9-8 Reading

Assignment:

pp. 11-13 - entries on Meter, focusing specifically on understanding the concept of Nonmetrical, and Texture, focusing specifically on Monophony

pp. 15-16 - entry on Score

pp. 19-20 - entries on Tone Color/Timbre and Genre

pp. 53-54 - entry on Mass

p. 58-60 - entry on Plainchant

p. 65 - entry on Anonymous

Meter

Duple meter

• ex. 2/4, 2/8, 2/2
• accented, unaccented
• heavy, light
• Marches

Triple meter

• ex. 3/4, 3/8, 3/2
• Accented, unaccented, unaccented rythmn
• Heavy, light, light
• Waltzes & other dances

Quadruple meter

• 4/4, etc.
• Heavy, light, somewhat heavy, light
• Also called common time

Compound meter

• A recurring pattern of accented/unaccented beats that repeats in a way that can be perceived as either duple or triple
• Ex. silent night (fast: duple, slow: triple)

Non-metrical

• Doesn't have a recurring pattern of beats or meter
• Ex. Gregorian chant

Mixed Meter

• When a song has one meter & then shifts to another

Irregular meter

• When a meter is not divisible by 2 or 3

Texture

Texture is the means by which melody, harmony, and rhythm are combined in a composition.

Monophony

• A single melody line with no harmony
• For example, whistling or singing in the shower

Homophony

• A prominent melody enhanced/supported by other musical material, like chords
• For example, hymns and patriotic songs

Polyphony

• Two or more melody lines that are equal in importance.
• Two subcategories:
  • Imitative polyphony: a line of melody that gets "echoed"
  • Non-imitative polyphony: each line has it's own separate, contrasting melody

Score

Used to describe a printed piece of music.

Tone color/timbre

• Is different than mood
• Describes the quality of sound
• Affected by the way vibrations are created
• Could be smooth, harsh, nasal, mellifluous, toad-like

Mass

• At first mostly monophonic plainchants
• Half-way through the Middle Ages, organa also became popular
• Typically a capella
• Many different musical numbers within mass, but not connected like movements

Plainchant

• Also known as Gregorian chant, plainsong, or chant
• Monophonic
• Nonmetrical
• Church modes
• Latin text
• Types of plainchant:
  • Recitation: one pitch is used with small deviations. monotonous but calming.
  • Responsory: one singer sings a phrase of music and the rest of the singers repeat
  • Nonresponsory: no call and response effect
• A Capella
• Only really composed in the Middle Ages

Anonymous

• In the middle ages, many composers remained anonymous for religious reasons - they wanted to glorify God, not themselves.
• In secular music, some composers felt like composing put them at a lower status level, so they remained anonymous.