Music

• Elements of music

  • Pitch
  • Rhythm
  • Melody
  • Timbre
  • Dynamics
  • Texture
  • Tempo
  • Binary form
• Pitch


  High and low notes played one after the other
• Rhythm


  Sounds and silences put together to form patterns
• Melody


  Pleasing series of musical notes that form the main part of a song or piece of music
• Timbre


  The sound quality or tone color that allows us to distinguish between one instrument and another
• Dynamics


  How loud or quiet the music should be played, can change suddenly or gradually
• Texture


  How sound is organized, can be described as high or low, thick or thin, meaning one voice stands out on top of a backing harmony
• Tempo


  • Adagio (slow)
  • Andante (moderate/walking pace)
  • Moderato (medium)
  • Allegro (quick and lively)
• Binary form


  Has two sections A and B that are repeated throughout the musical piece
• The word renaissance means rebirth, rediscover and revival for musicians
• Characteristics of renaissance music

  • Mostly polyphonic
  • Imitation/pangagaya among the voices
  • Use of word painting in text and music
  • Melodic lines move in a flowing manner
  • Melodies are easier to perform with few large leaps
• Mass


  A form of sacred musical composition that sets text of the eucharistic liturgy into music
• Madrigal


  A secular vocal polyphonic music composition which originated from Italy, written and expressed in poetic text and sung during courtly social gatherings
• Characteristics of mass music

  • Polyphonic
  • May be a cappella or with orchestral accompaniment
  • Text may be syllabic, pneumatic or melismatic
• Sections of mass

  • Kyrie
  • Gloria
  • Credo
  • Sanctus and Benedictus
  • Agnus Dei
• Madrigal is not for religious songs, it is mostly played in the renaissance period whenever there is an important event or social gathering
• Characteristics of madrigal music


  • Polyphonic
  • Sung a cappella
  • Thoroughly composed
  • Frequently 3-6 voices
• Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina


  Greatest master of Roman Catholic church music during the renaissance period, majority of his compositions are sacred music
• Thomas Morley


  Most famous composer of secular music in his time
• Tempo


  The speed at which a piece of music should be played