Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and problems for Music

MAJOR GENRES

Essential Literary Terms and Definitions

• Allegory: A story or poem in which moral lessons are conveyed through the actions of fictional characters that serve as symbols.
• Alliteration: The repetition of the same initial sound or sounds in two or more word groups.
• Anapest: A three-syllable foot in poetry having two unaccented syllables (short beats) followed by one accented syllable (long beat).
• Aside: Something spoken by an actor to or for the audience, supposedly not heard by others on stage.
• Ballad: A simple poem that tells a story and is adapted for singing.
• Blank Verse: Poetry lacking rhyme, especially verses having five stressed syllables.
• Cacophony: A harsh sound or mixture of sounds.
• Caesura: A break or pause in a line of poetry.
• Catharsis: The

Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Guide

Chordophones

Chordophones are instruments that produce sound by strings vibrating when plucked, picked, bowed, or struck.

Membranophones

Membranophones are instruments that are played by striking a membrane.

Idiophones

Idiophones are instruments that self-vibrate by being moved or struck in various ways.

Electrophones

Electrophones are instruments that produce sounds from electronic recreation and modification.

The Human Voice

The human voice is an aerophone. Although we have vocal cords, we need to exhale air for our voices to produce sound. We use our voices to express ourselves using words and music together.

Another way the human voice acts as a musical instrument is through the use of vocables, which are... Continue reading "Musical Instruments: A Comprehensive Guide to Chordophones, Membranophones, Idiophones, Electrophones, and the Human Voice" »

African Music

Djembe

The djembe is a solid wooden drum with a goat skin stretched over the top. Played with the hands, it produces three distinct sounds. Originally, the djembe served as an effective communication device across the Malian Empire.

Calabash

The calabash is half of a hollowed pumpkin gourd played with the hands. Sometimes rings are placed around one or more fingers, or two small sticks are used.

Kora

The kora is a 21-string bridge harp attached to a calabash gourd with cowhide stretched over the front. This gives the instrument a slightly different sound than a European harp.

Bira Ceremony

The Bira ceremony involves singing, dancing, clapping, and the shaking of the hosho (rattle) made from smaller gourds. Master musicians playing the... Continue reading "World Music Exploration: Instruments and Genres" »

Unit Summary

Sound Reception and Technology

We receive sound through our two ears. The brain processes this information to determine the location of the sound source. We hear live acoustic sounds in three dimensions, which helps us orient ourselves and enjoy the experience. When acoustic sounds are treated electronically, the final output is determined by the sound technician during the mixing process for recordings or live performances. Headphones are the best way to listen to music, provided the quality is high.

Acoustic Sound vs. Digital Sound

Digital sound is produced electronically without the need for traditional instruments. These sounds are stored on computers or integrated into devices like keyboards. Composers can access vast sound banks,... Continue reading "Modern Music Production: Acoustic and Digital Sound Techniques" »

Essential Literary Terms and Definitions

Definitions for key literary devices and concepts found on textbook pages 18, 35, 123, 137, 156, 168, and 198.

• Assonance: The repetition of similar vowel sounds in unrhymed, stressed syllables.
• Alliteration: The repetition of initial consonant sounds in stressed syllables.
• Elegy: A formal poem mourning the loss of someone or something important.
• Folk Epic: A long narrative poem originating from ancient times, about heroes, typically recited or sung, and passed orally from generation to generation (e.g., Beowulf).
• Literary Epic: A long narrative poem about heroes, originally written by an individual author (e.g., Homer's Odyssey).
• Epic Conventions: Traditional characteristics or features found in epic poetry.

Understanding Classical Music (18th-19th C.)

What Does "Classical" Mean?

The word Classical is often used to describe music that isn't pop, rock, or jazz, but it specifically refers to music from the late 18th to the early 19th century.

Key Characteristics

Classical music features characteristics such as:

• A sound that is richer and more structured.
• A freer, more expressive style compared to earlier periods.

Opera Styles

Opera Seria

Opera seria is the Italian term for serious opera. These were 18th-century operas in Italian, typically about ancient Greek gods and heroes.

Opera Buffa

Composers soon began to write operas in a lighter, comic style. In Italy, this new type of opera was known as opera buffa.

Major Classical Music Forms

Key characteristics of... Continue reading "Classical, Romantic & 20th Century Music: Forms & Features" »

Tablature Notation

Instrumental music introduced new notation symbols, such as tablature, which instructs musicians on how to produce specific sounds using numbers, letters, or note values.

1. What Does Renaissance Mean?

The term Renaissance (meaning "rebirth") refers to the artistic manifestations of the 15th and 16th centuries. This movement sought to recover the ideals of beauty and proportion by drawing inspiration from ancient Greek and Roman classical arts.

2. What Does Humanism Mean?

Humanism was the cultural movement that defined the Renaissance. Moving away from a long period of theocentrism, humanity turned its focus inward, developing a deep interest in personal appearance, nature, the cultivation of the arts, and the expression of human... Continue reading "Renaissance Music: History, Forms, and Characteristics" »

HAUT MUSIC:

Composed by instruments with great sound power. These were groups intended for outdoor performances or public events.

BAS MUSIC:

Composed by instruments of soft sound intensity. These were groups intended for indoor performances.

INSTRUMENTS:

String (lute and vihuela) and keyboard (organ and harpsichord).

FAMOUS COMPOSERS:

Clement Janequin, Martin Luther, Juan del Enzina, Claudio Monteverdi, John Dowland, Antonio de Cabezón, Luis de Narváez.

Dance:

2 types of dances: Popular dance and country dance.

SOCIAL DANCES:

Pavane: is a processional dance with a slow and ceremonious binary rhythm. Galliard: is a dance in ternary and animated rhythm, with a more demanding choreography. Jardin de las Delicias: In the picture 'The Garden of Earthly Delights'... Continue reading "Music in the Renaissance Era" »

The Evolution of Romantic Ballet

Ballet continued evolving with technical virtuosity, new stage tricks, and more stylish postures and figures. The Italian choreographer Salvatore Viganò (1769–1821) was one of the first investigators of Romantic ballet. He invented "dance-dramas," which reinforced the expressiveness of dance and gave the dance troupe a dramatic use.

The premiere of La Sylphide (Paris, 1832) marked the event that began true Romantic ballet. During this era, pointe dancing (a significant advance in dance technique) became widespread, as did the white muslin tutu. Other notable Romantic ballets include:

• Giselle (1841) with music by Adolphe Adam
• Coppélia (1870) with music by Léo Delibes

The Russian Influence and Marius Petipa

In... Continue reading "Evolution of Romantic Ballet and European Opera" »