Final Exam Study Guide (MUS 1321-01)
Elements of Music
• Be familiar with the elements of music (timbre, melody, harmony, rhythm/meter,
texture, and form) by:
o Identifying, defining, and describing its use in a piece of music.
History of Western music
• Understand the philosophical ideas that guided art in each historical era.
• Be familiar with the major genres/musical styles of each musical era.
Instruments of the modern orchestra
• Name and describe the instruments and sections of the modern orchestra.
Discussions on pop music
• Authenticity in music (authentic vs. fake)
• Relationship between text and music
o Text painting
o Polytextuality
Other important things to review
• The properties of a melody (conjunct/disjunct, intervals, etc.)
• Be able to identify a piece of music in a major or minor key.
• Differentiate between duple, triple, and quadruple meter.
Terminology list (Identify and define)
• Elements of music
o Dissonance/consonance
o Form (Strophic, sonata-allegro, rondo, etc.)
o Tempo (Presto, andante)
o Monophonic/homophonic/polyphonic
• General music terms
o A Capella
o Tutti
o Chromaticism/diatonicism
o Ensemble
o Motif
o Phrase
o Articulation
• Medieval
o Gregorian Chant
o Organum
• Renaissance
o Mass
o Motet
• Baroque
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o Basso continuo (figured bass)
o Oratorio
o Counterpoint
Classical
o Opera
o Libretto
o Aria/recitative
Romantic
o Absolute and program music
o Character pieces (Prelude, nocturne, mazurka, etc.)
o Symphonic/tone poem
o Dramatic symphony
Modern
o Expressionism, impressionism, serialism, minimalism
Jazz
o Backbeat
o Syncopation
o Rhythm changes
o Ragtime