Syllabus Quiz  1. T or FA student should not have an understanding of composers and compositions at the end of the term.  2. T or F 90% of your grade is test scores.  3. How will acts of dishonest be handled?  4. There are 3 course requirements which one of these is not a requirement:  1. Take good class notes.  2. Attend and participate in class.  3. Bring a laptop.  4. Complete assignments/exams as scheduled.

Sound: Pitch, Dynamics, and Tone Color

Overview  Development of Sound  1. Begins with the vibration of an object.  2. Vibrations are transmitted to our ears by a medium.  3. Eardrums vibrate and impulses are sent to the brain.  4. Brain organizes and interprets.  Sounds surround us  Listening to others  Tells us how others think and feel.  Sound can be pleasant or unpleasant  Humans shut out most sounds  John Cage ( ) composition 4’33”  Silence  Absence of sound is just as important as sound  Musical Sounds- 4 properties  Pitch, Dynamics, Tone Color and Duration

Pitch  Pitch: Highness or Lowness of Sound  Determined by the frequency of vibrations.  Measured in Hertz  Faster = higher  Slower = lower  Length/size of instruments is also an influence  Tone: A sound with a definite pitch.  Specific frequency = B Flat  Irregular frequency = Cymbals or Concert Bass Drum

Pitch - continued  Interval: Distance between two pitches  Octave: C – C “Star Spangled Banner”  First and last tones of a scale  Pg. 5 piano chart/Solfege  Scale: collection of 7 pitches  Basis in western civilization for centuries  5 pitches added later (black keys)

Pitch - continued  Pitch range/range: distance between the lowest and highest tones that a voice or instrument can produce.  Average range of human voice is 1 to 2 octaves  Men and women singing the same melody usually sing an octave apart  Piano range – 7 octaves

Pitch Review  video

Dynamics  Dynamics: degree of loudness or softness in music.  Related to the amplitude of the vibration created.  How hard a string is plucked or how fast air is pushed.  Dynamic changes can occur suddenly or gradually.  Can create excitement or affect the mood  Written in the music or just expressed by musician  Notation is not always precise  Emphasis of a certain tone: accent

Dynamics - continued  Notation:

Tone Color  Tone Color or Timbre: Quality of Sound  Described as bright, dark, brilliant, mellow and rich.  Changes in tone create contrast.  Created by: passing melody between instruments, varying the number of instruments used, electrical influences, or adaptation to traditional instruments.

Listening Outlines, Vocal Music Guides, and the Properties of Sound  Difficult to apply terms without actually listening.  Listening outline:  Describes musical sound  Vocal Music Guide  Relationship between words and music  Look at guides before listening!!!

Lohengrin, Prelude to Act III (1848) by Richard Wagner  Genre: Opera  Musical Characteristics: dynamic contrast through layering of instrumentation  Instruments: vocals, flute, oboe, bassoon, French horn, trombone, tuba, timpani, triangle, cymbal, tambourine, violin, viola, cello, and bass.  Emotions: Exultation  Story Line: setting the scene of the wedding of the hero and heroine

Prelude in C Minor for Piano, Op. 28 No. 20 (1839) “Funeral March” by Frederic Chopin  Genre: Sonata  Musical Characteristics: dynamic contrast created by a single instrument, chordal  Instruments: piano  Emotions: emotional progression, sadness

The Firebird, Scene 2 (1910) by Igor Stravinsky  Genre: Ballet  Musical Characteristics: repeats one melody over and over, dynamics increase in volume then a sudden drop  Instruments: Piccolo, flute, oboe, English horn, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, contrabassoon, French horn, trumpets, tuba, timpani, cymbals, bass drum, harps, violin, viola, cello, bass.  Story Line: hero triumphs and is introduced to a princess

C-Jam Blues (1942) by Duke Ellington  Genre: Blues  Musical Characteristics: solos improvised by players- heard alone and then with accompaniment, mutes are used, full band not heard until the end  Instruments: Piano, violin, trumpet, trombone, clarinet, alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, bari saxophone, guitar, bass, percussion.

REVIEW YOUR NOTES NOW FIVE MINUTES!!!!

On a separate piece of paper answer the following questions:  1. What are Dynamics?  2. What is Tone Color?  3. What are the 4 properties of musical sounds?  4. What is range?  5. Vibrations are measured in?