I. Introduction to Music
 Dynamics- degrees of loudness or softness in music
 Timbre- tone color; quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from
another
 Pizzicato- plucking a string
 Vibrato- small fluctuations of pitch which make the tone warmer
 Woodwinds- single reeds: clarinet, saxophone
- double reeds: oboe, English horn, bassoon
 Percussion- definite pitch: produces tones, xylophone
- indefinite pitch: produces noise-like sounds, tambouring, cymbals
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Meter- organizes beats into regular groups
Tempo- speed of the music
Melody- a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole; a tune
o Phrase Structure- usually 2-4 shorter segments that make up melodies
o Cadence- a resting place at the end of a phrase
o Staccato- short, detached style
o Legato- smooth, connected style
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Harmony- the way chords are constructed and how they follow one another
Triad- chord with 3 tones
o I-Tonic- triad based on the first note of scale
o IV-Subdom.- triad based on fourth note of scale
o V-Dominant- triad based on fifth note of scale
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Tonality- (key) involves a central tone, a central chord and scale
Chromatic scale- the twelve tones of the octave (all ½ step apart), like a keyboard
Major/minor tonal system: 17th century
Modes or modal music & Church music
A Cappella- unaccompanied vocal music
Voice Typeso Female: soprano, mezzo, contralto
o Male: tenor, baritone, bass
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Monophonic Texture- a single unaccompanied melodic line
Homophonic Texture- when we hear one main melody accompanied by chords
Polyphonic Texture- simultaneous performance of two or more melodies
II. Medieval (450-1450)
 Church modes- served as basis for all music throughout this time
 Most medieval music was sacred, vocal, a cappella, and modal
 Gregorian Chant- official music of the Roman Catholic Church
- monophonic and a cappella
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Troubadours and Trouveres were poets and musicians
- left a large body of non-religious songs that became more important than sacred
music
- not based on chant melodies
- love, chivalry, drinking songs
III. Renaissance (1450-1600)
 Texture- mostly polyphonic and vocal
 Melody- modal
 Sacred Music:
o Mass- based on the five sung prayers of the ordinary: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus
and Agnus Dei
o Motet- polyphonic choral work set to a sacred Latin text
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Secular Music- the madrigal was a piece for several voices set to a short poem about love
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Instrumental Music- increased in popularity, specifically written for instruments and dancing
o Lute- versatile and popular plucked string instrument played in the home and for
outdoor activities
IV. Baroque (1600-1750)
 Composers: Bach, Handel, Corelli, Purcell, Vivaldi, Telemann
o Bach- his music is unique in its combination of polyphonic texture and rich harmony
o Handel- England’s most important composer, wrote many oratorios
 Instrumental music became as important as vocal music for the first time
 Early orchestra emerged, primarily strings
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Important keyboard instruments:
o Organ- sound is generated by air
o Harpsichord- plucking mechanism
Recorder  Flute
Shawm  Double-reed oboe and bassoon
Tabor  Timpani (tunable drums)
Music Characteristics:
o One basic mood within movement
o Terraced Dynamics- sudden shift between loud and soft
o Continuous Melody- frequently sequential/motivic (immediate restatement of motif
at higher/lower pitch)
o Relentless rhythmic energy
o Basso Continuo- played by organ/harpsichord and a cello/bassoon
Major/minor tonal system replaced modes in 1600’s
Forms:
o Fugue- based on imitation; like a round, but after presents subject, free to go on its
own way with different melodic material
o Concerti-
o Suites for keyboard/orchestra- consisted of sets of dance-inspired movements all
written in the same key but differing in tempo, meter, and character
o Opera- innovation of the Baroque period of music involving drama that is sung to an
orchestral accompaniment
o Oratorio- a large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists and orchestra; usually
set to a narrative text
o Cantata- a choral composition, either sacred and resembling a short oratorio or
secular, as a lyric drama set to music but not to be acted
V. Classical (1750-1820)
 Composers: Mozart, Haydn, Beethoven
o Mozart- child prodigy, did everything
o Haydn- pioneered development of symphony and wrote 104 symphonies
 scholars believe that Haydn invented the string quartet format, wrote 68
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Music Characteristics:
o Contrasts within movements
o Crescendo and decrescendo
o Melody- balanced phrase structure
o Varied rhythmic content
o Basso continuo eliminated
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Instrumental Forms:
o Symphony- written for orchestra, four movements, 20-45mins long
 I= fast
 II= slow
 III= fast, dance-related
 IV= fast
o String Quartet- written for two violins, viola and cello; fast, slow, minuet, fast
o Sonata- for violin and piano
o Concierto- three movement work for instrumental soloist and orchestra
o Sonata-Allegro Form or First Movement form
A. Exposition- where the themes are presented
B. Development- most dramatic section of the movement where themes are
developed, or treated in new ways
A. Recapitulation- where the themes return
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Theme and Variations- basic musical theme is repeated over and over, changed each time
o A’,A’’, A’’’ retains structure as other elements change
Minuet and Trio (ABA)- often used as the third movement of classical symphonies, string
quartets, and other works
o in triple meter, usually in a moderate tempo
o movement is A B A
Rondo (ABACABA)- features a tuneful main theme (A) which returns several times in
alternation with other themes
o a common pattern is A B A C A B A
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Vocal forms – Opera and Mass