Download National 4 Concepts

Calderglen High School
Music Department
NATIONAL 4 CONCEPTS
Tempo
A tempo-
An instruction to return to the speed that was
played before the tempo changed. For example, if
the music is allegro, then has a rallentando,
followed by the instruction 'a tempo', it means that
after the rallentando the music should return to
allegro
Accelerando-
The tempo (speed) of the music gradually becomes
faster.
Andante-
A tempo at a walking speed, approximately 76-108
beats per minute.
Rallentando-
The tempo (speed) of the music gradually slows
down.
Rhythms
Anacrusis-
The notes which appear before the first strong beat
of a musical phrase, particularly at the start of a
piece. An anacrusis sounds as an upbeat.
The well-known song 'Happy Birthday to You' also
has an anacrusis.
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Compound time -
The beat is divided into groups of three – if
you say 'straw-be-rry' as you listen to
compound time music, the three syllables fit
within each beat. Jig-et-ty, 1+a 2+a
Simple time -
The music has two, three or four beats in
each bar, and each beat is a crotchet (1 beat
note) and each beat can be divided into 2. If
you try saying the word 'sim-ple' in each
beat, and it fits with the notes, then you are
listening to simple time. Simple time
signatures are written as 2/4, 3/4 and 4/4.
Syncopation-
Describes rhythm which emphasises areas
between, rather than on, main beats.
In the second example (see notation), most of the notes fall in
between the beats, and this creates syncopation.
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Dynamics
Mezzo forte-
Mezzo forte (or mf) stands for fairly loud
volume.
Mezzo piano-
Mezzo piano (or mp) means fairly quiet
volume.
Notes
Dotted rhythm-
A long note followed by a shorter one or a
short note followed by a longer one, as in a
Scotch snap. Often used in a Strathspey.
Grouped semiquavers- A group of semiquavers (quarter beat notes)
which are joined together
Major-
A row of notes built on an order of tones and
semitones. A settled sound.
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Minor-
A stepwise series of notes built on an order of tones
and semitones A more disturbed sound.
Ornament-
An ornament decorates a melody by adding extra
notes. Ornaments are often short and add melodic
and rhythmic interest.
Paired quaver-
Two quavers (½ beat notes) joined together.
Quaver-
A note that lasts half a beat.
Repeat sign-
A sign (indicated by a double barline and two
dots) which indicates that a section of music
should be repeated.
Scale-
A sequence of notes moving by step in an
ascending or descending order.
Semiquaver-
A note that lasts for a quarter (1/4) of a beat.
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Musical Periods and Styles
ABA/ Ternary – A structure in which the main tune “A” is presented,
is followed by a new tune “B”, followed finally by
the first tune “A” again. Ternary form.
Broken Chord-
In a broken chord, the notes of a chord are played
separately.
Baroque -
Baroque is the name given to a style of music
composed during a particular period, 1600-1750
approximately. Bach and Handel are two of the
composers from this period. Baroque music often
uses a harpsichord and can be very polyphonic.
Concerto-
Work for solo instrument and orchestra, e.g. a flute
concerto is written for flute and orchestra. It is
normally in three movements – fast/slow/fast
Muted-
Using a device which reduces the volume or alters
the sound of an instrument
Opera -
A drama set to music with soloists, chorus, acting,
and orchestral accompaniment. It is normally
performed in a theatre. Uses recitative, aria and
chorus
Romantic-
In music, the period 1810-1900 approximately,
which followed the Classical era. The Romantic
orchestra grew in size and added piccolo, trombone
and more varied percussion. Berlioz, Chopin and
Liszt are composers from the Romantic Period.
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Arpeggio-
A chord where the notes are played consecutively
rather than together. e.g.
C
G
G
E
E
C
C
Canon -
A strict form of imitation where a second part
copies a first part exactly. It usually lasts for more
than just a few seconds.
Distortion-
An electronic effect used in rock music to colour
the sound of an electric guitar. Sounds ‘fuzzy’
rather than clean.
Imitation-
Where the melody is immediately copied in
another part. It need not be an exact copy.
Pedal-
Short for pedal point. A note which
is sustained, or repeated continuously, in the bass
beneath changing harmonies.
In the notation, a pedal note can be seen in the lower part.
Baroque-
Baroque is the name given to a style of music
composed during a particular period, 1600-1750
approximately. Bach and Handel are two of the
composers from this period.
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Chord progression A series of related chords built on the first,
fourth and fifth notes of a major or minor scale.
Ragtime -
A style of dance music which became popular at
the end of the 19th century and which helped to
influence jazz. It features a strongly syncopated
melody (meaning the notes don’t always fall on the
beat) against a steady, simple accompaniment
played as a vamp, often played on piano, e.g. Scott
Joplin rags.
Swing-
A jazz style which started in the 1930s and was
performed by a big band. The numbers and types
of instruments in the big bands increased during
this period, through the influence of swing. Glenn
Miller was one of the leading figures in swing .
Change of key-
A move from one key to another.
Middle 8-
In popular music, a section which provides a
contrast to the opening section. It is often eight
bars long.
Rapping-
Rhyming lyrics that are spoken and performed in
time to a beat. Rapping is popular in hip-hop music.
Scat Singing-
Singing using nonsense words, syllables and
sounds. Used often in Jazz when words would
prevent improvisation. e.g. Du dn du dn Dat or
Scoo bn doo bn Dat or Diddly dum, diddly dee.
Theme and VariationThe structure of a piece where the melody is heard
(the theme), then returns several times with
variations e.g. Ornaments, Passing notes.
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World Music
African music-
Much African music features voices and/or African
drums.
Reggae-
Reggae music was developed in the late 1960s in
Jamaica. It has quite a distinctive sound and has the
characteristic of strong accents on the 2nd and 4th
beats of the bar. Bob Marley has had many reggae
hits in the pop charts.
Vocal Music
Alto-
The lowest female voice
Backing vocals-
Singers who support the lead singer(s), usually by
singing in harmony in the background.
Bass-
The lowest male voice
Cadenza-
A passage of music which allows soloists to display
their technical ability in singing or playing an
instrument. Performers used to improvise
cadenzas themselves but eventually composers
began to write them into the score. In a concerto
the end of the cadenza is marked by a dominant 7th
chord.
Soprano-
The highest female voice
Tenor-
The highest male voice
Verse and chorus
A structure/form popular in many songs.
The music of the verse is repeated, often with
different words. The chorus is normally repeated.
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Instruments
Bass drum-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family. It
is large, low in pitch and played with a largeheaded beater. A bass drum is also part of a drum
kit.
Bass guitar-
The bass guitar is pitched lower than a guitar. It is
an electric string instrument and has only four
strings, two fewer than an electric guitar. It needs
to be plugged into an amplifier to be heard.
Cello-
This instrument belongs to the string family and is
slightly smaller and slightly higher in pitch than a
double bass. It can be played with a bow (arco) or
plucked (pizzicato).
Clarinet-
This instrument belongs to the woodwind family.
It uses a single reed, which is attached to a plastic
mouthpiece. This is placed between the lips, and
the air travels between the reed and the plastic
mouthpiece, and into the instrument.
Double bass-
This instrument belongs to the string family and is
the largest and lowest instrument of the strings. It
can be played with a bow (arco) or (pizzicato).
Flute-
This instrument belongs to the woodwind family,
although it is made of metal. It differs from other
woodwind instruments as it does not have a reed.
The sound is produced by blowing across the top of
a hole – a bit like blowing across the open top of a
glass bottle.
Glockenspiel-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family.
The metal bars are laid out in a similar pattern to
the piano and are played with beaters. It is a tuned
percussion instrument, as it can play a range of
notes.
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Güiro-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family. It
is made of wood that has been hollowed out and
has ridges cut into the outer surface. A wooden
stick is scraped along the ridges to produce the
sound.
Harp-
This instrument belongs to the string family.
Harpsichord-
A keyboard instrument which looks like a small
grand piano. The keys are laid out in the same way,
as on a piano but maybe opposite in colour – the
majority of the keys are black, and the raised ones
are white. When a key is pressed, it causes a string
to be plucked, which gives the harpsichord a
'twangy' sound.
Pan pipes-
Traditional pan pipes are hollow tubes made from
bamboo or wood, and bound together. The tubes
are of varying length which gives different pitches
of notes, and the sound is produced by blowing air
across the top of the tubes.
Recorder-
The recorder is a woodwind instrument. There are
four main types of recorder: descant, treble, tenor
and bass.
Saxophone-
This metal instrument belongs to the woodwind
family. It uses a single reed which is attached to a
plastic mouthpiece, like a clarinet. This is placed
between the lips, and the air travels between the
reed and plastic mouthpiece, and into the
instrument.
Snare drum-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family
and is played with sticks or brushes.
Tambourine-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family. It
has a wooden or plastic frame, pairs of metal
jingles attached, and is mostly played by the hand
striking or shaking the instrument.
Timpani-
A drum with a skin stretched across a large bowl.
It was traditionally made of copper, but is more
commonly now made of fibreglass.
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Triangle-
This is a piece of metal in the shape of a triangle,
open at one corner, and struck with a metal beater.
It is an untuned percussion instrument.
Trombone-
This is the only brass instrument that has a slide
instead of valves. Air vibrates through a player’s
lips, into a mouthpiece which is connected to the
instrument.
Trumpet-
The trumpet is the smallest and highest brass
instrument in the brass family.
Violin-
This instrument belongs to the string family. It is
the smallest and highest pitched instrument in the
string family. It can be played with a bow.
Xylophone-
This instrument belongs to the percussion family.
The wooden bars are laid out in a similar pattern to
the piano and are played with beaters.
Brass band-
A band of brass instruments and percussion.
Wind band-
A band with woodwind, brass and percussion
instruments.
Scottish Music
Jig-
A fast Scottish dance in Compound time.
Jig-et-ty, 1+a 2+a
Drone-
One note held or repeated in the bass. A feature of
the bagpipes.
Mouth music-
Unaccompanied vocal music for informal dancing
e.g. Reel. Gaelic. Nonsense words.
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Pentatonic-
Any five-note scale. In practice, the most common
one is that on which much folk music is based,
particularly Scottish and Celtic. The five notes
could be C D E G A.
Scotch snap-
Scotch snap A very short accented note before a
longer note. A feature of Strathspeys.
Scots ballad-
A Scottish song which tells a story. It is in strophic
form, which means that the same music is repeated
for each verse.
Strathspey-
A Scottish dance with four beats in a bar, with
dotted rhythms, and usually featuring the Scotch
snap.
Vamp-
A rhythmic accompaniment with a bass note
played on the beat and a chord off the beat. Usually
played on piano or guitar.
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