Music Appreciation Class Notes
Music Elements
•
Notation
•
Melody
•
Rhythm
•
Harmony
•
Texture
•
Form
•
Dynamics
•
Timbre
Notation
•
Written on paper, so that the music may be performed again and again
•
Music notation system
•
Enjoyment and understanding of most music is not dependent upon the ability to read and
interpret written music notation
Melody- (line, space)
•
A succession of single tones or pitches that are perceived to be unified.
o
Ex. Brahms, Symphony No. 1 4
th
movement
Characteristics of melody
•
Pitch- the highness or lowness of a tone, depending on the frequency (rate of vibration)
o
Ex. Beethoven, symphony no. 5 in c minor, 1
st
movement
•
Interval- the distance and relationship between two pitches.
o
Ex. Chopin, prelude in e minor, op. 28, no. 4
•
Range- the distance between the lowest and highest tones of a melody, an instrument or a
voice. (narrow, medium or wide)
•
Phrase- as in language, a unit of meaning within a larger structure; thus, a melody may be
divided into component phrases
o
Ex. Beethoven, Symphony No. 9, 4
th
movement, “ode to joy”
Types of Voices
•
Bass- lowest range man
•
Baritone- medium woman
•
Tanner-highest range man
•
Alto- lowest woman voice
•
Mezzo-soprano- medium woman
•
Soprano-highest woman
Rhythm- (Rhythm, Pattern, Repetition, Time)
•
Rhythm- The element of time in music
o
Ex. Ravel, bolero
Characteristics of Rhythm
•
Beat- regular pulsation; a basic unit of length in musical time.
o
Ex. Haydn, Symphony No. 94 (Surprise), third movement
•
Accent- emphasis on a note, so that it is louder or longer than another.
•
Tempo- the rate of speed or pace of the musical pulse. (largo, adagio,
andante, allegro)
Harmony- (Balance)
This
preview
has intentionally blurred sections.
Sign up to view the full version.
•
The simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships of intervals and
chords.
o
Ex. Mozart, piano concerto in c major, k. 467, second movement
•
Syncopation- deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse through a temporary shifting of
the accent to a weak beat, or an offbeat.
•
Chord- simultaneous combination of tones (typically three or more) that constitute a
single block of harmony.
Texture-
•
The interweaving of melodic (horizontal) and harmonic elements in the musical fabric.
•
Monophonic- one voice/part presents a single melody
•
Homophonic- principle melody and accompanying harmony.
o
Ex. Mozart, piano concerto in c major, k. 467, second movement
•
Polyphonic- two or more melodies combine into a multi-voiced texture.
o
Ex. Mozart, requiem, “Kyrie eleison”
•
Heterophonic: two or more voices/parts elaborate on the same melody simultaneously.
Form- (Shape, Form)
•
Form- the structure or shape of a musical work, based on repetition, contrast, and
variation; the organizing principle of music.
Characteristics of Form:
•
Repetition- within a form, repetition fixes the material in our mind and satisfies our need
for the familiar; it provides unity to a form.

This is the end of the preview.
Sign up
to
access the rest of the document.
- Spring '08
- IrinaMoreland
- Music, The Awakening, Mozart, Musical notation, Beethoven Beethoven, music notation Melody, Class Notes Music
-
Click to edit the document details