Johnstone High School Understanding Music 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
Contents: Page 1 National 5 Concept Dictionary 2 2 Concept Groupings: Tempos & Dynamics 5 Instruments & How they are played 6 Styles & Ensembles 7 Scottish & Vocal 8 Tonality, Structure, Texture, Periods, Effects, Scales & Word Setting 9 3 Literacy 10 4 National 3 & 4 Concepts 12 5 Exam Paper Layout & Questions 14
1. NATIONAL 5 CONCEPT DICTIONARY Category Concept Melody / Harmony Definition Atonal Music which has no feeling of key, major or minor. It is very dissonant and lacks a nice melody and accompaniment. Chord Progression (I, IV, V, VI) A series of related chords. At N5 level, these chords are built on the 1 st, 4 th, 5 th and 6 th notes of a major or minor scale. Chords C Major (CEG), G Major (GBD), F Major (FAC) & A Minor (ACE) Chromatic Notes which ascend or descend consecutively in intervals of semitones. Cluster A group of notes which clash when played together. Contrary Motion Two parts which move in opposite directions, e.g. as one part ascends the other descends. Countermelody A second melody played alongside the main melody, with the two of them fitting together with different tunes. Descant A countermelody which accompanies and is sung above the main melody, often during hymns. Flat An accidental which lowers the note by a semitone e.g. A to Ab. Glissando Sliding from one note to another, taking in all the notes in between, where possible. Grace Note A type of ornament, played as a quick, crushed note before the main note of a melody. Imperfect Cadence Two chords at the end of a phrase, the last being chord V (the dominant), making it sound unfinished. Inverted Pedal A note which is held on or repeated continuously at a high pitch, while other music goes on underneath. Key signatures C Major & A Minor (no #/b), G Major (1 - f#), F Major (1 Bb) Melismatic A type of word setting where several notes sung to one syllable. Modulation When the music changes key. Natural An accidental which removes any other accidental by raising or lowering a note by a semitone e.g. F# lowers a semitone to F natural, Gb raises a semitone to G natural. Perfect Cadence Two chords at the end of a phrase, specifically the dominant to tonic chords (chord V chord I), making the phrase sound finished. Pitch bend Changing the pitch of a note slightly, e.g. by plucking a string on a guitar then pulling the pressed fretboard string downwards or upwards. Semitone A distance of half a tone, e.g. B to B b or F to G on a keyboard, or from one fret to the next on guitar. Sharp An accidental which raises the note by a semitone e.g. C to C#. Syllabic A type of word setting in vocal music where each syllable is given one note only. Tone A distance of two semitones between two notes, e.g. from B to A or F to F # on a keyboard, or two frets on a guitar. Trill Moving quickly and repeatedly between two notes which are a step apart. Whole tone scale A scale built entirely on whole tones. It uses no semitones, e.g. C, D, E, F #, G #, A # (B b ), C.
Category Concept Rhythm / Tempo Category Concept Texture / Structure / Form Definition 1 st & 2 nd time bars Directions to the performer to repeat a phrase with an alternative ending. Compound time The beat is divided into groups of three, e.g. 6/8, 9/8, 12/8. Cross rhythms Contrasting rhythms played at the same time or played with unusual emphasis on notes. Dotted crotchet A note lasting 1½ beats:. Dotted quaver A note lasting ¾ of a beat:. Dotted rhythms A rhythm made up of dotted notes. For example, a scotch snap. Moderato A medium tempo (speed). Ritardando The music slows down. Rubato A rhythmic feature, known as robbed time. The tempo is flexible to allow the music to speed up and slow down in order to provide more expression. Romantic music often uses rubato. Scotch Snap A very short accented note before a longer note, e.g. semiquaver followed by a dotted quaver. Definition Alberti bass Broken chords played on piano by the left hand, outlining harmonies, whilst the right hand plays the melody. Binary AB A form in which the music is made up of two different sections, called A and B. Coda A passage at the end of a piece of music which effectively brings it to a finish. Contrapuntal Texture with two or more parts, each of which has an interesting and independent melodic line. It is similar in meaning to polyphonic. Episode A passage of music linking two musical themes, such as in Rondo Form Ground bass Often used in the Baroque period, a theme in the bass which is repeated many times, while the upper parts vary. Homophonic A texture where all the parts play or sing a similar rhythm at the same time. Polyphonic Texture where two or more melodic lines, possibly of equal importance, weave independently to each other. Rondo ABACA A form in which the first section (A) keeps returning in between different sections (B, C etc.) Strophic A form in which a song has the same music in verses/choruses. Most songs are in strophic form. Walking bass A bass line (low notes), often featured in a variety of jazz styles. It is regular in rhythm and moves up and down a pattern of notes and is often played on a double bass or bass guitar. Category Concept Aria Styles Bothy Ballad Celtic Rock Chorus Classical Gaelic Psalm Gospel Indian Minimalist Pibroch Symphony Waulking Song Definition A solo song sung in an operatic style, in an opera, oratorio or cantata, with orchestral accompaniment. A folk song from North-East Scotland, sung with the local dialect and usually with many verses (strophic). A style of music that mixes Celtic folk with rock music. Music sung by a group of singers or the refrain between verses of a song. Music composed during the years 1750-1810 approximately; the era of Haydn, Mozart and Beethoven. Unaccompanied psalms (hymns) sung in Gaelic. One singer usually begins, with the congregation joining in afterwards. Songs written with religious lyrics, often in praise or thanksgiving to God. Music from India which uses instruments such as the sitar and tabla. A style created in the second half of the 20 th century, based on simple rhythmic and melodic figures which are constantly repeated with very slight changes each time. Music for solo bagpipes, in theme and variation form and with grace notes. A large work for orchestra, usually in four movements. A traditional rhythmic song, sung in Gaelic by the women in the Western Isles of Scotland while they waulked woollen cloth to soften and shrink it.
Category Concept Timbre / Dynamics A capella Arco Baritone Con sordino Flutter tonguing Fortissimo (ff) Mezzo Soprano Pianissimo (pp) Pizzicato Reverb Rolls Sfortzando (French) Horn Bassoon Bodhran Bongo Drums Castanets Clarsach Cymbals Hi-hat Oboe Piccolo Sitar Tabla Tuba Viola Definition Unaccompanied singing. Instruction given to string players to use a bow. A male voice whose range lies between that of bass and tenor. Muted using a device to muffle and change the sound normally produced on an instrument. An effect created by rolling your r s whilst playing a brass or woodwind instrument. A dynamic volume instructing the performer to play very loudly. A female singer whose voice range lies between that of a soprano and an alto. A dynamic volume instructing the performer to play very quietly. An instruction given to string players to pluck the strings instead of using the bow. It is abbreviated as pizz. An electronic effect which can give the impression of different hall acoustics. Some electric guitar amplifiers include a reverb effect. A very fast repetition of a note on a percussion instrument, e.g. on a snare drum or timpani. A dynamic volume instructing the performer to suddenly play very loudly. A brass instrument which has four metres of curled metal tubing and a bellshaped opening for the sound to exit. To produce a sound, a player blows air through the mouthpiece while vibrating their lips. A low-sounding woodwind instrument which has a double reed. An Irish wooden drum which is held in one hand and played with a wooden beater. A percussion instrument which has two fairly high-pitched drums joined in a pair and usually played with the fingers and palms of the hands. A wooden or plastic untuned percussion instrument, popular in Spanish music. A small Scottish harp, used in folk music. Clarsach is Gaelic for harp. Used as part of a drum kit, two cymbals (one upside-down) that can be hit with a stick or brush and/or opened/closed with a foot pedal. A woodwind instrument with a double reed. A sound is produced when air vibrates between the two reeds. A woodwind instrument which looks like a half-sized flute. It is played in the same way and sounds an octave higher than a standard flute. A plucked Indian guitar. Indian drums, often used to accompany the sitar. The largest sized and lowest sounding brass instrument. To produce a sound, a player blows air through the mouthpiece while vibrating their lips. A string instrument which looks very similar but is slightly bigger in size and lower in pitch than the violin. It can be played with a bow or by plucking the strings.
2. CONCEPT GROUPINGS TEMPOS SPEEDS Tempo Allegro Moderato Andante Adagio Accelerando Rallentando / Ritardando Rubato A tempo Meaning Fast Moderate tempo Walking Pace Slow Gradually getting faster Gradually getting slower Robbed or borrowed time speeding up or slowing down to suit the mood of the piece. To return to the original tempo. DYNAMICS LOUDS & QUIETS Dynamic Italian English meaning pp Pianissimo Very quiet p Piano Quiet mp Mezzo-piano Moderately quiet mf Mezzo-forte Moderately loud f Forte Loudly ff Fortissimo Very loudly cresc. Crescendo Gradually getting louder dim. Diminuendo Gradually getting softer sfz. Sforzando Suddenly getting loud
INSTRUMENTS & HOW THEY ARE PLAYED Instruments Playing Technique Strings Violin Acoustic Guitar Arco Bowed Viola Electric Guitar Pizzicato Plucked Cello Bass Guitar Strumming Drawing fingers or a Double Bass Harp plectrum across the strings Woodwind Piccolo Clarinet Blown - Air is blown through Flute Bassoon instrument to produce sound Oboe Saxophone Flutter Tonguing - Rolling an R while Panpipes Recorder blowing a note. Brass Trumpet Trombone Con Sordino - Muted - creating a quieter French Horn Tuba and softer sound than normal Percussion Untuned Percussion: Snare Drum Bodhran Drum kit Striking - Hitting - sound produced by Bongo Drums Guiro Cymbals hitting the instrument Bass Drum Castanets Triangle Rolls - very fast repetition of a note. Tambourine Hi-hat cymbal Tuned Percussion: Xylophone (wooden) Glockenspiel (metal) Timpani (Kettle Drum) Keyboard: Scottish: Indian: Piano Organ Fiddle Bagpipes Sitar Tabla Harpsichord Clarsach Accordion
MUSICAL ENSEMBLES Orchestra - Strings, Brass, Woodwind & Percussion. Brass Band - Brass & Percussion. Wind Band - Brass, Woodwind & Percussion. Folk Group - Fiddle, Guitar, Vocals, Accordion Whistle, Bass, Flute, Drum kit, Bodhran. Scottish Dance Band - Fiddle, Accordion, Piano, Drums. Steel Band - Steel drums (pans). MUSICAL STYLES Celtic Rock - Mixes Scottish folk music with rock music. Reggae - Off beat guitar, vocals, drums, organ, bass. Minimalist - Simple and repetitive ostinatos. Ragtime - Piano: Syncopated melody & vamp accompaniment. Blue - Jazz style, developed from black American folk songs. Tells a story. Flattened notes. Swing - A jazz style performed by a big band. Jazz - American music from in the early 20th century. Rock - Music with a heavy, driving beat. Features electric guitar, bass guitar and drum kit. Pop - Popular music (chart music) Rock n roll - 1950 s style music, think Elvis Presley. Musical - A vocal work, like a modern opera. Scottish - Music traditionally from Scotland. Latin American - Dance music from South America. Rapping - Rhyming lyrics that are spoken. African music - Much African music features voices and/or African drums. Opera - A drama set to music with soloists, chorus, acting, and orchestral accompaniment Romantic - 1810-1900; big orchestras and thick texture. Baroque - 1600-1750; harpsichord and ornaments Indian - Music from India which uses instruments such as the sitar and tabla. Classical - 1750-1810; piano Gospel - A song with religious lyrics, often in praise or thanksgiving to God Pibroch - Solo bagpipe; grace notes, theme & variation
SCOTTISH MUSIC Dance Speed Beats Other features Waltz Medium 3 I LOVE YOU: Only 3 beat dance Jig Fast 2 6/8 time STRAWBERRY: Compound time Reel Fast 4 COCA COLA: Simple time, flowing Strathspey Medium 4 porridge PORRIDGE: Jumpy, Scotch Snap March Marching speed 2 or 4 MARCHING: Steady, strong pulse. Song Who? Where/About? Accomp? Other? Waulking Song Women At work No Thud Beating sound Bothy Ballad Men Farm work Usually no Tells story Gaelic Psalm Both Church North Scotland No In Gaelic, Call & Response, eerie/echo Mouth Music Both Nonsense made up Gaelic words Maybe Imitating melody of bagpipes Scots Ballad Both Telling story Maybe Lots of verses and chorus, Strophic VOCAL Voices Highest to lowest Vocal concepts Soprano Mezzo Soprano Alto FEMALE Voice Lead Vocal Backing Vocal Tenor Baritone Bass MALE Chorus Melismatic Choir Aria Syllabic Strophic
TONALITY MAJOR MINOR ATONAL STRUCTURE BINARY FORM TERNARY FORM RONDO FORM THEME & VARIATION STROPHIC TEXTURE HOMOPHONIC POLYPHONIC/CONRAPUNTAL PERIODS OF MUSIC BAROQUE CLASSICAL MODERN EFFECTS DISTORTION REVERB SCALES MAJOR MINOR PENTATONIC WHOLE TONE CHROMATIC BLUES WORD SETTING MELISMATIC SYLLABIC
3. LITERACY Symbol Name Length (beats) Semibreve 4 Accidentals: Sharp:. Dotted Minim 3 Minim 2 Flat:. Dotted Crotchet 1 ½ Crotchet 1 Natural: Dotted Quaver Quaver Semiquaver ¾ ½ ¼ Intervals: Tone: Paired Quavers 1 Grouped Semiquavers 1 Semitone: Scotch Snap 1 KEY SIGNATURES C Major = 0 sharps or flats A Minor = 0 sharps or flats BUT watch out for G#s in the music! F Major = 1 flat b (Bb) G Major = 1 Sharp # (G#)
Lines Every Good Boy Deserves Football Spaces F A C E Notes below the stave Notes above the stave Repeat Signs Start End 1 st & 2 nd time bars Time Signatures go right at the beginning of the first line, between the treble clef and key signature. = 2 crotchet beats per bar = 3 crotchet beats per bar Simple time Simple time = 4 crotchet beats per bar = 6 quavers per bar (splits Simple time into 2 beats) Compound time
4. NATIONAL 3 & 4 CONCETPS You also need to know all of the National 3 and National 4 concepts. NATIONAL 3 CONCEPTS Melody/Harmony Rhythm/Tempo Texture/Structure/Form Timbre/Dynamics Ascending Chord Chord change Descending Discord Improvisation Leap (leaping) Question & answer Repetition Sequence Step (stepwise) Accent/accented Adagio Allegro Bar; 2, 3 or 4 beats in a bar Beat/pulse Drum fill Faster March On the beat/off the beat Pause Reel Repetition Slower Waltz Accompanied Harmony/chord Ostinato/riff Round Solo Unaccompanied Unison/octave Accordion Acoustic guitar Bagpipes Blowing Bowing Brass Choir Drum kit Electric guitar Fiddle Folk group Orchestra Organ Percussion (tuned/untuned) Piano Plucking Scottish dance band Staccato/legato Steel band Striking (hitting) Strings Strumming Voice Woodwind Style Blues Jazz Latin American Musical Pop Rock Rock n Roll Scottish
NATIONAL 4 CONCEPTS Melody/Harmony Rhythm/Tempo Texture/Structure/ Form Timbre/Dynamics Style Arpeggio Broken chord Change of key Chord progression (I, IV, V) Drone Major Minor Octave Ornament Pedal Pentatonic scale Scale Scat singing Vamp A tempo Accelerando Anacrusis Andante Compound time Dotted rhythms Jig Rallentando Scotch snap Simple time (2/4, 3/4, 4/4) Strathspey Syncopation Cadenza Canon Chorus Imitation Middle 8 Ternary (ABA) Theme & variation Verse Backing vocals Bass guitar Brass band Brass (trumpet, trombone) Distortion Harpsichord Muted Pan pipes Wind band Percussion (timpani, snare drum, side drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, tambourine, guiro, xylophone, glockenspiel) African music Baroque Concerto Mouth music Opera Ragtime Rapping Reggae Romantic Scots ballad Swing Strings (violin, cello, double bass, harp) Voices (soprano, alto, tenor, bass) Woodwind (flute, clarinet, saxophone, recorder) Literacy: Literacy: Literacy: Treble clef stave C-A Semiquaver mf, mezzo-forte Sequences Grouped semiquavers f, forte Paired quavers Repeat signs
5. EXAM PAPER LAYOUT & QUESTIONS Question 1a-f: Multiple Choice - 6 Marks with a few write the word questions. Question 2: Box question (musical map) - 4 Marks 4 numbered boxes. Voice says the number over the music & you must answer the question in the related box when the number is said. Question 3: Literacy Question 6 Marks Eg. Name the key of this piece, insert the time signature, insert missing notes, insert repeat sign, identify octave leaps, write dynamics, write tempo marks.
Question 4: Multiple Choice 8 Marks Question 5: - 4 Marks Tick one box from each section. Question 6: Fill in the missing words 3 Marks Question 7: - 4 Marks - 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 Dynamics (Italian terms)
Melody Harmony Broken Chords Chords/ Discords Glissando Homophonic/ Polyphonic Imitation Legato /Staccato Major/Minor Melismatic/ Syllabic Modulation Pedal Question & Answer Repetition Sequence Suspensions Unison/Harmony Ornaments: trill, grace notes Scales: Major/Minor scale, Chromatic scale, Pentatonic scale Rhythm Tempo Beats in a bar / Time Signature: 2/4, 3/4, 4/4, Simple Time 6/8 Compound Time Speed: Allegro Fast Adagio Slow Andante walking pace Moderato moderate Speed Changes: Accelerando faster Rallentando slower Ritardando slower Rubato with freedom Anacrusis Dotted Rhythms Ostinato Repetition Scotch Snap Syncopation Instruments and how they are used Brass 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 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 Voices: Soprano, Mezzo Soprano, Alto Male Voices: Tenor, Baritone, Bass Countertenor high like a woman. Solo; Accompaniment; Melody; Countermelody Dynamics 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: Cres. Crescendo getting louder Dim. diminuendo getting quieter.