Introduction to Music

Fundamentals of Music

• Definition of Music–Time ordered by sound

• Elements of Music1.Timbre2.Meter/Tempo3.Texture4.Context5.Emotion

Timbre

• Definition – The physical sound produced by instruments

• Categories of Instruments– Stringed–Woodwind– Brass– Percussion– Keyboard– Electronics– Voice

Meter• Meter – how individual beats are

grouped– Duple: Two or Four Beats– Triple: Three Beats (Usually dance

music)– Unmeasured: No perceptible beat

• Can you find the beat?

Duple or Triple Beats?

Tempo• Tempo – the relative speed of music

– Fast (Presto, Allegro, & Andante)– Slow (Adagio, Lento, & Largo)

• Is the music fast or slow?– Fast (Presto)

Tempo• Tempo – the relative speed of music

– Fast (Presto, Allegro, & Andante)– Slow (Adagio, Lento, & Largo)

• Is the music fast or slow?– Slow (Largo)

Tempo• Tempo – the relative speed of music

– Fast (Presto, Allegro, & Andante)– Slow (Adagio, Lento, & Largo)

• Is the music fast or slow?– Pretty Fast (Allegro)

Texture• Monophony “One Sound”

– A single unaccompanied melody

Texture• Polyphony “Many Sounds”

– Two or more simultaneous melodies

Texture• Homophony

– A single melody with accompaniment

Texture• Heterophony

– Different melodies create a single composite melody

– Rarely used in Western music

Context

Examples:• Most music of the middle ages was

commissioned by the church.• Beethoven wrote a song about

indigestion.• When Mozart wrote his music

several modern instruments weren’t invented yet and orchestras were much smaller.

• Lady Gaga is an alien.

Emotion• What feelings

or emotions do you have while listening to the piece?

• If this was in a movie, what action would it go with?

• How does this picture reflect the piece?