyries • The Flying Dutchman – Peter Tchaikovsky • Known for his ballets • The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet

Impressionism • Important Composers – Claude Debussy – Maurice Ravel • Both composers incorporated symbolism into their music

Modern Period • Jazz Music – Combines spirituals, blues, and improvisation to create a new and unique style • Improvisation – To create music spontaneously (“on the spot”)

American Music • George Gershwin – Incorporated Jazz elements into classical music – Rhapsody in Blue – An American in Paris

• Aaron Copland – Used American folk songs and ideas in his music – Appalachian Spring – Billy the Kid

• Duke Ellington – Helped shape jazz styles in American music – Take the A Train – Mood Indigo

Purposes of Music • Ceremonial – Music for ceremonies and rituals – Star Spangled Banner, Wedding March • Artistic – Music used to express emotion – Ballet Music • Recreational – Music for Fun – Dance Music

The End (FINE)