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

1st 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) Very Soft• Piano (p) Soft• Mezzo Piano (mp) Moderately Soft• Mezzo Forte (mf) Moderately Loud• Forte (f) Loud• Fortissimo (ff) 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 “5th 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)