Chapter 3: Color, Texture, and Form

Dynamics: How loud or soft the music is Dynamics influence our reaction to music Terminology in Italian Changes in dynamics can be sudden and abrupt or gradual TermMusical SymbolDefinition FortissimoffVery loud FortefLoud Mezzo fortemfModerately loud Mezzo pianompModerately soft PianopSoft PianissimoppVery soft

ColorColor Color : the unique character or quality of a musical tone; also called Timbre Voice: Classified by range into 4 parts – Soprano, (Mezzo soprano), Alto, Tenor, (Baritone), Bass – Each individual voice has a distinct timbre due to our uniquely constructed vocal cords – When many voices join together, they form a chorus

Musical Instruments Why do they sound the way they do? – More than one sound is produced when an instrument is sounded Fundamental: the basic sound or pitch of an instrument Overtone: faintly-heard pitches, created by fractional vibrations when a notes is played on an instrument – Each type of instrument creates a distinctive pattern of overtones Instrument families have the same basic shape and are made of the same materials – Strings, woodwinds, brasses, percussion, keyboard

Strings Violin, Viola, Cello, Bass – Core of the Western symphony orchestra – Different string playing techniques Vibrato: A controlled wobble in the pitch Pizzicato: Plucking the strings rather than bowing Tremolo: Rapidly repeating the same pitch to create a musical tremor Trill: Rapidly alternating between two neighboring pitches

Harp: adds a distinctive color to the orchestra – Originally a folk instrument – Special effects Glissando: A rapid run up and down the strings Arpeggio: playing the notes of a triad in quick succession

Woodwinds Flute: Lovely, silvery tone – Piccolo: “little flute,” plays higher notes than the flute Clarinet: Single reed instrument; open, hollow sound Oboe: Double reed; nasal, slightly exotic sound – English horn: larger, lower sounding version of the oboe Bassoon: Double reed; has similar role as the cello – Contrabassoon: The lowest instrument of the orchestra Saxophone: Single reed instrument; featured in jazz groups

Brasses All use a cup-shaped mouthpiece Trumpet: High, bright sound – Mute: A plug placed in the bell of the instrument to lessen the sound Trombone: Uses a slide to change pitch French horn: Mellow sound; comes from hunting horns Tuba: largest and lowest brass instrument

Percussion Resonating objects that sound when hit or scraped Some percussion instruments are pitched – Timpani: percussion instrument most often heard in classical music Non-pitched percussion instruments: – Snare Drum, Bass drum, Cymbals

Keyboard Instruments Pipe organ: Sound produced by air rushing through a pipe Origins trace back to ancient Greece – Stop: Changes the sound, creating a distinctive timbre – “Pulling out all the stops” – creates the most colorful, forceful sound Has several keyboards, including one for the feet

Keyboard Instruments Harpsichord Most popular during the Baroque Era Strings are plucked, creating a bright, jangling sound Plays only one dynamic Piano Invented around 1700 Strings hit by hammers Dynamics determined by how hard or how softly you press the keys

The Symphony Orchestra The largest and most colorful ensemble Originated during the seventeenth century Early 18th century: musicians Late 18th century: musicians 19th century: around 100 musicians Around 1800, a conductor became necessary as ensembles expanded and pieces became more complex – Orchestral score: a composite of all the parts of a piece of music Listening Cue: Practice identifying instruments of the orchestra on CourseMate Listening Cue 5, 6, 7 and 8.

Texture Texture: the density and arrangement of musical elements Look at Vincent Van Gogh’s Branch of an Almond Tree in Blossom (1890) Van Gogh uses lines and spaces to create a texture heavy at the bottom but light at the top Use of different textures add contrast and interest

Three Primary Textures in Music Monophony: A single line of music, no accompaniment – Example: Singing “Happy Birthday” with our friends – Unison: a group sounding the same pitches together, including doubling at the octave Homophony: Melody and accompaniment – All voices move at roughly the same time – Draws attention to the melody – Example: Hymns, Christmas carols, folk songs, etc.

Polyphony: Two or more simultaneously sounding lines – Counterpoint: Harmonious opposition of independent musical lines – “Contrapuntal texture” and “Polyphonic Texture” mean the same thing – Example: Singing “Are You Sleeping” in a round

FORM Form: Purposeful organization of music – Musical Architecture Use of statement, repetition, contrast, and variation Statement: Presentation of an important musical idea Repetition: Validates the statement by repeating it Contrast: Provides variety and conflict Variation: Midway between repetition and contrast – Music is familiar but altered

Five Favorite Musical Forms Strophic Form: Song form where basic unit (A) is continually repeated: AA – Most familiar musical form; music repeats for each stanza of text Theme and Variations: One musical idea continually returns but is varied in some fashion: A A 1 A 2 A 3 A 4

Binary Form: Two contrasting units - A B – Variety introduced in the B section Ternary Form: Most prevalent form in classical music: A B A – Musical journey home - away – home

Rondo Form: A refrain (A) alternates with contrasting music. – Usually two contrasting sections in rondo (B) and (C)