Below are many of the keywords that need to be understood for use when listening to the music in the exam. Each has a link that will provide a way of understanding it. You could and should do your own research if a link does not help your understanding. Where there is an (ex) and description next to the keyword, this links to a Spotify audio example (you will need a Spotify account though). Click on the (ex) to hear it.
Texture - Homphonic, monophonic, polyphonic. Melody and accompaniment.
Melody
intervals within the octave
conjunct
disjunct
triadic
broken chords (ex) The piano lower part is playing broken chords
scalic
arpeggio
passing notes
acciaccaturas
appoggiaturas
blue notes
diatonic
chromatic
pentatonic
whole tone
modal
augmentation
diminution
sequence (ex) Here the main tune is repeated several times at the beginning beginning on different pitches, hence in sequence.
inversion
slide/glissando/portamento
ornamentation
ostinato riff
phrasing articulation pitch bend improvisation (ex) Here the trumpet improvises later in the piece.
Timbre
instruments and voices singly and in combination as found in music for solo instruments concertos chamber groups pop and vocal music acapella String Quartet Wind Chamber
generic families of instruments as found in world music (don't look at Celtic or Gamelan on this link)
instrumental techniques including con arco/with a bow pizzicato/plucked con sordino/muted double-stopping tremolo/tremolando
vocal ranges and techniques such as falsetto and vibrato
music of the carribean
African music
Indian music
Music of the 1960's
R 'n' B and Hip Hop
Musical Theatre
Samples, Loops
Watch and hear different instruments of the orchestra here
Dynamics
Rhythm & Metre
pulse
simple & compound time
regular irregular free
augmentation diminution hemiola cross-rhythm
dotted rhythms triplets syncopation
tempo rubato polyrhythm bi-rhythm
diatonic chromatic
consonant dissonant
pedal drone
cadences: perfect plagal imperfect interrupted
Tièrce de Picardie
identification of major minor and dominant seventh chords using Roman numerals/chord symbols
Tonality
tonal major minor modal
Texture harmonic/homophonic polyphonic/contrapuntal imitation unison octaves single melody line melody with accompaniment antiphonal
common signs terms & symbols
key signatures
Structure & Form
binary ternary call & response rondo theme & variations
sonata minuet & trio scherzo & trio
strophic through-composed da capo aria
cyclic popular song forms ground bass continuo cadenza
