Download Music Definitions

Music Definitions
* Music is part of this world of sound, an art based on the organization of sounds in time.
4 Main Properties of Musical Sounds
1) pitch
2) dynamics 3) tone color 4) duration
* We need sounds to communicate, but silence (an absent of sound) also communicates
Sound – Begins with the vibration of an object
Pitch – the relative highness or lowness that we hear in a sound
It is decided by the frequency of its vibrations
Measured in cycles per second
Pitch Range – the distance between the lowest and highest tones
Dynamics – Loudness or softness in music
Accent – emphasis of a tone by a performer
Decrescendo – Gradually softer
Crescendo – Gradually louder
Tone Color (timbre) – quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from
another
Melody – a series of single notes that add up to a recognizable whole
Climax (an emotional focal point) - the highest tone of a melody
Phrases – shorter parts of melodies
Theme – a starting point for a more extended piece of music
Harmony – the way chords are constructed and how they follow each chord
Progression – specific series of chords
Form – the organization of musical elements in time
Repetition – creates a sense of unity
Contrast – provides variety
Variation – provides both unity and variety
Tone – A sound that has a definite pitch
The smaller the vibrating element, the higher its pitch
The longer the vibrating element, the lower its pitch
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