MUSIC

THE CONCEPTS

Rhythm: Beats Temp Note Value

Melody: Tune Notes high or low Movement of the melody
Texture: Thickness of the layers thick or thin
Dynamics: Volume the way the music is played loud or soft
Performing Media: Instruments
Rhythm:
Rhythm defines the length and value of notes.
Tempo: Speed of the piece.
Rubato: Flexible tempo used to highlight the climax.
Syncopation: The use of accents on beats that is normally unaccented.
Anacrusis: Unaccented note that comes before the first strong beat.
Largo Slow
Moderato Moderate
Prestissimo Very fast
Melody:
The melody is the most prominent line of voice in a piece. Often the most
memorable aspect of a piece.
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Register of the notes

Movement of the melody
The shape of the melody (contour)
Features: Climax? Repetition?
Different phrases/sections

Contour: The shape of the melody.

- Smooth flowing
- Angular which moves in leaps
Sequence: This is the repetition of a phrase, which only changes in pitch.
Structure:
The structure describes the order of events in piece.
Variation Form:
Binary Form Has two sections A & B
Ternary Has three sections, but the third returns to the first A, B, A
Rondo The main line always comes back into the piece A, B, A, C, A, D, A
Sonata Form Introduces two or more themes in A and closely related in
new keys in B.
Ostinato: Repeats above or below other musical material

DANIEL FELICE

MUSIC

THE CONCEPTS

Repetition
Features of a piece: Bridge? Solo? Intro? Outro? Chorus?

Tone Colour
The tone colour is the quality of sound.
Type of category: Brass, woodwind, strings, etc
Instrumentation: Type of instrument. Bass? Tenor? Soprano?
Pitch: High / Low
Quality of the sound: Distorted, sharp, smooth, flowing, piercing, breathy.
Attack: Beginning of the sounds
Decay: The dying away of the sound
Envelope: The entire sound form start to end.
Texture:
Texture describes the layers and the relationship between the lines.
Monophonic: Piece that has one line only such as a SOLO
Homophonic: Describes in Harmony with a chordal texture often using the
same rhythm.
Polyphonic: Totally independent lines that are played simultaneously.
Heterophonic: One part closely doubles another, however the main part
often differs slightly.
Parallel: One line doubles another moving in the same direction.
Unison: As one
Notes: Number of lines in the piece?
Thick? Thin? Sparse? Busy?
Accompaniment? Solo?
Dynamics
Dynamics is the volume in which the piece is played in.
Fortissimo Very Loud
Mezzo Forte Moderatley Loud
Mezzo Piano Mederatley Soft
Piano Soft
Cresendo: Getting Louder
Decresendo: Getting Softer
Silence is also dynamics.
- Rests

DANIEL FELICE