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NB. Most of today’s slides are not covered in the text book.

NB. Most of today’s slides are not covered in the text book. (Still More) Useful Terms for Describing Music (my terms – most not in the textbook). “RHYTHM”. From a Greek word (“rhythmos”) that means “flow” Refers to all temporal ( durational ) elements in a piece of music

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NB. Most of today’s slides are not covered in the text book.

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  1. NB. Most of today’s slides are not covered in the text book.

  2. (Still More) Useful Terms for Describing Music (my terms – most not in the textbook)

  3. “RHYTHM” From a Greek word (“rhythmos”) that means “flow” Refers to all temporal (durational) elements in a piece of music “The organization of time in music, dividing up long spans of time into smaller, more easily comprehended units”

  4. Some Terms related to Rhythm Beat – regular, unchanging pulse Accent – emphasis on a beat (or other) Meter – measurement of time in regular groupings of beats Measure or Bar – one group in a Meter- can be Duple, Triple, or Quadruple Division of beats can be Simple (2) or Compound (3) Tempo – speed of the beat

  5. Examples for Rhythm • The Thunderer by John Philip Sousa – YouTube • Johann Strauss II - The Blue Danube Waltz – YouTube • Dave Brubeck - Take Five ( Original Video) – YouTube • Alan Jackson - Amazing Grace – YouTube • The King's Singers - Greensleeves – YouTube • Jethro Tull - Living In The Past 1969 – YouTube • Don Ellis 1977 (10) Pussywiggle Stomp • Monks singing Gregorian Chant in a Catholic Benedictine Seminary

  6. What can you organize? The 4 Parameters of Sound • Pitch = the frequency of vibration (heard as “high” vs. “low”) • Duration = the length of time a sound lasts (heard as aspects of rhythm) • Timbre = tone color (the source of the sound, i.e., instrument, voice, other) • Dynamics = Loudness/Softness

  7. Dynamics • How loud or soft (…in Italian…) • “piano” = “soft” (abbrev. = p) • “forte” = “loud” (“strong”) (abbrev. = f) • “mezzo” = “medium” (abbrev. = m)mezzopiano, mezzoforte (mp, mf) • “-issi-” = “-er”, e.g., pianissimo = pp,pianississimo = ppp, etc. (also fortissimo, etc.) • Changing dynamics (growing louder/softer)crescendo / descrescendo or diminuendo

  8. What can you organize? The 4 Parameters of Sound • Pitch = the frequency of vibration (heard as “high” vs. “low”) • Duration = the length of time a sound lasts (heard as aspects of rhythm) • Timbre = tone color (the source of the sound, i.e., instrument, voice, other) • Dynamics = Loudness/Softness

  9. PITCH Function of “frequency” (how many vibrations per second) Usually described as “high” or “low” Individual sound sometimes called a “note” (from the written symbol for a single sound) Range of human hearing 20 – 20,000 Hz

  10. Some Useful Terms related to Pitch Interval – “distance” between 2 pitches Octave – 2:1 ratio of frequency Tonality – organization around home pitch Tonic – the home pitch Key – collection of pitches around a tonal center Scale – set of pitches in ascending and descending order (scala [Ital.] = “ladder”)

  11. Scale types Use only some of all the available pitches Series of whole and half steps (7 notes) Major – sounds “bright,” “cheery” Minor – sounds “dark,” “somber” Pentatonic – uses only 5 notes- Major or Minor

  12. Harmony (Some Useful terms) Chord – 2 or more simultaneous pitches Triad – 3-note chord Tonic (I) – chord on home note (name of scale or “key”) Dominant (V) – chord on 5th note of scale Subdominant (IV) – chord on 4th note of scale Consonant / Consonance – “pleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective) Dissonant / Dissonance – “unpleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective)

  13. (Still More) Useful Terms for Describing Music (my terms – most not in the textbook)

  14. Listening Critically(Theme 1) (Last batch of) Useful Terms for Describing Music (my terms – most not in the textbook)

  15. Musical Form • The basic organizing principal in music “What comes next?” • Three basic elements: Repetition – the same thing Contrast – something new Variation – a mix of old and new

  16. Melodic Structure Similar to Speech (words, phrases, sentences, paragraphs, etc.) Musical PHRASE – coherent subdivision of a larger unit (similar to sentences or clauses in speech) CADENCE – resting point at the end of a phrase (full or partial, cf. punctuation marks, periods, commas, etc.)

  17. Some Formal Patterns Organization by phrases and larger blocks- relates to both music and text (words/lyrics) Strophic- Stanza (same block of music, repeated)- new words with each Verse- Ex. “Barbary Allen” and most hymns Alternating sections- Verse (same music, but changing words)- Chorus (same music & words; “refrain”)- Ex. “Gospel Ship,” “Jingle Bells,” “Yankee Doodle,” etc.

  18. More Patterns & Terms “Song Form” – usually 4 equal phrases/sections - A A B A or A A’ B A” or AABC, ABCD, etc.- Bridge or Release (3rd phrase) contrasts harmonically & melodically- Exs. “Jeannie with the Light Brown Hair,” “Taking A Chance on Love,” “New San Antonio Rose,” “Sh-Boom,” etc. 12-Bar Blues – 3 phrases repeated over and overA - statementA’ - restatement (intensification)B – conclusionEx. “Black Snake Moan,” “Hound Dog,” etc.

  19. A Few Last Terms • Call-Response- leader first, answered by group (or single)- Ex. “Long John,” and most Blues-based music • Introduction- a brief section to start a piece of music(exactly what it says) • Coda- a short ending added to a piece (literally: “tail”)

  20. Five “Themes” Listening Critically (terminology) Music and Identity Music and Technology Music is a Business Music has “Centers” and “Peripheries” (places)

  21. Music Centers & Peripheries • “Centers” – money, power and control- NYC, LA, Nashville (?!)- aims at the mass (= urban, white) market • “Peripheries” – the edges- physically remote- lacking in power or influence- stylistically unique or “different” (often) • Peripheries influence and change Centers

  22. Streams of Traditions • Three main sources of American Pop Music • European- chiefly white (Anglo) Northern Europe- British Isles (Scotch, Welsh, Irish, etc.) • African- chiefly from West Central Africa- imported slaves (mostly) to Southern regions • Latin America- Caribbean, Mexican, Brazil, etc.- often mixes African w/ indigenous elements

  23. “Barbary Allen” • Folk Music • Appalachian region(from Anglo-Irish) • “Ballad” tradition(tells a story) • Child Ballad # 84 • Strophic form • “a cappella” performance • Jean Ritchie--Barbry Allen – YouTube[Textbook, p. 21-3] Jean Ritchie (b. 1922; d. 2015); Kentucky native

  24. Friendly Warning Test # 1 in about 10-12 days(covers Chapter 1 & Terminology)Official Date to be announced on Thursday

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