Download Elements and Musical Terms key terminology

8 - 4 Music for Film
Key terminology
Name:
The Elements of Music
Rhythm - The pattern of beats/duration of notes.
Tempo - The speed of the music.
Tonality – The key of the music - Major or Minor.
Melody - The tune.
Texture - Thick or Thin (Monophonic, Polyphonic, Homophonic).
Dynamics - The loudness and softness of the music.
Timbre - What kind of sound.
Pitch - High or Low.
Tempo – Speed of the music
Italian Term:
Largo
Lento
Adagio
Andante
Moderato
Allegretto
Allegro
Vivace
Presto
In English:
Slow and stately
Slow
Slow
At walking pace
At a moderate speed
Fairly quick
Quick
Quick and lively
Fast
Accelerando (accel.) = Gradually getting faster.
Rallentando (rall.) or Ritardando (ritard/rit.) = Gradually getting slower
Dynamics – Loudness and quietness of the music
Symbol:
ff
f
mf
mp
p
pp
Italian Term:
fortissimo
forte
mezzo forte
mezzo piano
piano
pianissimo
= Crescendo (gradually getting louder)
= Diminuendo/Decrescendo (gradually getting quieter)
In English:
very loud
loud
moderately loud
moderately quiet
quiet
very quiet
Film Music Compositional Devices
IMITATION: When one part copies another whilst the first part continues.
E.g.
LEITMOTIF: A theme that represents a character, place, emotion or object. E.g. Jaws,
Darth Vader (characters). The Shire and Mordor (places in Lord of the Rings)
MOTIF: A short melodic or rhythmic idea that is distinctive enough that when modified you can still
recognize it.
E.g. Batman 5 note theme
OSTINATO: A rhythmic or melodic idea that is repeated over and over again.
E.g. Bass part in Billy Jean repeats over and over again.
SEQUENCE: The immediate repetition of a phrase at a different pitch.
E.g.
PEDAL NOTE: A sustained or repeated note against changing harmony.
E.g.