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Music Appreciation Terms
Beginning of the semester terms
38
Music
Undergraduate 1
01/23/2008

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Term
Pitch
Definition
measurable high or low position of a musical sound
Term
Dynamic  
Definition
levels of volume, loud or soft, of a musical composition
Term
Piano
Definition
soft
Term
Forte
Definition
loud
Term
Musical Sound
Definition
pitch + dynamic + duration + timbre
Term
Timbre(also color)
Definition
characteristic quality of sound that allows us to distinguish btw. one instrument/voice from another (determined by harmonics, attack and decay)
Term
Music
Definition
rational organization of sounds and silences as they pass through time
Term
Rhythm
Definition
time aspect of music; divides long spans of time into smaller more easily understandable units
Term
Beat (also pulse)
Definition
regularly recurring; even pulse in music that divides the passing of time into equal segments
Term
Tempo 
Definition
fast/slow; the speed at which the beats occur in music
Term
Ritartando
Definition
a tempo mark indicating when the beat slows down
Term
Accelerando
Definition
when the beat speeds up
Term
Measure (aka bar)
Definition
one unit of meter
Term
Meter
Definition
division of beats into strong and weak units (strong - weak - strong is the most common type)
Term
Meter signature (aka time sig.)
Definition
two numbers, one on top of another, usually placed at the beginning of the music to tell the performer what note value is carrying the beat and how the beats are to be grouped
Term
Duple meter
Definition
two beats per measure
Term
Triple meter  
Definition
three beats per measure; one strong two weak
Term
Downbeat (aka pickup)
Definition
first beats of the measure - strong
Term
Upbeat
Definition
beat before the downbeat - weak
Term
Accent
Definition
strong moment in music
Term
Syncopation
Definition

accents in an unexpected place; anywhere but the downbeat; can occur btw. beats or on a weak beat

Term
Piece
Definition
entire composition of a music
Term
Melody
Definition
successive pitches (could be good or bad)
Term
Theme
Definition
initial or pimary melody
Term
Motive
Definition
short, distinctive melodic figure that stands by itself
Term
Step
Definition
interval btw. adjacent pitches in the diatomic or chromatic scale; whole step of half step
Term
Leap
Definition
melodic movement not by an interval of just a step, but usually by a group of at least a fourth
Term
Conjunct
Definition
melodic notion that proceeds primarily by steps w/o leaps
Term
Disjunct
Definition
melodic motion that proceeds primarily by leaps rather than steps
Term
Phrase
Definition
a self-contained portion of a melody, theme or tune
Term
Antecedent
Definition
opening, incomplete-sounding phrase of a melody; often followed by a consequent phrase
Term
Consequent
Definition
phrase of a two-part melodic unit that brings a melody to a point of repose + closure
Term
Cadence
Definition
concluding part of a musical phrase
Term
Diminuendo (same as decresendo)
Definition
gradual decrease in the volume of a sound
Term
Decrescendo (same as diminuendo)
Definition
gradual decrease in force and loudness
Term
Crescendo
Definition
gradual increase in the volume of sound
Term
String Instruments (high to low)
Definition
violin, viola, violoncello, double bass
Term

Woodwinds (high to low)

Definition
piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bassoon
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