World Music Quiz JukeBox Index

WHAT IS MUSIC? Silence is more often than not a relative concept Music can be defined as organized sound that is meaningful to people within a given time and place. Closely related music cultures can also categorize the same sounds differently Inuit katajjaq, a vocal game. CHARACTERISTICS OF SOUND Quality: distinctiveness of a particular voice or instrument, also called tone color or timbre. Sound Sources: The Voice Vibrato: a purposeful vibration of the tone straight tone: a sound with little or no vibrato raspy: used to describe a singing voice that is rough or gruff in quality chest voice: produces a low, powerful, throaty vocal production; this vocal quality is often heard in rock music head voice: produces a light, high sound, known in European music as falsetto nasal quality: quality produced by using the sinuses and mask of the face as sound resonators Sound Sources: Instruments Gamelan: large Indonesian instrumental ensembles steel drums: Trinidad, instruments made from modified oil drums, known as pans shakuhachi: Japanese flute associated with court and Zen monks May be closely identified with either men or women. Are markers of ethnic and national identity can attain even deeper associations (Armenian duduk) Instruments often carry prestige or status related to their historical roles in society (Ethiopian baganna) The Study and Classification of Musical Instruments Organology: the study of musical instruments Sachs-Hornbostel system: four-part classification system based on the means by which instruments produce sound (fifth later added) Idiophones: self-sounding instruments; the material of which they are made is set into vibration Chordophones: sound source is one or more vibrating strings Lutes: neck and body parallel to the strings. Harp: instrument that has a sound board to which strings are attached at an angle. Lyre: two distinctive arms and crossbar running between them to which the strings are attached. Zither: instrument with a flat body to which strings are attached parallel. Aerophones: Instruments in which h an enclosed column of air vibrates to produce sound. Have an opening or mouthpiece through which the player blows air. Endblown: blown through a hole (mouthpiece) at the end Transverse: blown through a hole on the side Free reeds have enclosed reeds through which air is pushed. Free aerophones act directly on surrounding air without enclosing it. Membranophones: are characterized by a membrane (drumhead) stretched across one or both ends of the instrument. Classified by: Shape: cylindrical, bowl (kettle), hourglass or goblet How membranes are attached (glued, tacked, laced, etc.) Ways in which sound is made (hands or sticks) Electrophones: instruments whose sound is produced or modified electronically. Intensity: - the loudness or softness of a sound volume or dynamics May be measured by a decibel meter forte and piano: loud and soft, repsectively Pitch: the relative highness or lowness of a sound, determined by frequency Hearing and Comparing Pitch Systems and Scales The overall compass of pitches from highest to lowest is called range. The distance between pitches is called intervals The order of ascent and descent is called a scale Raga mode pentatonic scale Melody and Processes of Ornamentation Melody: organize pitches into meaningful units Conjunct: close and regular intervals in a stepwise pattern Disjunct: melody moves mainly in larger intervals Melodies can be decorated or ornamented Melodies are made up of phrases Duration: the time element of music Pulse: a regular beat, like a heartbeat Rhythms: patterns arising from different combinations of beats Tempo: the music's rate of speed Hearing and Comparing Rhythmic Systems Meter: hierarchical durational system divided in measures. Simple: 2, 3 or 4 beats per measure Compound: 6, 9 or 12 beats per measure Syncopation: adding or subtracting beats from an on-going regular meter Many cultures use irregular or asymmetrical patterns Some music is so flexible in rhythm it is called free rhythm. LISTENING FOR MUSICAL TEXTURE AND FORM Hearing and Comparing Textures Texture is the vertical structure of music Monophony: individual voice or instrument is performing alone (solo), or when more than one voice or instrument are singing or playing the exact same melody Biphonic: two distinct lines, the lower sustaining a continuous pitch (drone) while the other performs a more elaborate melody above it. Homophony: melody is supported by other vocal or instrumental parts, all of which move along in roughly the same rhythm. Polyphony: Combinations of more than one voice/instrument Polyrhythms: several rhythmic patterns played simultaneously Heterophony: several voices and/or instruments that perform very similar, but slightly different melodies and rhythms at the same time. Hearing and Comparing Forms Form: the shape or structure of music Strophic: structure that follows clearly delineated textual verses or strophes Refrain: verses alternate with a recurring chorus; repeats both the same music the same text Ballad Sama'i PROCESSES OF MUSICAL CREATIVITY: COMPOSITION, PERFORMANCE, IMPROVISATION Composition: process of creating music Improvisation: spontaneous creation of music during performance

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