E Trial Revision
Key Terms and Vocab
The Musical Elements
You should use these to inform your observations
• TEMPO: the speed at which a piece of music moves. Can be varied through
rallentando or accelerando
• RHYTHM: the characteristic patterns of a musical line. Dotted, syncopated
etc
• DYNAMICS: the ‘volume’. Forte, piano, crescendo, diminuendo….
The Musical Elements
• TEXTURE: the characteristics of the layers in music
- HOMOPHONY: melody and accompaniment
- POLYPHONY/CONTRAPUNTAL: two or more lines moving
independently of each other
- MONOPHONY/UNISON: one line
The Musical Elements
• INSTRUMENTATION: the choice of instrument
• ORCHESTRATION: how the instrument is used
• TIMBRE: the sound quality of an instrument
• KEY/TONALITY: major/minor
• HARMONY:
- DIATONIC and FUNCTIONAL: notes are ‘pleasing’
- CHROMATIC: use of ‘alien’ notes – clashing sounds
The Musical Elements
• STRUCTURE: how a piece of music is put together
• MELODY: the tune!