1. The 4 Parameters of Sound
MUL World Music
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
15 January Day 5

2. “RHYTHM” 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])

3. Some Terms related to Rhythm
Beat
Accent
Meter (duple, triple) (simple, compound)
Measure
Tempo
Syncopation
Polyrhythm (Polymeters)

4. Some Examples Stars and Stripes Forever - John Philip Sousa - YouTube
The Blue Danube Waltz - Johann Strauss Jr - YouTube
Jethro Tull - Living In The Past 1969
Mission Impossible TV show theme song - YouTube
Ragtime Piano : SCOTT JOPLIN . " The Entertainer " (1902) - YouTube
Kaida, Rupak Tal - YouTube
Birds of Fire - Mahavishnu Orchestra - YouTube
West Side Story (4/10) Movie CLIP - America (1961) HD – YouTube
Bulgaria folklore, ruchenitsa – YouTube
Kopanitsa A La Turka – YouTube
The Rite of Spring - The Sacrifice - YouTube
Gregorian Chants from Assisi - Medieval Lauds - YouTube

5. Dynamics forte = “loud” (literally, “strong”) piano = “soft”
mezzo = “medium”
Levels: fff - ff - f - mf – mp – p – pp - ppp
crescendo = becoming louder
decrescendo = becoming softer (also, diminuendo)

6. The 4 Parameters of Sound
MUL World Music
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
15 January Day 5

7. PITCH Function of “frequency” (how many vibrations per second)
Usually described as “high” or “low”
Individual sound sometimes called a “note” (from the written symbol for a single sound)
Range of human hearing 20 – 20,000 Hz

8. Some Useful Terms related to Pitch
Interval – “distance” between 2 pitches
Octave – 2:1 ratio of frequency - What is an Octave - YouTube
Tonality – organization around home pitch
Tonic – the home pitch
Key – collection of pitches around a tonal center
Scale – set of pitches in ascending and descending order (scala [Ital.] = “ladder”) - Music Theory 101: Scales and Modes – YouTube - The Major Scale Formula: Lesson 1 Music Theory – YouTube - Understanding the Natural Minor Scale... - YouTube

9. Piano Keyboard & Great Staff

10. One Chromatic Octave