NAME: SEAN QUINN DECV NO: 89273

WEEK 1 TASK 1 – ELEMENTS

In this task, sort out the list of musical terms/phrases to match appropriate elements.

Take each term in the lower and place it beside what you think is the appropriate element. Each element
should have a number of terms beside it. We have put in one item to get you going….

ELEMENTS TERMS
Melody Large intervals, mainly high notes, arch-like shape, small range.

Harmony Simple chords, complex chords, fast rate of harmonic change, repeated harmonic pattern.

Tonality Lydian mode, modulation, based on non-western scales, major key.

Rhythm, Metre, 3/4 time, fast tempo, much use of silence, syncopated, strong beat.

Tempo

Form ABA, bridge passage, verse-chorus form, repeated section, introduction.

Texture Mutli-layered, blended layers of sound, role of the bass line.

Instrumentation Orchestra, saxophone and piano, synthesizer, alto and soprano voices.

Tone Colour Mellow sound of horn section, bright sound of the piccolo, muted strings, distortion, sparce.

Articulation Accented notes, mainly short notes, legato, strong attack, staccato.

Dynamics Becoming louder, suddenly very loud, very quiet.

TERMS FOR SORTING

becoming louder, accented notes, many high notes, simple chords, mainly short notes, mellow
sound of horn section, ABA, modulation, notes smoothly joined together (legato), much use of
silence, arch-like shape, bridge section, Lydian mode, multi-layered with many independent lines,
Major key, small range, blended layers of sound, orchestra, strong beat, fast rate of harmonic
change, saxophone and piano, ¾ time signature, role of the bass line, introduction, complex
chords, muted strings, syncopated, distortion, repeated section, bright sound of the piccolo,
separated notes (staccato), verse-chorus form, large intervals, alto and soprano voices, based
on non-western scales , suddenly very loud, repeated harmonic pattern, large intervals, fast
tempo, sparse, synthesizer, strong attack, very quiet
WEEK 1 TASK 2 – P I AN O E X TR AC TS

We want you to listen closely to each, concentrating on the way each piece can be described as a
whole. How are the elements of music treated?

Below is a series of statements describing the two separate extracts.

For these two extracts, two alternative comments about aspects of the track are listed next to each
other.

You need to simply check which comment in each pair is the BEST description for the extract.

PI ANO EXTRACT 1

□ Clear distinction between melody and

accompanying harmony
OR □ Melody and accompanying harmony move
together in blocks

□ Melody is in lower register OR □ Melody is in higher register

□ Accompaniment (left hand) uses simple

continuous "broken chords"
OR □ Accompaniment uses solid blocks chords

□ Harmonic make-up is simple using triadic

chords
OR □ Harmonic make up uses rich and sometimes
extended chords with tense dissonance

□ The music has no audible form and grows

out of new ideas added throughout
OR □ The Music is clearly structured with clear
sections

□ The tempo is largely constant with

occasional slowing at section ends
OR □ The tempo is left to the performer and is
erratic

□ There is evidence of slight variations being

used on repeated material
OR □ No ideas are repeated
PIANO EXTRACT 2

□ The tempo is often changing OR □ There is a constant, even pulse

There are shifts between simple melodic

□ Melody is a clearly separate entity with
harmonic accompaniment
OR □ figures, often unaccompanied, and full
chords

The harmonic make-up shows evidence of

□ extended chords beyond simple triads that OR □ The chords are always simple and follow
logical progressions
move in unexpected ways

□ There are clearly defined sections of even

length
OR □ The music has no simple audible form and
grows out of new ideas added throughout

□ The music stays at one dynamic level

(volume) throughout
OR □ There is much dynamic difference between
ideas

□ A very limited range of the piano is used OR □ The entire range of the piano is used

□ Sudden changes in texture and dynamics

are used for dramatic effect
OR □ There is a consistency in mood throughout

□ There is evidence of small, motivic ideas that

can repeat
OR □ No ideas are repeated