AURAL SKILLS ASSESSMENT TASK 2 Question 2 THE CONCEPTS OF MUSIC General Knowledge

Question 2 tests your general knowledge of the concepts of music. Study the booklet posted on Moodle to prepare for this question: ‘MUSIC 1 AURAL CONCEPTS HSC STUDENT STUDY MANUAL’

DURATION

1. Give a definition of Duration.

Definition: Duration relates to the flow of music in time, how long it takes, the types of notes/patterns used and the speed at which it moves.

2. Time signatures divide into two categories. What are they? Explain the difference and give examples.

Simple and Compound are the two categories. Simple time subdivides into 2’s. Compound time subdivides into 3’s

2. Time signatures divide into two categories. What are they? Explain the difference and give examples. Simple Duple is 2/4 2 quarter notes per bar – 2 crotchets 4 eighth notes per bar -4 quavers 8 sixteenth notes per bar – 8 semiquavers

2. Time signatures divide into two categories. What are they? Explain the difference and give examples. Compound Duple is 6/8 2 Dotted quarter notes per bar – 2 dotted crotchets 6 eighth notes per bar -6 quavers 12 sixteenth notes per bar – 12 semiquavers

3. What is syncopation?

Syncopation is where a weaker beat within the metre is accented.

4. What is ostinato?

Ostinato is where a motif or phrase is persistently repeated in the same musical voice.

5. How can duration relate to the other concepts of music?

 What is the rhythm of the melody?  Which instrument plays each rhythmic pattern?  How does the tempo affect the rhythm?  How does the rhythm fit into the texture?  What are the dynamics of the rhythm?

PITCH

1. Give a definition of Pitch.

Definition: Pitch refers to the ‘highness’ & ‘lowness’ of sound. The concept of ‘pitch’ has an included subgroup Harmony.

2. What is contour in terms of melody?

Contour is the shape or outline of a melody.

3. What aspects of pitch should be considered in terms of the contour of a melody? List six aspects and explain them briefly.

3.  Movement by Steps (scale like)=Conjunct  Movement by Leaps (intervals)=Disjunct  Ascending/Descending  Similar Motion – moving in the same direction  Contrary Motion - moving in opposite directions  Oblique Motion – one voice does not move, others move.

STRUCTURE

1. Give a definition of Structure.

Definition: How the piece is constructed and how it is divided into sections or parts to create a unified whole.

2. In terms of structural analysis what four points should be considered?

 Repetition of themes or motifs  Development of themes or motifs  Old material vs new material  Label the themes e.g: A, B, A1, C, etc.

3. What is binary form?

Binary is two part form. A B

4. What is ternary form? Binary is two part form. A B

4. What is ternary form? Ternary form is three part form. A B A

5. What is rondo form? Rondo from consists of the repetition of a section interspersed with new sections. A B A C A D A etc

6. What is unity and how is it achieved in terms of structure? Rondo from consists of the repetition of a section interspersed with new sections. A B A C A D A etc

6. What is unity and how is it achieved in terms of structure. Unity is a sense of sameness or belonging to the one thing, ie: choosing the musical materials which make the individual sections sound as if they belong to the one piece. Eg: Development of motifs. Unity is mainly achieved through repetition.

7. What is contrast and how is it achieved in terms of structure.

Contrast is showing differences or opposites in the mood or character of the music (as they apply in any of the elements/concepts). Eg: loud vs soft, long notes vs short notes, polyphonic texture vs homophonic texture. Contrast is mainly achieved through variation.

TEXTURE

1. Give a definition of texture.

Definition: Texture refers to the layers of sound in a composition.

2. Name the four main textures in music and give a brief description of each.

 Monophonic – a single melodic line, one layer.

2. Name the four main textures in music and give a brief description of each.  Monophonic – a single melodic line, one layer.  Homophonic – melody and accompaniment, two or more layers.

2. Name the four main textures in music and give a brief description of each.  Monophonic – a single melodic line, one layer.  Homophonic – melody and accompaniment, two or more layers.  Polyphonic – two or more independent melodies combined in counterpoint, two or more layers.

2. Name the four main textures in music and give a brief description of each.  Monophonic – a single melodic line, one layer.  Homophonic – melody and accompaniment, two or more layers.  Polyphonic – two or more independent melodies combined in counterpoint, two or more layers.

2. Name the four main textures in music and give a brief description of each.  Monophonic – a single melodic line, one layer.  Homophonic – melody and accompaniment, two or more layers.  Polyphonic – two or more independent melodies combined in counterpoint, two or more layers.  Heterophonic – the same melody ornamented and embellished differently in two or more voices, two or more layers.

DYNAMICS & EXPRESSIVE TECHNIQUES

1. What is forte?

1.What is forte? Loud

2.What is piano? Soft

1.What is forte? Loud 2.What is piano? Soft 3.What is crescendo?

1.What is forte? Loud 2.What is piano? Soft 3.What is crescendo? Getting louder

1.What is forte? Loud 2.What is piano? Soft 3.What is crescendo? Getting louder 4.What is diminuendo? Getting softer

5. What is staccato?

5. What is staccato? Play the note short

6.What is legato?

5. What is staccato? Play the note short 6.What is legato? Join the notes.

TIMBRE

1. Give a definition of timbre.

Definition: Timbre refers to the quality & ‘colour’ of sound created by various combinations of instruments/vocals etc.

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each.

Chordophones, String sounds – plucked or bowed in various ways.

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each. Aerophones, Reed sounds – single or double reeds Wind sounds – recorders, flutes Brass sounds – including various mutes Vocal sounds – not just singing e.g. growls, whistles, chanting, melisma, diction, glottal stops, portamento

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each. Electrophones Electronic sounds

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each. Idiophones Percussion sounds – anything struck or hit

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each. Membranophones Percussion – or just an instrument with a vibrating skin stretched over it e.g. djembe drum

2. List six main classifications of timbre and give a brief description of each. Metalaphones Instruments made from metal