1. Music Terminology (continued)
MUL World Music
Music Terminology (continued)
Be able to define, explain, use in a sentence, etc. NB. My definitions. Most of these are not in the Textbook.
22 January Day 5

2. The 4 Parameters of Sound
PITCH = the frequency of vibration (heard as “high” vs. “low”)
DURATION = the length of time a sound lasts (heard as aspects of rhythm)
TIMBRE = tone color (the source of the sound, i.e., instrument, voice, other)
DYNAMICS = Loudness/Softness

3. “RHYTHM” (“Duration”)
From a Greek word (“rhythmos”) that means “flow”
Refers to all temporal (durational) elements in a piece of music
“The organization of time in music, dividing up long spans of time into smaller, more easily comprehended units” (Craig Wright [Yale U])
Best noticed and observed by physical movement, e.g., tapping, clock hand, etc.

4. Some Terms related to Rhythm
Beat
- regular, unchanging pulse (heard or felt)
Accent
- emphasis placed on a beat (louder/stronger)
Meter
- measurement of time in equal units
Meter can be…
- duple, triple, or “other” (mixed, additive, etc.)
- simple (one level) or compound (two levels)

5. More terms for Rhythm Measure Tempo Syncopation
- One “unit” of meter (one group of beats)
Tempo
- The “speed” of the beat
Syncopation
- An unexpected accent (usually on a weak beat)
Polyrhythm (or Polymeters)
- different meters simultaneously
- also mixing different meters successively

6. Interesting Bulgarian Dance Rhythms
MUL World Music
12/21/2019
Interesting Bulgarian Dance Rhythms
“Ruchenitsa” (Folk dance from Bulgaria) - Bulgaria folklore, ruchenitsa – YouTube
(7 = 2+2+3)
“Kopanitsa” (Western Bulgarian “line” dance) - Kopanitsa A La Turka – YouTube
(11 = )
Don Ellis (U.S. Jazz) – “Bulgarian Bulge” - Don Ellis - Bulgarian Bulge (1971) – YouTube
(33/16 & 25/16 meter)
22 January Day 5

7. OK GO, “Needing/Getting”
Superbowl XLVI (Giants/Patriots, 2012) - Chevrolet Sonic Commercial
“Needing / Getting” (audio, released 2010)
Official Video: “Needing / Getting” (2012) - Chevrolet financed ($ 500K to $ 1 million) - 2-mile track, computer programmed - 1,100 homemade instruments (55 pianos, 288 guitars, 66 amplifiers, etc.)
See OK/GO Videography for list of more videos by this band

8. The 4 Parameters of Sound
PITCH = the frequency of vibration (heard as “high” vs. “low”)
DURATION = the length of time a sound lasts (heard as aspects of rhythm)
TIMBRE = tone color (the source of the sound, i.e., instrument, voice, other)
DYNAMICS = Loudness/Softness

9. Some Useful Terms related to Pitch
Interval – “distance” between 2 pitches (actually the ratio of frequencies/vibrations) - How to Understand Music Intervals (What are Intervals?)
Octave – 2:1 ratio of frequency - What is an Octave?
Tonality – organization around home pitch - The Difference Between Tonal & Atonal Music
Tonic – the home pitch - Tonic (and Dominant Chords)
Key – collection of pitches around a tonal center
Scale – set of pitches in ascending and descending order (scala [Ital.] = “ladder”) - What is the Difference Between "Scale" and "Key"?

10. Piano Keyboard & Great Staff
C major Scale for Piano

11. One Chromatic Octave
Chromatic Scale

12. Western Scale types Use only 7 of 12 available pitches
Series of whole and half steps
Major – W-W-1/2-W-W-W-1/2 (sounds “bright,” “cheery,” “optimistic”)
Minor – W-1/2-W-W-1/2-W-W (sounds “dark,” “somber,” “sinister”)
Diatonic (major or minor) - The difference between Major & Minor Scales - Class Notes: Major and Minor -- What's the Difference?
Chromatic (uses all 12 notes) - Chromatic Scales: Music Theory - YouTube

13. Harmony (Some Useful terms)
Chord – 2 or more simultaneous pitches
Triad – 3-note chord (1-3-5 in a western scale)
Tonic – the home pitch (name of “key”)
Consonant / Consonance – “pleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective)
Dissonant / Dissonance – “unpleasant” combinations of sounds (subjective)
Exs. - Musical Consonance & Dissonance Explained... - Consonance and Dissonance 1 - Consonance and Dissonance 2