Arts and Humanities Exit Exam

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)

Arts and Humanities Exit Exam