Music
art based on the organization of sounds in time
Four main properties of musical sounds
pitch, dynamics, tone, duration
pitch
relative highness or lowness of a sound
How pitch of a sound is decided
frequency of it's vibrations
Frequency of vibrations is measured in
cycles per second
tone
sound that has a definate pitch
interval
distance in pitch between any two tones
octave
two different tones that blend so well when sounded together that they seem to merge into one tone
octave
interval that separates tones that sound very much alike
range or pitch range
distance between the lowest and highest tones a voice or instrument can produce
dynamics
degrees of loudness or softness
amplitude
what the loudness of a sound is related to as far as vibrations
dynamic accent
occurs when performer emphasizes a tone by playing it more loudly than the tones around it
Italian
traditional notation used to indicate dynamics
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
fortissimo
very loud
forte
loud
crescendo
gradual increase in loudness
decrescendo or diminuendo
gradual decrease in loudness
timbre
tone color
reasons it is difficult to sing well
singing demands greater supply and control of breath, vowel sounds are held longer, wider ranges of pitch and volume are used than with speaking
training and physical makeup
range of singer's voice depends on these two things
2 octaves or more
professional singer's range
1 and 1/2 octave
untrained voice's range
male classification of ranges in voice
baritone, tenor, bass
female classification of ranges in voice
soprano, mezzo-soprano, alto
alto
contralto
register
part of an instrument's total range
symphonic band consists of
brass, woodwind and percussion
no strings
difference between symphonic band and symphonic orchestra
horsehair
what a bow is strung with
tightening or loosening pegs
how to tune a violin
pizzicato
plucking the string with the finger instead of using a bow
vibrato
small pitch fluctuations caused by rocking the left hand while pressing the string down
reason for using vibrato
warmer and more expressive tone
harmonics
high pitched tone producesd when string player lightly touches certain points on a string
tremolo
rapidly repeating tones by quick up and down strokes of the bow
piccolo
highest woodwind instrument in orchestra
contrabassoon
lowest woodwind instrument in orchestra
reed
thin piece of cane used by woodwind players
english horn
actually alto oboe (not english or a horn)
single reed woodwinds
clarinet, bass clarinet, saxaphone
double reed woodwinds
oboe, English horn, bassoon, contrabassoon
brass instruments
trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba
middle of 19th century
when brass instruments acquired valves
cornet
similar in shape to trumpet but has more mellow tone
mute
hollow, funnel shaped piece of wood or plastic that brass players use to alter the tone of their instrument
crooks
used by french horn and trumpet players before 1850 to change the range of available pitches (before valves)
definate pitch percussion
timpani (kettledrums), glockenspiel, xylophone, celesta, chimes
indefinate pitch percussion
snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, triangle, cymbals, gong
metal
bars on a xylophone
88 keys
number of keys a piano has
7 octaves
number of octaves on a piano
damper
most important pedal on piano
harpsichord
has many sets of pipes controlled from several keyboards including a pedal keyboard
pipe organ
uses vibrating air columns to produce sound and is a keyboard instrument
stops
knobs on pipe organ