MUS 102

INTRODUCTION MUSIC LITERATURE AND LISTENING

 Introduction
 This course is an introduction to music literature focusing on listening experience.
Students study major forms of music literature, including
rich expression of music and music in the Middle Ages, Renaissance,
Baroque, Classical and Romantic eras as well as 20th century, jazz,
American music, rock and non-Western music.

 This course focuses on the skills and understanding required for a

lifetime listening experience.

 In this course we will explore and learn more about the history of music through
the ages as well as discuss the characteristics of music as defined in each period.
We will also learn each music style within a historical context.
 Schedule of Lessons
 Introduction. Elements of Music (1)
 Elements of Music (2)
 Elements of Music (3)
 Music of the middle ages
 Music of the Renaissance
 The Characteristic of Baroque Music & Composers and their Music
 The Characteristic of Classical Music & Composers and their Music
 Movie (Amadeus )
 The Characteristic of Romantic Music & Composers and their Music
 20th Century Music Styles (1900-1945) & their Music
 Jazz & Rock Music
 What is Music?
 Music and sound are different. Most of us will not think of the
unpleasant sound of a drill as music. But simply the unpleasant
sound is noise, and the pleasant sound can not be said to be music.
 Many people think that nature sounds are pleasant, such as raindrops, falling
leaves and streaming sound but does not call the music.
 Before we can call something music, we need to think about
the elements that make it up. In genera, we define music as
artificially crafted sounds to be heard by others.
 Elements of Music

Music is a complex art form composed of

various elements that work together to create
a cohesive and meaningful musical experi-
ence. The elements of music include:
Pitch, Rhythm, Melody, Tone Color, Harmon
y, Tempo, Dynamics, Form, Texture
 Musical Elements
Definitions
 PITCH: -
The highness or lowness of sound. There are a variety
of sounds in our world, from very low, to extremely
high.

RHYTHM:-
It is the “heartbeat of music”. It is the main beat we
hear or feel. It is made up of short sounds, longer sounds, as
well as varied lengths of silences.
 Musical Elements
Definitions - Continued
 TONE COLOR:
Also known as Timbre.
Unique sound of voices and instruments. Each
persons voice has a unique sound, singing and speaking.
Various musical instruments have particular sounds.
 Musical Elements
Definitions - Continued
 MELODY:- -
Tune of a piece of music. Melodies are
comprised of sets of
pitches, which our mind con-
ceives as a whole.

 HARMONY:-
Harmony is created when there are two or
more pitches sounded simultaneously.
 Musical Elements
Definitions - Continued
 TEMPO: -
Tempo is musical performance speeds. There
are a wide variety of paces for performance,
from extremely slow to extremely fast, plus
speeding up and slowing down
Tempo Marking words is flowing :
 Musical Elements
Tempo Markings(Speeds)

 Adagissimo……………………...As Slowly as Possible

 Adagio……………………………Very Slowly
 Lento………………………………Slowly
 Largo……………………………….Slowly and Majestically
 Andante…………………………..Moderately Slow
 Allegretto………………………...Moderately Fast
 Allegro…………………………….Fast
 Vivace…………………………… Fast and Lively
 Presto…………………………… Very Fast
 Prestissimo…………………………As fast as possible
 Accelerando……………………Gradually getting faster
 Ritardando……………………...Gradually getting slower
 Musical Elements
Dynamics Definition
 DYNAMICS:-

Dynamics refer to the variation in volume

or intensity of a musical performance. It involves the contrast
between loud and soft, and the changes in volume throughout
a piece of music. Dynamics contribute to the overall expres-
siveness and emotional impact of the music.
Dynamics (Musical Volume)
Term Abbreviation Meaning
Pianissimo pp Very soft
Piano P Soft
Mezzo piano mp Moderately soft
Mezzo forte mf Moderately loud
Forte f Loud
fortissimo ff Very loud

Symbol Term Meaning

> Decrescendo Gradually softer
< Crescendo Gradually louder

Example song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xsctgL7U_Dc

 Musical Elements
Definition
 FORM (Musical Structure):-
This explains how music is organized into sections. The structure of the
piece is an overall picture of how the piece progresses (in sections, using
repetition, phrase structure etc).

 Some common musical forms: Binary and Ternary Form

- Binary : A, B
- Ternary : A, B, A
- Rondo : A, B, A, C, A – For Example song for Elise
 Musical Elements
Music Form - Continued
 BINARY FORM:- 2-Part Form. Generally, AB Form. This means the
piece of music has 2 sections, with different elements, and no repetition
of either A or B.

 TERNARY FORM:_ 3-Part Form. Generally ABA Form. This means

the piece has 3 sections, with A returning after a new section B has been
included. A LOT of music has 3-Part Format, which we will examine
later. Some are Fugue Form, Sonata Form, Concerto Grosso Form, etc.
 Example for Binary & Ternary Music form
 Binary form Example song -
Row, Row, Row your boat, Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily, life is but a dream.

 Ternary form Example song - Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are.

Up above the world so high,

Like a diamond in the sky.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star,

How I wonder what you are!
 Musical Elements
Textures
 TEXTURE (Thickness or Thinness of Music):-It can be described as thin or
thick, and it can vary from simple to complex.
There are 3 types of Texture – MONOPHONIC, POLYPHONIC, and HOMO-
PHONIC.
• Monophonic:- One musical line, such as an unaccompanied solo singer, an un-
accompanied solo instrument (flute, trumpet, clarinet), performing.
• Polyphonic:- 2 or more musical lines occurring simultaneously, such as band or
orchestral music, choral music in many parts, duets, trios, quartets, quintets, etc.
• Homophonic:- Basically, melody and accompaniment, or., lead and back-up
singers (or instrumentalists). Usually, one prominent performance part with sub-
ordinate parts.
 VOCAL FAMILIES
 Firstly, there are 4 main Voice Types in Humans. They are as follows:-
• SOPRANO: Higher Female Voices
• ALTO/CONTRALTO: Lower female Voices
• TENOR: Higher Male Voices
• BASS: Lower Male Voices
 Now there are some in-between ranges in voices too, such as BARITONE (1st
Basses, who have voices lower than Tenors, but not really that low). Also,
 COUNTER-TENORS (rare voice type where some men can sing from Baritone
ranges all the way up Soprano ranges! Quite phenomenal!
 Vocal Ranges
 Vocal Performance types
 Vocal performance types can vary based on the style, technique, and con-
text in which they are performed. Here are some common vocal perfor-
mance types:
 Solo Performance: A solo performance features a single vocalist perform-
ing alone on stage without any accompaniment or with minimal instrumen-
tal backing.
 Choral Performance: A choral performance involves a group of singers,
known as a choir or chorus, performing together in harmony.
 Ensemble Performance: An ensemble performance involves a group of
vocalists singing together, often with instrumental accompaniment. Duet
 Vocal Performance types - Continued
 A Cappella Performance: An a cappella performance features vocal music per-
formed without instrumental accompaniment. It relies solely on the voices of
the singers to create harmonies, melodies, and rhythmic patterns. Quartet
Man Chorus
 Operatic Performance: Operatic performances involve trained singers perform-
ing in operas, which are dramatic productions combining singing, acting, and
stagecraft.
 Jazz Performance: Jazz vocal performances are characterized by improvisa-
tion, rhythmic flexibility, and expressive interpretations.
 Pop/Rock Performance: Pop and rock vocal performances are commonly seen
in popular music genres.
 Music Instruments

 Orchestra instruments are divided 4 families.

 Strings: such as guitar and violin

 Woodwind: such as flute and clarinet
 Brass: such as trumpet and trombone
 Percussion: such as bass drum and cymbals
 String Instruments
 The violin, viola, cello, and double bass form the symphony
orchestra’s string section.
 They vary in tone color as well as in size and range.
 The violin is the smallest and has the highest range.
 The double bass is the largest and has the lowest range. https
://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MP2_6OLummA
 Woodwind Instruments
 The woodwind instruments are so named because they were traditionally made of
wood. During the 20th century, however, piccolos and flutes came to be made of
metal.
 The sounds of woodwinds are generated by a vibrating air column in a tube.
 The main woodwind instruments of the symphony orchestra are arranged in four
families in approximate order of range from the highest range (piccolo) to the low-
est range (contrabassoon). These include:
 Flute Family: Piccolo, flute
 Clarinet Family: Clarinet, bass clarinet
 Oboe Family: Oboe, bass Oboe
 Bassoon Family: bassoon, contrabassoon
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KEt1Mm8sSkA
 Brass Instruments
 Brassinstruments are a family of musical instruments that produce
sound through the vibration of the player's lips against a cup-shaped
mouthpiece.
 Brass section are the trumpet, French horn, trombone, and tuba, Eupho-
nium, Cornet, Flugelhorn .
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yE0aSxziNdY
 Percussion Instruments
 Most percussion instruments are struck by hand, with sticks, or with ham-
mers, though some are shaken or rubbed.
 Percussion instruments of definite pitch produce tones
 Those of indefinite pitch produce noise like sounds

 Instruments with definite pitch : timpani, glockenspiel, xylophone, celesta,

chimes.
 Instruments with indefinite pitch ; snare drum, bass drum, tambourine, tri-
angle, cymbals, gong.
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGKpngesISI&t=6s
 Benjamin Britten – Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra
Percussion Instruments - Continued
 Keyboard Instruments
 The piano, harpsichord, organ and accordion are the best known
keyboard instruments.
 Beforethe introduction of the piano, the primary keyboard in-
struments were the harpsichord and the organ.
 The harpsichord is a string instrument that produces sound when
its strings are plucked by small quills. It was widely used during
the Baroque period and had a distinctive sound characterized by
its bright and clear tones. The harpsichord is known for its ability
to play multiple voices or lines simultaneously, making it suit-
able for both solo and ensemble performances
 Keyboard Instruments - Continued
 The Harpsichord: was important from about 1500 to 1775 as it was
gradually replaced by the piano. The Harpsichord was revived in
the 20th century. It is primarily used for performance of early music
and is used in some new works.
 The pipe organ was most prominent from 1600 to 1750. But it is still
in wide use today, particularly in religious services.
 It has a very wide range of pitch, dynamics, and tone color.
 Keyboard Instruments - Continued
 The organ, on the other hand, is a wind instrument that produces sound by
forcing air through pipes. It is a complex and versatile instrument with mul-
tiple keyboards or manuals, pedals, and a wide range of stops that control the
different sounds and tone colors. Organs are commonly found in churches
and cathedrals and are known for their grandeur and powerful sound.
 Both the harpsichord and the organ played important roles in the develop-
ment of keyboard music during their respective eras, and they contributed to
the rich repertoire of keyboard compositions written by composers from var-
ious periods. The introduction of the piano in the late 18th century revolu-
tionized keyboard music with its ability to vary dynamics and produce a
wider range of expressive possibilities.
 Keyboard Instruments -Continued
 The piano was invented around the 1700s and was mechanically perfected by
the 1850s.
 Pianos are exceptionally versatile. The 88 keys span more than 7 octaves.
 The dynamic range is very broad and the pianist can play many
notes at once, including a melody and its accompaniment.
 It is very versatile and can used in music ensembles as well as the symphony
orchestra
 In the piano, the hammer makes sound by striking each line, but the harpsi-
chord makes sound by plucking each line, so harpsichord was difficult to ex-
press the dynamics.
 INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES
 There are MANY types of Instrumental Ensembles. Here are a few:-
 SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA: Has Strings, Percussion, Brass and Woodwind
Instruments. Strings (violin, viola, cello and string-bass), are the largest group in
this ensemble.
 CONCERT BAND: Has Woodwind, Brass, Percussion, and sometimes a String-
Bass. Winds and Brass are the largest groups in this ensemble.
 JAZZ BAND: This varies, according to the situation. However, our Valley Jazz
has Brass (trumpets and trombones), Woodwinds (saxophones and occasionally
clarinets), Percussion (trap-set, electric keyboard, bass and rhythm guitars, and
string bass).
INSTRUMENTAL ENSEMBLES contin-
ued
 PIANO TRIO: Has 1 piano, 1, violin, and 1 cello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9HhvwWx1ius
 STRING QUARTET: Has 2 violins, 1 viola, and 1 cello
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=es_3F3TLJS0
 BRASS QUINTET: Has 2 trumpets, 1 French horn, 1 trombone, and 1 tuba
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZLaIxHPbgjo
 WOODWIND QUINTET: Has 2 flutes, 1 clarinet, 1 oboe, and 1 bassoon
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NQHHdUlBRvw