Moffat Academy Understanding NATIONAL 5 Revision Booklet Helpful Websites Type the following into Google and click the first result: NQMusic Also try Learn Listening Online and Music Listening Revision Important concepts you need to know Homophonic – Texture - all parts move at same time or melody with accompaniment – same rhythms at the same time.
Polyphonic – Texture 2 or more parts with different rhythms - weave independently of each other. Like Contrapuntal Legato – Notes played long and smooth Staccato – Notes played short and detached Ostinato/Riff - Repeated pattern of Sequence – Pattern of notes repeated higher or lower Repetition – Musical idea heard more than once. Imitation –The melody is immediately copied in another part. Unison – Same notes at the same time. Harmony – Different notes at the same time. Anacrusis – Tune starts before the first beat of the bar. Think “happy” in happy birthday. Syncopation – Strongly accented playing off or against the beat. Will sound more jumpy. Symphony – Piece for whole orchestra, no main solo instrument. Concerto – Piece for soloist and orchestra Cadenza – passage for soloist to show off, sounds made up – improvised. A capella – Unaccompanied – no accompanying instruments. Melismatic – More than one note per syllable.
Syllabic – One note per syllable. Major – Happy, positive sounding. Minor – Sad, scary, tense sounding. Atonal – Not major or minor – uses dissonance – doesn’t sound nice. Forms - Binary – 2 sections – A & B Ternary – 3 sections A B A Rondo – Lots of sections with A repeated eg. A – B – A – C–A – D Theme & Variations – Main theme is played and then changed in a different way each variation eg. put into minor key, notes added to tune, different beats in a bar. Minuet & Trio - dance with 3 beats in a bar. Alberti bass - Broken chords played by the left hand on the piano. Low - high – middle – high. Walking Bass – Notes move on every beat. Ground Bass - A theme in the bass which is repeated many times while the higher parts change. Broken chord – Notes of the chord played separately. Vamp – Boom cha accompaniment. Bass note then chord.
Melody Harmony Rhythm Tempo Instruments and how they are used Dynamics Repetition Sequence Imitation Modulation Chords/ Discords Broken Chords Suspensions Scales: Major/Minor, Chromatic, Pentatonic Question & Answer Glissando Homophonic/ Polyphonic Ornaments: trill, grace notes Legato /Staccato Unison/Harmony Melismatic/ Syllabic Syncopation Repetition Ostinato Anacrusis Beats in a bar / Time Signature: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, Simple Time 6/8 – Compound Time Allegro – Fast Adagio – Slow Andante – walking pace Moderato – moderate Speed Changes: Accelerando – faster Rallentando – slower Rubato – with freedom Dotted Rhythms Scotch Snap – Trumpet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba Woodwind – Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Bassoon, Saxophone, Recorder Strings – Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Harp Percussion – Xylophone, Glockenspiel, Timpani, Triangle, Snare Drum, Drumkit, Bass Drum, Tambourine, Castanets Keyboard – Piano, Synthesizer, Harpsichord, Organ, Celeste Voices – Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Alto, Counter Tenor, Tenor, Baritone, Bass Guitars – Electric, Acoustic, Bass, Banjo Solo, Melody, Countermelody Accompaniment, Chords, Broken Chords Glissando, Arpeggios Arco – bowed, Grace notes, ornaments Muted, Pizzicato - plucked Col Legno – wood of bow, Double Stopping Female: Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Alto Male: Tenor, Baritone, Bass Countertenor – high like a woman. Solo; Accompaniment; Melody; Countermelody pp – pianissimo – very quiet p – piano – quiet. mp – mezzo piano – moderately quiet. mf – mezzo forte – moderately loud. f – forte – loud. ff – fortissimo – very loud Changes of dynamic crescendo – getting louder diminuendo – getting quieter.
Question 4: Multiple Choice – 8 Question 5: - 4 Marks Tick one box from each section. Question 6: Fill in the missing words – 3 Marks Question 7: - 4 - Reason Question: Multiple choice plus write reason for answer. Question 8: - 5 Marks Write about the prominent features you hear in the music. Fill out this box then transfer it to the lines on the next page. rhythm/tempo melody/harmony Instruments/voices and how they are used dynamics