1. Arts and Humanities Exit Exam
MUSIC REVIEW

2. Elements of Music
Rhythm
Tempo
Melody
Harmony
Form
Timbre
Dynamics

3. Rhythm The pattern of notes and rests Important Rhythm Terms
Syncopation
Placing emphasis on the weak or off beats
Meter
(AKA Time Signature)
3 Types
Simple: 4/4
Compound: 6/8
Asymmetrical: 5/4

4. Note and Rest Values Whole Note= 4 beats Half Note= 2 beats
Quarter Note= 1 beat
Eighth Note= ½ beat
Sixteenth Note= ¼ beat

5. Tempo The speed of the music Accelerando Ritardando Gradually speed up
Gradually slow down

6. Tempo Markings Largo Andante Moderato Allegro Presto Very slow
Walking speed
Moderato
Medium speed
Allegro
Fast tempo
Presto
Very fast

7. Melody The main part of the song that can be hummed by the listener
Key Signature
Sharps and flats the beginning of the music that show the scale on which the music is based.

8. Harmony Two or more notes sounded together Consonance Dissonance
Harmony that is pleasing to the listener
Dissonance
Harmony that is “harsh” to the listener

9. Form The way the music is organized Opera Forms Overture Aria
Introduction for operas and ballets
Aria
Song for solo voice that is very melodic in character
Recitative
Song sung in a speaking manner

10. Types of Forms AB ABA Call and Response Theme and Variations
2 contrasting sections
ABA
2 contrasting sections that repeats back to the 1st section
Call and Response
One group performs and another group echoes
Theme and Variations
Basic melody performed in a variety of ways

11. Timbre The unique characteristic of sound VOCAL TIMBRES Soprano Alto
High Female Voice
Alto
Low Female Voice
Tenor
High Male Voice
Bass
Low Male Voice

12. INSTRUMENT FAMILIES Woodwind Brass String Percussion
Flute, Clarinet, Saxophone, Oboe, Bassoon
Brass
Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba
String
Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Guitar
Percussion
Drums, Xylophone, Tambourine, Cymbals

13. Dynamics The loudness or softness of music Pianissimo (pp) Very Soft
Piano (p) Soft
Mezzo Piano (mp) Moderately Soft
Mezzo Forte (mf) Moderately Loud
Forte (f) Loud
Fortissimo (ff) Very Loud

14. Music Symbols
Staff
Treble Clef
Bass Clef
Sharp
Flat
Natural

15. Symbols, cont.
Crescendo
Decrescendo
Accent
Fermata
Coda

16. More symbols DC- Repeat to the beginning DS- Repeat to the sign
Fine-The End

17. Renaissance Period Most important composer He utilized the
Giovanni Palestrina
He utilized the
“counterpoint” system

18. Baroque Period Important Composers Fugue- An imitative style of
George Frederic Handel
Known for oratorios (“The Messiah”)
Johann Sebastian Bach
Cantatas for his church services
Fugue- An imitative style of
composition developed
during this period

19. Classical Period Important Composers Franz Josef Haydn
“The father of the Symphony”
Ludwig Van Beethoven
Most well known is his “5th Symphony”

20. Romantic Period Important Composers Richard Wagner Peter Tchaikovsky
Known for his operas
Ride of the Valkyries
The Flying Dutchman
Peter Tchaikovsky
Known for his ballets
The Nutcracker, Swan Lake,
Romeo & Juliet

21. Impressionism Claude Debussy Maurice Ravel Important Composers
Both composers incorporated symbolism into their music

22. Modern Period Jazz Music Improvisation
Combines spirituals, blues, and improvisation to create a new and unique style
Improvisation
To create music
spontaneously
(“on the spot”)

23. American Music George Gershwin
Incorporated Jazz elements into classical music
Rhapsody in Blue
An American in Paris

24. Aaron Copland Used American folk songs and ideas in his music
Appalachian Spring
Billy the Kid

25. Duke Ellington Helped shape jazz styles in American music
Take the A Train
Mood Indigo

26. Purposes of Music Ceremonial Artistic Recreational
Music for ceremonies and rituals
Star Spangled Banner, Wedding March
Artistic
Music used to express emotion
Ballet Music
Recreational
Music for Fun
Dance Music

27. The End (FINE)