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Indian Classical
Performers play entirely from ear
and from memory and learn from a
master performer Performances can last several hours and are
of indeterminate
length
The vast majority of the music is improvised. The performers are
constantly communicating and responding to each
other with their playing.
Three main parts that make up most indian
Classical Music - Raga, Drone and
Tala.
Raga - set of pitches like a scale. Hundreds of raga which would
be used at a particular time of day or at
different times of the year.
Each raga will have some notes
that are more important than
others.
Raga is normally produced on the Sitar - has aprox 20 strings -
only 7 are every plucked. 4 used to play the improvised rhythms while the three others
create a drone.
Although the Sitar is the main melody instrument other instruments can be
used - Sarod - fretless string instrument similar
to a lute - which is capable of creating long
glissandos.
Wind instruments
such as a bansuri and the shehnai (similar
to an Oboe)Techniques by the melody player - Pitch bends, fast scales /
runs, glissandos and ornamentation.
The Drone - repeated note(s)
played throughout a piece - this forms
the harmony. Traditionally played
on the Tanpura.
Tala - because the rhythm is
complex it uses a Tala - a cylcle
of beats that repeat.
1st beat is called the Sam
- most important and
is accented.
The Tabla plays the Tala - different
pitches and sounds can be created. The
rhythms are improvised.
Structure - Alap - opening section - slow, iprovised introcudction -
includes the melody instrucment (playing the raga) and the tanpura
(playing the drone). Gat - The tabla plays the tala - clear pulse - some
fixed phrases and lots of improvisation. Jhala - Excitement and
intensity. The raga and tala bcome more complex and more virtuosic.
Punjabi Bhangra
Bhangra - originally referred
to a type of Punjabi dancing
which people would take part in every year around
harvest - time.
Bhangra rhythm - The Chaal - repeated 4/4
rhythm which is played fast and is played on the Dhol - a double
headed drum played with sticks.
Another instrument used is the tumbi. It
is a stringed instrument often
used to play repeated riffs and
often uses the chaal rhythm.
The structure of Bhangra pieces is
similar to a standard pop song featuring
verses, choruses and instrumental sections.
Contemporary bhangra music is a fusion of different
influences. You will hear synthesisers, guitars, drum
machines and sample (which are often taken from
Bollywood fillm soundtracks.
Repetitive melodies
Simple Diatonic chords
Lyrics in Punjabi
Traditional instruments
used
Melody and accompaniment, but
several layers of melody and
percussion. Interplay between lead vocalist and backing singers
Electronic dance beats
Drum machines instead of the dhol.
DJ sound effects such as
scratching.
Drum loops (in contempory
bhangra)
Greek Folk
Many Greek Myths have
been turned into operas by
composers such as Mozart, Handel and Stravinsky.
Instruments - the Bouzouki - stringed insturment that has three of four pairs of strings - either tuned
the same or an octave apart. The defi - a hand drum with
bangles attached.
Features of the melody - simple with
lots of ornamentation, move
by step (use a small range), lyrical, often
harmonised by another part playing
a 3rd higher.
Tonality - diatonic major and minor chords, tonic and dominant notes of
each chord are emphasised by the bass instrument and there is
some modulation to other keys (usually the rel.
major or minor)
Structure - short sections and the
sections are repeated.
Timbre and articulartion - lots of stringed
instruments - either bowed or plucked,
tremolo and slides, wide range of hand percussion instruments and several
wind instruments resembling recorders
and clarinets.
Texture - melody line is
prominent with accompaniment, off-beat chords
are a feature
Tempo, Metre and rhythm - irregular time
signatures 5/8, 7/8, also 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4. Often
the music is created for
dancing.
Outi (or oud), Laouto (or lute), Lyra (played with a bow, Floyera (a wooden
flute), Karamoudza (double reed wooden
instrument), Daouli - drum with two heads - two
different pitches, Toubeleki and Defi,
Syrtos - popular at weddings and
festivals - 4/4 time where the 8 quavers
are divided into a 3-3-2 pattern.
Kalamatianos - best-known greek dance - it is in 7/8
time and the beats follow a 3-2-
2 pattern
Zeibekiko - improvised dance for one person, it is in 9/8 time with the beats divided
as 2-2-2-3.
Israeli and Palestinian
Folk
Arabic music is usually accompanied by an oud - a
pear shaped stringed instrument - like a lute.
Typically 11 strings tuned in 5 pairs and one drone.
Functions as an accompaniment and a
melody instrument and is played with a pick.
Ouds also feature in Israeli music although
to a much lesser extent due to more Western
instruments being used like the guitar and
piano.
Melody in Arabic music is based on a Magam -
melodic modes or scales. Works in a similar way
to Raga in Indian Classical Music.
The doumbek also known as a darbuka is one of many goblet-shaped dums. It is
played with a lighter touch and can produce an even greater range of sounds compared to
a djembe.
Three main sounds associated with
doumbek - playing - Doum (D) - low
tone, Tek (T) high tone and Ka (K)
high tone.
Instruments include - Zither, Kanun, Oud,
Rababah, Mijwiz, Arghul, Shababa,
Doumbek, a Riq, the Deff and Zills.
Klezmer is a popular form of folk music in
Israel today. Instruments include -
Clarinet, violin, double bass, guitar, accordion,
cimbalom and percussion.
Rhythmic pattern in Arabic music is known
as a wazn - similar to a tala
in Indian Classical Music.
Israeli folk dances - 2/4 or 4/4 time signature, a bass part (normally bass guitar)
plays every crotchet beat, a chord instrument playing
chords on the off beat, a fast tempo, gradual accelerando
throughout the performance.
Characteristics of Israeli folk dance - Melodies are
often played on the clarinet, violin and
accordion, often using grace notes and pitch
bends to create a distinctive sound and
melodic decoration and ornamentation is used.
African Music
Music is performed for
occasions ranging from celebrations and funerals to everyday
tasks.
The sounds and rhythms of African
drumming are like a language that carries across both time and place, communicating
messages from one person or tribe to
another
Djembe - single headed drum,
shaped like a goblet that is played with the hands. It can produce different
sounds.
Dunun or dundun - larger, double - headed drum
played with a stick. It is often worn on the shoulder using a sting. Often a bell
like instrment is mounted on the dunun, It can produce 3 basic sounds - Open, Muted
or the bell.Agogo - Can create two
different pitches (low and high)
Polyrhythm - Combines
several different rhythms at the
same time.
Cross Rhythms - Complex type of
polyrhythms - often the rhythms do not follow the
same pulse.
Call and Response - One person shouts or plays a 'call' and the rest of the performers or audience respond. A caller might
start a rhythm, and pass it to another drummer. The caller controls the tempo
of the piece as well as when it starts and ends.
Many African pieces are
controlled by a master durmmer,
a virtuosic musician who acts
as the caller during a
performance.
Melodies are often short and contain just a few different
pitches.
Tonality - little harmony or
tonality as it is mainly
percussion based.
Rhythms are cyclic -
short repeated patterns
The Thumb Piano, Balafon
and Kora are all popular
instruments.
Singing is important - two main types of acappella singing - mbube - loud
and powerful singing with high pitched vocals over a four part
harmony bass line and isicathamiya - softer and gentler with frour-part
harmonies singing call and response. This also has dance moves such as
stampts and tip-toeing.
The Donno - known as the hourglass / talking drum, the Kagan, Kidi
and Sogo are all barrel-shaped drums - played
with wooden sticks. The Sabar - was traditonally used to communicate
bewteen villages.
Triplet rhythms are often
used
No sheet music is used - musicians
are taught by listening, copying
and remembering.
Calypso
Consists largely of songs, where the music and
lyrics are equally important.
The lyrics tell a story, or
comment on society.
Famous example - Lord Invader - 'Rum and Coca-Cola' which describes the
relationship between Trinidadians and the
American G.I's who were stationed on the island.
Steel Bands - consists of percussion instruments constrcuted from old oil drums. Different sized drums are used for the
melody, chords and bass line. Tuned Percussion.
Calypso has evolved into new styles - Rapso - 1960's - focuses on lyrics which are often about politcal and social issues. The style
develoed the used of synthesized instruments and modern production
techniques. Soca - has a faster beat than traditional calypso making it popular as
dance music. developed in the 1970s when calypso artists began using electronic
drums, synthesizers and studio effects in their recordings.
Uses Syncopated Rhythms usually
in 2/2 or 4/4 time.
Songs usually have verse-chorus or a
strophic structure
Texture can be homophonic with a main melody and
accompaniment, or polyphonic with
melodies and counter melodies.
Wide Range of instruments - Acoutsic,
electric and bass guitars, Trumpets, trombones, clarinets, saxophones, bongos, conga drums, claves, bamboo sticks,
woodblocks and maracas. A modern drum kit could
be used too.
Samba
Comes from Brazil
Origin lies with African slaves
brought to Brazil between the 16th
and 19th Centuries.
Usually in 2/4 or 4/4 with the
emphasis on the second
beat of the bar.
Sounds cheery and is played at a fast tempo in a major
key.
Instruments include: the Portuguese guitar,
keyboards, whistles, saxohpones, trumpets,
trombones, Surdo, Caixa, Repinique, Cuica, Tamborim, Agogo, Shakers, Scrapers and
Tambourines.
Major feature of Brazillian carnivals.
Surdo de Primeira sets the beat - has the lowest pitch
and is struck on the second beat of the
bar. i.e. 2 and 4
Surdo de segunda (second surdo) -
slightly smaller and has a higher pitch than the surdo de
primeira. It emphaises the
opposite beat i.e. 1 and 3.
Surdo de terceira (third surdo) - smaller and at a higher pitch plays more
coplex, syncopated rhythms, adding a swing to the rhythm produced
by the surdos.
The Caixa plays faster rhythms -
variation is created by
playing accents on different
notes.
The other instruments add
in addtional contrasting
rhythms and syncopation.
The repinique leads call and response. The leader plays a
whistle as well - it is a two toned whistle called an apito. The whistle sets the tempo and
indicated the start of call and response sections. It also signals
breaks, where the band stops and then starts again, playing a different rhythm than before.
Baroque Concerto
E.G. Corelli's Concerto
Grosso in F Major.
Concerto - work for a solo
instrument that is accompanied by an orchestra.
Tutti - full orchestra
plays
E.g. Bach's Violin
Concerto in A Minor.
Concerto Grosso - Instead of a solo
instrument, it used a small group of soloists - usually
two to three movements.
Concertino - normally 2
violins and a cello. These are
the soloists.
The Ripieno - usually the
string section, alongside the
continuo.
Key Features - Use of Continuo section - Cello, Lute and either Harpsichord or
Organ.
Decorative melodies by
using ornamentaition.
Sudden Dynamics
Variety of Textures - Polyphonic /
Contrapuntal - independant melodies, Homophonic - all parts move in harmony and
melody and accompaniment - melody over the accompaniment.
Modulations to related
keys.
Orchesrta - Strings - 2/3, Woodwind - recorders or
wooden flutes, oboes, bassoon, Brass -
sometimes trumpets and horns (no valves), Timpani - two drums - tuned to the
tonic and dominant and Harpshichord.
1600 - 1750
Classical Concerto
Balanced Phrasing - 4 / 8
bars with question and
answer phrases
Melody was
usually in the 1st Violins
Harmony and tonality were diatonic - with modulations
going to closely related keys.
Use of Alberti Bass - in piano
music and orchestra
accompaniment
Dynamic ranges
increased
Woodwind and Brass
would be used to 'colour' the
texture
Brass was often used in loud passages accompanied
by timpani
The continuo section was no
longer required in the Classical
period as textures became fuller and
harmonies clearer.
Some orchestra still performed
without a conductor
(especially in a concerto)
Orchestra became larger - strings - up to six per section, woodwind - there would usually be two flutes,
two oboes, two bassoons, and towards the end of the period two clarinets, Brass - two french horns,
two trumpets we also used and Percussion - if trumpets were in the
orchestra they would usually be accompanied by two timpani.
New Instruments -
The piano - became popular
as a solo instrument and chamber music
instrument.
Changes in structure - Usually three movements which were
all longer than movements from the Baroque Period, The Cadenza became a part of the concerto usually towards the
end of the first movement and unlike the Baroque period - the soloist would not play in
the tutti sections.
1750 -
1810
E.g. Mozart - Flute Concerto
in D Major
E.g. Beethoven:
Piano Concerto No.3
Melody and accompanime
nt was the predominant
texture
Homophonic Textures
Romantic Concerto
1810 - 1900
Composers - Medelssohn,
Brahms, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninov.
The music was more dramatic
than the Classical Period. Composers
would try to portray emotions or themes such as
nature.
Nationalist styles also emerged
Movements and works
became longer
While the harmony was still diatonic - chromatic chords
and melodies were used mushc more as well as
creating more dissonance. this made the music more
expressive.
Melodies became longer - the clear
cadences from the Classical and Baroque
Period are often blurred by the use of
distantly related chords.
Modulations were often
made to distantly
related keys.Textures were much
denser / thicker - melodies would be doubled and there
were newer instruments
The woodwind and brass became
more prominaent often with lyrical
solo lines.
Dramatic contrast in textures,
exploring a wider range of pitches,
dynamics and timbre
Most orchestral performances
required a conductor as the
rhythms and textures had
become much more complex.
Rubato would often be used by the conductor and soloist - the strict
tempo would be relaxed briefly and this
contributed to the expressive nature of the
music.
The Orchestra - strings - there were larger sections and the double bass section would
have its own line of music, unlike the Baroque and Classical period where it would double
the cellos. Woodwind - the Clarinet had become an established member of this
section and two of each insytrument would be a standard insyrumentation. brass -
trumpets, french norns, trombones and tuba would often be found. The numner in each
section would vary depending on the composition. Percussion - other insturents joined the timpani: bass drum, side drum,
cymbals and more.
New instruments - piccolo, cor anglais,
bass clarinet and contrabassoon
extending the range and texture available for composers for the
orchestra.
Changes in the Concerto - Solosits writing was more virtuosic. The music had become exceptionally demanding in comparison with the Classical and Baroque Period. The cadenzas were rarely important - they were either
written by the composer or the performer, and there are often
multiple versions for performances to choose from. The usualy orchestral
introduction was sometimes abandoned for a dramatic opening
from the soloist.
Tutti melodies were not confined to the
1st violins - a greated selection of instruments would
play melodies.
E.g. Brahms 2nd Movement Violin
Concerto
E.g. Rachmaninov - Piano Concerto Op.18 No.2 1st
movement.
Film Music
Leitmotifs - a tune that returns throughtout the
film - it represent a particular object, idea or
character in the story and often returns in the
backgrouns or in an altered form.
Repetition is used alot - can be used to link different parts of the film
together. Often at the end there is a triumphant modulation of the main theme (as long as it has a happy ending). Its ends happy, uplifting key
with a drawn out cadence to show that the story of the
film has been resolved.
if the film does not have a hapy ending (or if
there is going to be a sequel) the theme may
be left unresolved, giving the film a more open or
darker ending.
Repetition can be used to
create tension and suspense.
Some films use pop songs as part of
their soundtrack to generate publicity.
The music can be used to create the
mood of a different time or
place by using tradition
instruments.
The music in war films creates an atmosphere.
Sound effects like explotions and gunfire
can be incorporated into the music to suggest war
Unnatural sounds can make strange places sound
stranger - can be created by - unusual harmonies and
time signatures, synthesisers and samples, instruments or voices distorted, dischords
and diminished chords, rapid scaleic patterns etc.
Style of music changes with the mood of the scene.
It is often the composers job to create a feeling of something being there thats not seen -
created by - minor and dissonant chords, low pitches,
percussive metallic sounds with reverb, suspensions,
variations in dynamics.
Ostinato patterns can be used to
create a tension to keep the audience
on edge.
Game Music
Early video game music was very simple - due to limited technology.
It was often Monophonic and very
basic Polyphony. Tended to be short
melodies or motifs that were on a loop.
Video game music developed
as technology developed.
MIDI (Musical Digital Interface) allowed
composers to write for a range of instruments
that played back consistently on different
pieces of equipment.
Nowadays, soundtracks can be created very
effectively using DAW (Digital Audio
Workstation) software like Logic Pro / Cubase.
Recent game music is
more like a film score.
Like films there are different
genres of game.
Game music uses
motifs
Polyrhythm, cross-rhythm and syncopation can be used to create a
sense of urgency or uncentainty. They can
represent chases or tense scenes and often
make the player feel unsettled.
Texture can show how the story is progressing
in a game - e.g. the music might start off
sparse and slow-moving, then the texture builds and becomes richer as
the situation builds to a climax.
Some games have full soundstracks
like Assassins creed, Halo and Advent Rising.
Pop music from the
1950's to the present day
Post second world war era was dominated by
ballads and sentimental songs by artists such as
Bing Crosby, Perry Como and Frank Sinatra.
Post 1950's - Rock 'n' Roll, rhythm and blues, and even country music - all from America have had a huge influence on the popular music that
we listen to today.
1960's were defined by the melodic pop of
artists such as The Beatles and The Beach
Boys.
1970's introduced more experimental music from the likes of Led Zeppelin and David
Bowie, alongside highly commercial groups like ABBA and The Jackson
5.
1980's - introduced
sampling and popularised
synthesisers and drum machines.
1990's - large number of dance music and
hip hop artists, whose music often realied heavily on sampling
Technology further developed throughout the 2000's with
music producers just as likely to use sampled and
synthesised sounds as live instruments, and many pop
vocalists relying on auto-tune to perfect their singing.
Music and recording technology changed
dramatically over the latter half of the 20th Century. The introduction of multi-tracking meant that producers could
record voices and instruments separately, giving them much
greater flexibility.
Rock 'n' roll of the
1950's and 1960's
Combines elements of rhythm and blues
music and aspects of country music,
essentially combining the music of the black and white American
populations.
Rhythm and blues
brought an edgy sound to popular
music.
Bill Haley and his Comets 'Rock Around
The Clock' attained mass appeal, it was
cerntainly not the first rock and roll hit.
Rocket 88, released by Jackie Brenston in 1951
is often cited as the first.
Rhythmic drive and
energy
Swing or boogie-woogie rhythm
Emphasis on primary
chords
Often 12-bar blues
chord structure
Walking Bass line
Instrumental solo section
Beats 2 and 4 emphasised by the snare
drum
Intense 'shouty' vocals
Instruments - Electric / Acoustic guitar, Double
bass (or bass guitar), Drum kit, Piano, Saxophones (less popular after the
1950's), Lead vocals sometimes accompanied
by backing vocalists singing in close harmony.
Elivis Presley - Born in 1935, attended church
regulary as a boy and sang alot of gospel music. Had
numerous hits - Heartbreak Hotel, Love Me Tender, Blue Suede
Shoes. Notorious for his hip-swivelling and
provocative dance moves.
Technooogy used in Rock 'n' Roll - Electric guitars and
sometimes electric bass guitar played through
amplifiers. Guitar amplifiers were often overdriven to create
slightly distored sound. Very basic technology
effects; the only common effects were reverb and
echo.
The Beatles - british pop / rock group
from Liverpool who shaped the course of
rock 'n' roll and inspired counless pop and rock musicians.
The Beatles were songwriters as well as
performers. There songs move away from
the simplicity of the blues towards a more
complex style that often involved unusual
harmonies, rhythms and instrumentation.
Famous releases - Please Please Me, Help, Rubber Soul and Sgt.Pepper's
Lonely Hearts Club Band.
Beach Boys - american rock and pop band 1961.
Seen to represent Californian youth cultre
and the lyrics of their early songs were almost about surfing, cars, girls
and dancing.
The Beach Boys style was
characterised by its catchy melodies, close harmony
vocals (influenced by doo-wop and
barbershop groups) detailed production
and inventive arrangements
Famous Hits from The
Beach Boys - Good
Vibrations, Wouldn't it be Nice and
God only Know.
Rock Anthems of the 1970s and 1980s
Most rock music is 4/4 time, with
a heavy back beat.
Instruments usually included -
electric guitar, electric bass,
drums, keyboards and
vocals
Distorted electric guitars, using
additional effects such as delay,
chorus and wah-wah.
The rise of guitar heros - guitarists who combined
playing riffs with long, virtuosic,
improvised solos.
Songs often followed the conventional verse-chorus
structure
Lyrics have a darker mood
than standard pop
lyrics.
Rock Anthems have memorable and
sometimes repetive melodies and lyrics
especially during the chorus,
Queen - band formed in london in 1970. The bands
earlier works were influenced by progressive rock and heavy metal, but
eventually the band moved to more conventional and radio-friendly songwriting.
Bon Jovi - American rock band formed in 1983.
Richie Sambora is famous for using a talk box - an effects unit that directs
sound from an instruments ito a musicians mouth (via a tube) allowing the player to
create 'vocalised' sounds from their instrument.
Guns 'N' Roses - America Rock band
formed in 1985. Famous tracks include
- November Rain, Paradise City and
Patience.
Pop Ballads of the 1970s,
1980s and 1990s
The first form of ballad was a folk
song - a story sung to a simple
melody.
Usually in 4/4 with a slow
tempo Verse-Chours
Structure
Often (not always)
includes a piano /
electric piano
Sustained 'lush' chords in the instrumental
accompanimentDrum pattern usually accents beats 2 and 4
on the snare drum opportunities for the vocalist to express emotion through rubato, ornmentation and
melisma.
Lead singer often provides
ornamentaion and melisma at the
climax of the song.
Harmonic language strays a little beyond the primary chords but remains in the
key. Inversions of the chords are popular, which often create descending and rising bass lines by
step.
A typical ballad usually increases in
instrumentation and dynamics,
arriving at a climax during a big chorus or an instrumental
section.
Sentimental or romantic lyrics
Often alot of reverb added to
the lead and backing vocals especially in
ballads from the 1980s.
Bette Midler - 'Wind
beneath My Wings' (1988)
Elton John - 'Candle in The Wind' (1973)
Take That - 'Back for
Good'
Solo artists from the
1990s to the present day
Pop music diversified into many different
genres from the 1980s onwards.
Main strands running through pop music
included: rock, dance, rap and electronic
music, alongside more conventional pop
music.
Music videos had become as
important as the music itself.
Digital technology was well establish with digital effects often
being added to instruments and
vocals.
Alot of music was recorded on computer sequencers such as Pro
Tools or Cubase, allowing producers much greater control over their music.
Technology you may hear in 1990s music includes: Sampling,
Drum Loops, Reverb / echo, Overdubbing -
created thicker textures.
Michael Jackson - 'Black or
White' 1991
Kylie Minogue - 'Red Blooded
Woman' (2004)
Singer Effects
A Cappella - no instrumental
backing
Vibrato - when singers quiver up and down slightly
in pitch
Falsetto - When men (or occassionly
women) make their voices go really high
e.g. Sam Smith, Michael Jackon and
The Bee Gees
Portamento - when a singer slides from
one note to another.
Scat - improvising using syllables like
'doo' and 'dat'. Scat comes from
jazz music.
Riffing - when singers decorate and add bits to the tune. They often go up and down a scale before coming to rest on one
note. Usually comes at the end of a phrase, between sections
or to finish a song. E.g. Whitney Houston, Mariah
Carey and Celine Deon.
Electronic Effects
Reverb - adds an echo to a
sound
Mult-Tracking - is when each part is
recorded on its own track, and all
the tracks are played back
together.
Sampling - When you use a short
recording (a sample) of
someone else's voice in your song.
A Vocoder - (type of synthesiser) electronically
alters a voice recording and lets you create wierd
effects. Similar technology has been used
to auto-tune some singers.
Electric guitar effects
Distortion - a grungy, dirty
sound
Fuzz - fuzzy-sounding distortion
Chorus - makes it sound like
more than one instrument is
playing
Flanger and Phaser - create a
'whooshing' noise
Wah Wah - makes the guitar
go 'wah wah'
Compression - evens out the variations in
volume
Panning - Sends different sounds
through different
speakers. (left and Right)
Types of Rock
Hard Rock - loud and aggressive, dominated by a
distorted electric guitar, solos and power chords.
Bands include Led Zeppelin and The Who
Glam Rock - Theatrical and glitzy, easier to listen to than hard rock with a more rock 'n'
roll feel and catchy hooks. Performers dressed up in
spangly catsuits and wore lots of makeup. E.g. David Bowie and Kiss. Some of Queen's
songs are glam rock.
Heavy Metal - Harder and more distorted than hard rock, even longer guitar
solos. E.g. Black Sabbath and Iron Maiden.
Progressive (Prog) Rock - Somgs were experimental and
complicated and albums often had a theme. Features long
instrumentals, electronic effects and mythological or nonsensical lyrics. E.g. Yes and Pink Floyd.
Punk Rock - Harsh and Angry, all about anarchy
and rebeliion. Lyrics were often shouted. E.g. The Sex
Pistols and Blondie.
The Elements of music - Things to
think about when describing
the music.
Dynamics - levels of loudness and
softness (Loud / Quiet)
Genre - category of music such as
bhangra, rock 'n'roll, calypso
etc.
Harmony - Chords used. i.e. major / minor /
tonic / dominant / subdominat
Melody - major, minor, chromatic, pentatonic, blue notes, modes, moves by steo / leap, smooth,
wide range of notes, high or low, scaleic pattern or arpeggios,
lyrical, legato / slurred, staccato / tongued, accented notes.
Metre - beat or pulse in the music. Simple / Compound - regular
metres. Irregular metres 5/4 or 7/8 found
in Greek and Balkan music.
Music Technology - describe multi-tracking, sampling, quantising, over-dubbing, remixing, looping, panning
and scratching. MIDI, synthesisers, drum machines,
sequencers, vocoders and moxing desks. Digital effects -
reverb, echo, distortion and delay.
Baroque (1600 - 1750)
Continuous driving rhythms
in fast pieces
Long ornamented
melodies
Clear conrtrasts beween loud
and soft (terraced dynamics)
Emphasis on treble and bass in some pieces or contrapuntal
textures in others
A consistant mood
throughout individual
movements
A Harpsichord (part of the continuo) is
often heard filling in the chords between treble and bass clef.
Small orchestra of strings and oboes, plus
trumpets and drums in
celebratory pieces.
Classical (1750 - 1825)
Gradual changes as well
as clear contrasts in
dynamicsHomophonic
Textures (chordal or melody and
accompaniment)
Many simple harmonies but melodies may
include chromatic decoration
Cadences at regular
intervals creating clear
phrasesPairs of balanced phrases in which the second can
give the impression of an
answer to the first
Contrasts of mood within the same movement
The piano replaces the
harpsichord as the main keyboard
instrument
Flutes, oboes, bassoons,
trumpets, horns and timpani start
to appear regulary in medium-sized
orchestra's.
Romantic (1825 - 1900)
Music that tells a story or paints a picture became
popular.
Many pieces convey emotions, evoking subjects such as dreams, love or nature.
Melodies are often memorable
and feature an expressive and singing quality
Extremes in length and
difficulty of pieces and in the range of dynamics used
are common.
Homophonic textures continue to predominate,
often with denser accompaniments
Expressive modulations to distant keys are
often used
The Orchestra grew to its largest size, typically 80 or more players.
Modern (1900 onwards including
orchestral film music)
Characterised by a diversity of styles
Some composers used chords for 'colour' rather than to define
keys and cadences
The increasing use of dissonance led some composers
to reject the concept of
tonality
Complex rhythms, angular melodies
and unusual metres feature in
some modern music
Traditionailsts continued to develop the symphony,
concerto and string quartet
Some pieces were influenced by folk
music, world music or jazz.
Rhythm
Refers to the patterns made by notes and rests.
Dont list duration / lengths of notes instead
focus on - syncopation,
triplets, dotted notes / sudden
silences.
Ostinato
Cross RhythmsSwung Rhythms
Phrases that begin with an anacrusis
Mood or style of music - e.g. steady
rhtyhm of a march, or the use of son clave, tala,
chall or polyrhythms.
Structure
Binary Form
ABTernary
FormABA
Rondo
VariationsVerse-and-
Chorus
Strophic
Through-composed
song
Cadences
Imperfect - any - V (Dominant) - like a comma
Perfect - V - IFull stop
Plagal - IV - IFull stop
Interrupted - V(7) to any EXCEPT I -
Sounds like a perfect cadence
has been interrupted!
Texture
Monophonic - unaccompanied
melodic line - performed by one
person or by a number of people
who all play or sing the same tune in
unison or in octaves.
Homophonic - Several parts move together
e.g. in the same rhythm
Melody and Accompaniment - if
the accompaniment is independent of the
tune then the texture can be described as
melody and accompaniment.
Polyphonic - Two or more simultaneous melodys. Can also be described as
having contrapuntal texture. So the parts
imitate one another? Are there any canons? How many independent lines
are there?
Heterophonic - different versions of
the melody are heard at the same time, such as when a folk tune is
decorate independently but simultaneously by
different performers.
Antiphonal - two or more spatially
separated soloists or groups perfrom
alternatively and in combination.