History Listening Assignment

Week 8 Assignment The Listening

Terms:

String Quartet

Theme and Variations

Pentatonic Scale

Tremolo

Koto

Listening Part:

This is the playlist of 6 songs:

• Pick 4 (four) of the songs and write a descriptive paragraph about each (4 total paragraphs- 1 for each song).

• use terms from our readings in Assignments/Discussions 1-7 to describe the music you hear

Here is a review sheet of Terms from Ch 1-7 it’s attached separately.

Terms Through Week 7 Basic Elements of Music

Melody- The tune of a song/piece. Single line of notes in succession Dynamics- loud or soft- volume control! Rhythm- the beat, the groove, the tempo, dividing time into units Harmony- supports the melody. Chords, bass lines, etc. Texture- Thickness and thinness of the music- “density” of the sound/music Timbre- the “color” of the sound Form- architecture of the music- how the song is pieced together Word-Music Relationships- how the music reinforces the text and vice versa

Plainchant- Monks chanting- Gregorian chant- monophonic (single line of music) Syllabic- one note of music per syllable of text Melismatic- many notes per syllable Free Rhythm- the absence of a regular time pulse Metered Rhythm- like a heart beat- regulated pulses Conjunct Motion- notes that are close together- smooth melodic contour Disjunct Motion- bigger jumps in the melody Vocables- word like things that aren’t really words- nonsense syllables that are sung Terraced Melody- “staircase” like melody- either starts high and steps low, or vice versa

Musical Textures: Can have more than one happening in any given piece!

Monophonic- single melodic line. Think plainchant. Can be many voices singing or playing this same melody Polyphonic- More than one important melody at once- weaving in and out Homophonic- singer accompanied by a band, melody accompanied by harmony Heterophonic- slight variations in same melody

Triple meter- dividing time into 3 beat units (and multiples of) Duple meter- dividing time into 2 beat units (and multiples of) Cadence- a resting point in the music. Can be subtle or super obvious, happen in logical musical spots. Unison- voices playing/singing the same part at the same time

AAB Form- 1st part (A) is repeated (A) B is different or contrasting. Letters denote different sections. Can be short or long sections Shawm- weird oboe-like single reed instrument from Renaissance. Early instruments Madrigal- Renaissance song- secular (non-religious) Anthem- religious song in English
 motet - Renaissance song, sacred (religious)
 a capella- all voices, no instruments 
 imitative counterpoint- like a round- “row row row your boat”
 call and response- Ternary form- three part form binary form- two part form 
 syncretism- combining of different cultures/religions

Opera- musical stage show (think Hamilton in Italian!) Overture- short instrumental introduction at beginning of an opera, or act Recitative- free rhythm, almost like spoken word, no “song like” melody, where the “dialog” or musical speeches are happening. Aria- beautiful songs- regular meter, defined and memorable melody, etc, Basso Continuo- group of musicians that provide continuous harmonic support.

Ostinato- repeated pattern in music Interlocking Rhythms- parts that go together in a beat or similar Hocket- vocal technique where melody is split or passed around to different voices Melodic Embellishment- making things fancy!! Refrain- repeated melodic section in a song- the hook, the catchy part that has the same words every time!

Concerto- piece for soloist and orchestra Program Music- music that represents something else- Vivaldi’s “Seasons” Fugue- Bach- technique of taking one theme (“subject”) and tossing it around to different voices to create a piece of music. Soloiost- one person/instrument featured Ritornello- repeated orchestral part- Modulation- keys changing in music. Create contrast in the music- going from major to minor, dark to light keys. Creates interest and surprises the ear.