IGCSE Music

IGCSE Cambridge Syllabus 2012IGCSE MusicClassical & World Music (Section A-D)

CGPwnedWhen music and CGP books get PWNED

RudimentsStandard European staff notation including dynamic, tempo and expression markings, simple ornaments and articulation signs, treble, bass and alto clefs, key signatures up to 4 sharps and 4 flats in major and minor keys, time signatures, intervals.

Melody and RhythmMajor, minor, chromatic and pentatonic scales. Melodic movement by step or leap. Phrasing. Duple, triple or irregular metre, syncopation, polyrhythm.

HarmonyPrimary chords: I, IV, and V(7); secondary chords: II and VI. Perfect, imperfect, plagal, and interrupted cadences. Modulations to related keys.

Ensembles and instruments/voicesOrchestras, wind and jazz bands, choirs and chamber ensembles. The main instruments and voices used in the above ensembles. Piano, harpsichord, organ. Gamelan, rabab, kora, xylophone, sitar, sarang, tabla, pan-pipes, guitar, un-tuned percussion instruments.

Instrumental and/or vocal effectsArco, pizzicato, glissando, tremolo (rapid bowing), harmonics, double stopping (playing two notes simultaneously on a stringed or melodic percussion instrument), strumming, pitch bending, mute, roll, melisma (singing one syllable but moving it to different pitches Beyonce way), blue notes.

StructureBinary, ternary, rondo, theme and variations, ground bass.

Compositional devicesRepetition, imitation, sequence, canon, inversion, ostinato, drone, Alberti bass (broken chord accompaniment), pedal, contrary motion.

TextureMelody and accompaniment, homophonic (two or more parts move together in harmony), polyphonic (two or more independent melodies), monophonic (single line one note at a time), heterophonic (all parts share the tune with slightly different variations).

StyleBaroque (1600 1750), Classical (1750 1820), Romantic (1820 1900), Twentieth Century (1900+) (including impressionism, serialism, neo-classical, jazz).

GenreOpera, oratorio (including recitative, aria and chorus), musical, symphony, concerto, string quartet, sonata,march, waltz, minuet and trio.

Glossary of Terms for Unprepared ListeningWordMeaning

Alberti BassBroken chorded bass

AleatoricChance music, totally random.

AnacrusisMusic starts with an upbeat.

AriaSolo song from opera or oratorio.

Boogie-woogieA distinctive style of piano jazz playing made famous by Fats Domino the American Jazz Pianist.

Broken ChordNotes of a chord played separately.

CantataShort vocal composition accompanied by orchestra and tells a story.

Compound TimeTime signatures with 6, 9 or 12 as their top number. Fits when you say coffee as if cof was a dotted quaver and fee, a semiquaver.

Con legnoPlayed with the back of the bow.

Con sordinoPlayed with a mute (strings).

DescantUsually used in hyms, it is a counter-melody at a higher pitch.

DissonanceA dischord.

DownbeatWhen music starts on the first note of the first bar.

Free MetreMusic with no particular metre.

Gaelic PsalmUnaccompanied gibberish church music.

HarmonyVoices singing notes of a chord.

ImpressionistA style of music from the early 20th Century which attempted to imitate in sound what artists such as Monet and Degas did with paint. by giving an impression of a scene or story.

Inverted PedalLong, sustained note above the melody.

Irregular MetreFive or seven beats in a bar.

Melismatic

MinimalistA 20th Century style of music based on repeated patterns of notes.

ObbligatoEssential part or decorative line above the melody.

OratorioAn extended composition based on Bible stories.

Passing NoteA note which passes from one harmony note to the next which may be accented or unaccented.

RecitativeMain points of the plot of an oratorio, opera or cantata are made to the listener.

Regular MetreStrong beats duple, triple or quadruple.

RoundMusic where different parts of the tune sound well when played together. One group of singers starts the song, and then a second group starts singing the same song a couple of bars late.

SambaLatin American music with 2 beats in a bar usually syncopated.

Scat SingingA type of singing where nonsense syllables are used instead of words (shoo wah doobie do wah).

ScherzoVery fast movement with three beats in a bar. Means joke.

SequenceA melodic phrase which is repeated at a higher or lower pitch of one step.

Simple TimeTime signatures with 2, 3 or 4 as their top number.

StrophicA verse repeating song with a chorus such as a Ballad.

Through ComposedA song or melody with a chorus that is not repeated.

Tierce de PicardieWhen minor key unexpectedly ends on a major chord (like latin america style).

UnisonTwo or more parts/voices sounding at the same pitch.

WaltzA dance with three beats in a bar.

Italian Musical Terms

TEMPO

AccelerandoGradually speeding up

AllargandoGetting slower and broadening

AllegroFast

AndanteSlowish, at walking pace

LargoSlowly and broadly

ModeratoAt moderate speed

PrestoVery quick

RallentandoGradually slowing down

RitenutoImmediately slower

RubatoLiterally 'robbed time', where rhythms are played freely for expressive effect.

VivaceLively

WESTERN CLASSICAL MUSIC

Baroque (1600 1750)

Use major and minor keys tonal. Modulation was used. New structures developed: binary (AB), ternary (ABA) and rondo (ABACAD...A). Dynamics change suddenly terraced or stepped dynamics. Packed with ornaments and harmonies are simple. Repetition as the melody is built from motives. Contrapuntaltextures- thefuguewas a popular vocal and instrumental form in the Baroque. The importance - ofmonody(one voice with accompaniment); Harpsichords or organs give this away. The use of thebasso continuoto accompany both vocal and instrumental music, with the use of theharpsichordand organ crucial to this; Examples: Bach, Handel, Purcell, Vivaldi and Beethoven (late classical).

Classical (1750 1820)

Very balanced phrases Few ornaments More subtle or gradual changes in dynamics. Invention of the piano and clarinet; and the sonata form. Music written for smallish orchestras. The strings are dominant in classical music Simple diatonic harmonies Clear and simple structure Homophonic texture Balanced forms ternary and sonata forms became popular Clear sense of beat as well as a constant tempo Examples: Haydn, Mozart, Clementi.

Baroque and Classical Ways of Developing Melodies:

Melodic Inversion keep the same intervals but go the opposite direction (up instead of down and vice versa). Retrograde playing the tunes backwards. Sequencing repeating a pattern one step above or below. Imitation repeat phrase with slight changes. Ostinato repeated pattern.

Ornaments Used:

Trill lots of tiny quick notes in Baroque, it starts with one note above then goes back and forth between the written note and the one above; in Classical, it starts on the written note. Appoggiatura starts on a note that clashes with the chord before moving to a note that belongs. They are usually a tone or semitone apart and normally takes half the time value of the note it leans on. Acciaccatura squeezing in a tiny quick note. Mordents abit like short trills but the ending note is slightly longer than the trilled ones. Turns start on the note above, than the note, then the one below, then back to the note; for inverted turns, do the opposite.

Romantic (1820 - 1900) Music that tells a story programme music. Lots of moods and emotions. Piccolo, cor anglais, bass clarinet, double bassoon, the new saxophone, tuba and harp joined the orchestra a wide range of instruments. Longer melodies than classical and some tunes are sad whilst others are strong. Unexpected modulations and chromatics were used to spice it up. Lots of dynamics, expression markings, rubato and changes in texture. Virtuosicsolo parts inconcertosandsonatas Morechromatic harmony; more variety oftexture; moredissonanceand tension; a widertonalrange. Examples: Mendelssohn, Schubert, Chopin, Tchaikovsky, Brahms.Baroque (1600-1750)Classical (1750 1820)Romantic (1820 1900)

Orchestra and recourses Small scale orchestra. Strings dominate the tune. Expanded orchestra. Trombones, double bassoons, piccolos. Very large orchestra with more varied percussion.

Melody Balanced, clear two or four bar phrases. Elegant and light. Dramatic sound. Single theme used through most works. Long, sing able tunes. Often build to a climax.

Harmony Mostly diatonic harmony. Clear cadences and always in major or minor. Mostly diatonic harmony. Clear cadences and always in major or minor. Lots of chromatic notes with lots of modulation.

Rhythm and Texture Clear rhythm, constant tempo and metre and mostly polyphonic texture. Driving rhythms and a homophonic, occasionally polyphonic texture. Lots of tempo changes and some syncopation. Varied texture.

20th Century When you hear non-instrumental sounds with instrumental its a giveaway. Different ways of hitting instruments and playing woodwind (flutter-tonguing) and new techniques such as glissando, tremolo, pizzicato, vibrato were invented. Very experimental. Short and flowing sometimes no tune at all. Examples: Debussy, Leroy Anderson, Scott Joplin.

Serialism And Expressionism

The 12 chromatic notes of an octave are rearranged into a set order, called the Prime Order. This would then be rearranged (retrograde, inversion or both), leaving 4 different variations or rows of the Prime Order. These rows can then be used to make motifs, chords or melodies.

Some composers include Schoenberg, Webern and Berg the composers of the Second Viennese School. Elements of the sound include:

Intense emotion Melodic or harmonic distortion High level of chromaticism Angular melodies High level of dissonance Extreme contrasts of dynamics Avoidance of cadences, repetition, sequence, or balanced phrases. Constantly changing texture and ideas.

Atonality, or expressionism, is a type of music which is like the art itself consisting of dots of bright colours. Webern used disjointed chords, wild leaps, dissonant harmonies and dramatic contrasts.

Impressionism

The aim of Impressionist art was to suggest rather than to clearly draw objects. Impressionist music does much the same thing, focusing on creating a sense or an atmosphere of the piece's topic by using blurred harmony and delicate shadings of sound rather than relying on standard forms and a strong, clear rhythmic beat. There is an air of mystery, magic and wonder that surrounds Impressionistic music. Techniques involved include using the whole-tone scale, exotic rhythms and scales; and chromaticism. Composers include Debussy and Ravel.

Chains of parallel chords such as sevenths Use ofwhole-tone scales,pentatonic scalesandmodes Rejection of traditional harmonic andtonalprogressions Complex musical forms Rich palette of orchestral colours; unusual instrumental combinations Richtextures Chords which provide as much colour as they dofunctional harmony Unprepared, abruptmodulations Atmospheric, dream-like pieces with evocative and descriptive titles

Neo-Classism

An important type of 20th century music isneoclassical. "Neo" means new, so neoclassical music is new music that is similar to music of the Classical period. While neoclassical music sounds modern in many ways, it is written following the basic forms and ideals of the Classical period.Famous neoclassical composers include Igor Stravinsky and Prokofiev. His music uses many different key signatures and time signatures, and sometimes more than one at a time. One example is theRite of Spring and Classical Symphony.

Use ofostinati ' Functional'traditional harmonic andtonal progressions, coloured by deliberately dissonantchords Rhythmically complex - often usingpolyrhythms Combination of step-wise and angular melodies Deliberate use of older forms and dance styles

Blues, Jazz and Ragtime

Blues was a type of slow, sad American Negro song telling of their misfortune. It is usually in 4/4 time and is mostly patterned on a 12-bar structure called the 12 bar blues.

A typical jazz band would have a trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, guitar, drums and a double bass. Early jazz music is based on a 12-bar blues. Jazz musicians would use call and response, syncopated rhythms or swung rhythms. Some musicians scat sing.

Improvisation is also used. Some famous jazz composers include Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Glenn Miller and Gershwin.

Ragtime was a style of dance music which became popular at the end of the 19th century and which helped to influencejazz. Usually for piano solo in which the left hand plays avamp while the right hand plays asyncopatedmelody. Scott Joplin was the most famous composer of ragtimemusic

Minimalism

Minimalist music is music that changes a tiny subtle bit at a time. Some of the features include:

It is made up of constantly repeated patterns called loops. These are short and simple. Harmonies are made by layering patterns on top of each other they take a long time to change. The metre may change constantly. It may be polyrhythmic.

Minimalism uses musical ideas from all over the word. Composers include Steve Reich, Philip Glass and Terry Riley.

20th Century Opera

From1900onwardsPuccinisoperas were noted for his forays into musical verismo, the realistic depiction of life. Debussyin hisimpressionist stylewrote the mellow, symbolistopera Pellas et Mlisande. Bergwrote two operas'Lulu'and'Wozzeck'in aserial, 12-tone style, and with rather lurid plots. StravinskysoperaThe Rake's Progresshas some beautiful but at times quite dissonantmusic. However to summarise, some of the features of 20th Century Opera include:

Dissonance in vocals or instrumentals Extreme emotions Use of Sprechgesang - A technique used in vocal music where the singer is required to use the voice in an expressive manner halfway between singing and speaking. This is used in Schoenbergs operas a lot.

Electronic Music

Electronic music is any music that uses electrical devices or instruments to produce and alter the sounds used in the music. Synthesizers (electronic devices used to produce sounds) and sequencers (software used to playback MIDI, a computer code for music) were used to make loops of drumbeats, chords and even tunes. Cubase, Pro-Tools and Logic Pro are examples of sequencer programmes. Samplers (which are abit like synthesizers) were also used. They play short bits of pre-recorded music called samples.

People like DJs manipulate the samples live, using DJ turntables and other programmes to distort, bend or create scratching noises.

Drum machines were used to create drum patterns.

Some ways of changing samples include:

Looping Pitch Shifting Panning changing which speaker (left or right) the music comes out of Chorus creates several layers of the sample Echo/Delay Reverb changes the sample so that it sounds like its being played in a hall Phaser makes a whooshing sound EQ Or equalization, it amplifies or removes frequencies Low/High-pass Filter gets rid of the noise of rumblings in the background Distortion

OperasOperas are plays set to music. The main characters are played by solo singers and are supported by a chorus and an orchestra. The words of an opera are called libretto.

In opera, there are three types of singing:

AriaAn aria is a solo vocal piece, backed by the orchestra. They are used to go into the emotions of the main characters. They have memorable, exciting tunes. Theyre challenging for the performers and let them show their vocal tone and agility.

RecitativeRecitative is a half-spoken, half-singing style used for some conversations. Recitativo secco is recitative thats unaccompanied or backed by simple chords. Recitativo stromentato or accompagnato is one with orchestral backing.

ChorusThe part where the whole chorus sings together.

An oratorio is a religious version of opera. It has arias, recitatives and choruses.

They usually have a religious theme, and are based on traditional stories, sometimes from the Bible. They dont usually have scenery, costumes or action theyre not acted out.

Oratarios were mainly written for concert or church performance.

WaltzWaltzes are in triple metre and have an oom cha cha rhythm.

Waltzes have a strong clear tune, closely backed by chords called a homophonic texture. The chords are pretty simple. The speed of chord changes is called harmonic rhythm waltz chords change slowly, so they have a slow harmonic rhythm. Composers might use appoggiaturas and chromatic notes to spice up their tunes.

Minuet And Trio

Minuet and trio form in classical symphonies, string quartets and sonatas consists of two minuets with a da capo (back to the beginning) at the end of the second minuet in order to finish with the first minuet and give the form an overall ABA or ternary structure. Both minuets are in rounded binary form, with two repeated sections, A and B, where A returns briefly at the end of the B section, hence 'rounded.'

|: A :||: B (A) :||: C :||: D (C) :|| A | B (A)|

The trio is so called because originally the second minuet would be played by a smaller ensemble, possibly of as few as three players. It is generally reduced to three structure lines, and is lighter and sweeter than the minuet sections.It is usually contrasting and in a different but related key, such as the dominant or subdominant key.

The minuet and trio are usually in time. As well as that, it is usually the structure of the 3rd Movement of a classical symphony as it is a form of ternary form.

Scherzo and trio are very similar to the minuet and trio, however, the scherzo is more light-hearted and playful.

March

Amarch, as amusical genre, is a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to and most frequently performed by amilitary band.

Marches can be written in anytime signature, but the most common time signatures are 4/4, 2/2, 6/8, and 3/4.

The form of a march typically consists of 16 to 32 measures in length with multiple repeats until a new section. Most importantly, a march consists of a strong and steady percussive beat reminiscent of military field drums.

Marches frequentlychange keys, and havecounter-melodiesintroduced during the repeat of a main melody. They sometimes have a call and response between two groups of instruments (high/low, woodwind/brass, etc.).

Typical marching bands have lots of brass instruments, woodwind instruments and percussion such as the snare drum and tom toms.

Rondo

Theme contrasting episode theme contrasting episode ... theme Baroque composers wrote Ritornellos, where main theme is played by the whole group whilst sections are played by soloist(s). It is usually played in the 4th Movement of a Classical symphony. Symphonies are pieces for the whole orchestra. A string quartet is for two violins, a viola and a cello. A concerto is a piece for one instrument with orchestra backing (instrument orchestra instrument orchestra...).

Ground Bass

Repeated bass part. Variations are then built on top, getting more complex as they go gone. A chaconne is a repeated chord patterned bass. A passacaglia has a tuneful bass line, usually three beats in a bar. Example: Canon in D by Pachelbel.

Binary and Ternary Forms

Binary form: Section A followed by a contrasting Section B, usually in the relative modulations. Ternary form: Section A followed by contrasting Section B then back to Section A with perhaps abit of variation making it A1. Usually played in the 3rd Movement of a sonata. Minuet and Trio are two ternaries put within another ternary form. So it would be Minuet [ABA] Trio [CDC] Minuet [ABA]. The Minuet would almost always be in time.

Theme and Variation

Theme followed by variations that keep a recognisable version of the main theme. Ways to vary the theme: add notes for melodic decoration, sequencing, changing the metre or the rhythm, changing the key, retrograding or changing the chords.

Sonata Form

Exposition Development Recapitulation. Exposition has two themes to build contrast. Some classical sonatas have a slowish intro before this. The exposition ends in a different key than the home key and the whole section is often repeated. Development keeps the piece interesting, going through lots of variations including: sequencing, imitation, new harmonies, augmentation and diminution (making notes longer or shorter), new rhythms or inversion. Recapitulation the themes from the exposition are played again with slight changes. Bridges are used to link and modulate between the two themes. Composers like to finish off the sonata with a coda or a finale.

Other Classical Structures

A symphony is a four movement work played by the orchestra. A concerto is a three movement work for a soloist and orchestra, often having a cadenza to show off. An overture is a one movement piece for the orchestra, sometimes written as introductions to larger works. A suite is a collection of incidental music used to accompany action of stage.

Texture

Monophonic - has only one melodic line, with no harmony or counterpoint. There may be rhythmic accompaniment, but only one line that has specific pitches. Monophonic music can also be called monophony. Homophonic - has one clearly melodic line; it's the line that naturally draws your attention. All other parts provide accompaniment or fill in the chords. Polyphonic - can also be called polyphony, counterpoint, or contrapuntal music. If more than one independent melody is occurring at the same time, the music is polyphonic. Heterophonic - there is only one melody, but different variations of it are being sung or played at the same time.

African Music

DRUMS AS PART OF CULTURE

Drums are probably the most widely played instrument in Africa. They are respected by tribal societies, and are thought of one of the best African instruments.

Drums are used to accompany singing, dancing, and even working.

They also call people together for community events such as weddings. Different drumbeats signal different events so people from nearby villages can tell whats going on.

TYPES OF DRUMS

The djembe drum has been called "the healing drum". It is played in Guinea and Mali in West Africa. It has a single head and is shaped abit like a goblet. It is played with hands. The overall size affects the pitch smaller drums being higher pitched. They make a hollow sound.

The dundun or the donno are different names for the talking or hourglass drum. The dundun is played in Guinea and Mali whereas the donno, in Ghana. They are cylindrical drums that are played horizontally with curved sticks. The player holds it under one hard and hits the drumhead with the stick. The strings can be squeezed and released to change the pitch or the drum. The drum produces a mellow sound.

TALKING DRUMS ARE USED TO SEND MESSAGES

Skilled drummers can make drums talk. They change the pitch to imitate changing pitch levels in ordinary speech. The drums sounds can be heard over long distances, therefore, are used to send messages.

PLAYING TECHNIQUES

Most drummers play using their hands. These are three basic strokes:

Slap: Hit the edge with fingers splayed open. Tone: Hit the edge with fingers held together. Bass: Hit centre with flat hand.

Dampening is resting one hand/stick on the drum skin whilst playing with the other. On some styles of drum, you can change the pitch by tightening the skin. To get a contrasting sound, you can strike the wood instead of the skin.

SECRETS OF THE MASTER DRUMMER: REVEALED

Most African ensembles are led by a master drummer. He is like the conductor. The master drummer plays a rhythmic signal which sets the tempo and rhythm for the other players. After this call, the other players join in with response. This feature is known as call and response. It is usually repeated many times during the performance.

The master drummer also controls the build-up and release of tension. He leads other players in changes of dynamics, tempo, pitch and rhythm. In general, the drum beats are quite repetitive these changes keep the audience hooked.

AFRICAN RHYTHMS

African music is based on rhythmic cycles of varying lengths. Drummers accent particular beats in a rhythmic cycle. Sometimes different rhythmic cycles, with accents in different places, are played together. This is known as polyrhythm. Sometimes you get rhythms that dont really fit each other. This is known as cross-rhythm and is used to create tension. This feature is very much like polyrhythm. Notes that dont fall on a strong beat can be emphasized, giving a syncopated effect. Even though the music is based on repeated cycles, individual players introduce minor variations.

Performances can last for several hours and involves audience response. At some point during the performance, each drummer will play a solo. While hes doing so, he sings and dances.

OTHER AFRICAN INSTRUMENTS

The axatse (shaker) is made out of dried gourd. It is shaken or struck against the hand or knees.

The gankogui is a traditional double bell which is held in the hand whilst being struck with a stick. It has one high and one low tone. This instrument produces a metallic sound as is used to play the regular beat and keep everyone together.

Balophon is a wooden xylophone with dried gourds under the keys. They create a warm, mellow sound. This is mostly played in West Africa.

The kora is made by Mandingo people. It has 21strings and you play it by plucking. It is made from a large gourd cut in half, with animal skin stretched across it. It is mainly played in West Africa.

The mbira or the finger piano is played all over Africa. It is pocket-sized has consists of 24 metal keys arranged in 3 rows. It is played with the thumbs and right index finger.

INDIAN CLASSICAL MUSICThe music youd find would mostly come from North India. However, there will be things on the South that you will need to learn.

About Indian Classical Music

Indian classical music is mostly passed on through oral tradition. Some is notated in a form known as sargam. Some is improvised. Also there are lots of ornaments.

Music plays a vital part in religious ceremonies and in the everyday lives of rural communities, with songs for birth, death, marriage and other aspects of a person's journey through life.

Elements of Indian Classical Music

Drone continuously sounding tonic notes which provide harmony and a unique texture. Rhythm based on rhythmic cycles known as tala. Melody based on ragas.

About the Raga

A set of notes (usually between 5 and 8) which are combined to create a particular mood. They are improvised, but based on traditional tunes and rhythms. Ragas use a similar scale to the Western 12-note scale, but while the Western scale is tempered (same distance between neighbouring notes), the raga scale is not. They are performed at a particular time of day or season.

Tala

The tala are rhythmic cycles. It is played on the tabla. There are hundreds of talas. The first beat is called sam. Each tala is split into groups called vibhags which are like bars in western music. Some players improvise more complicated rhythms over the top.

Sitar

Large, long-necked string instrument with movable frets and a gourd resonator. Most common North Indian string instrument. Four to seven main metal strings. Some are plucked for melody, others create drone notes. Have sympathetic strings underneath the main ones which vibrate to give a thick shimmery twangy sound. Strings can be pulled to make the notes distort, or a finger can be slid along a string to give a glissando sound called mind. Plays solos and fills harmonies. You will almost always hear it at the beginning of a piece. Plucked by a mizrab.

Sarod

The sarod is developed from the Senya rebab, an Indio-persian instrument played in India from the 16th to the 19th century. It is made of one piece of carved wood, the neck is fretless and seriously big; and the bridge is seated on a skin stretched on the body of the instrument. It has 4 playing strings, 2 rhythm strings, 4 strings placed on a flat bridge near the neck, and at last 13 sympathetic strings. Strings are plucked with a pick made of coconut shell. It sounds abit like a Guzheng, but with a lighter and livelier timbre.

Tambura

A tambura is a long-necked Indian lute, unfretted and round-bodied. It has four or five (rarely: six) wire strings all played open which are plucked to make a drone sound. Since the tambura is an accompanying instrument of a drone style, it does not play melodies. It sounds like an extremely twangy guitar.

Santur

The santoor is the oldest known string instrument of India. The santoor is classified as a hammered dulcimer (like a piano) It has 24-100 strings, commonly 80 though. It is struck with two tiny wooden hammers. It sounds very much like the Guzheng.

Sarangi

Bowed instrument of North India. Became popular in mid-17s. It has a soundboard made of goatskin, a neck as wide as the soundboard and has no frets. Has 3-4 main playing strings as well as 30-40 sympathetic ones. Used to accompany vocals. Played with a bow. Sounds like a fiddle, but dirtier.

Tabla

It is a pair of small drums placed side by side on the floor in front of the player. Their main role is to keep the time, but they sometimes interact with the soloist and have short solos. The heads are made out of goatskin with a central area made of iron fillings and rice flour. The smaller drum is known as the dayan. It is played with the fingertips of the right hand. It is quite high in pitch. The larger drum is known as the bayan. It is played with the heel of the left hand which can be pressed into the drum to alter the pitch. Bansuri

It is a bamboo flute with no keys. One of the oldest known musical instruments in the world. It is North Indian. Bansuri has a mouthpiece that is played in a similar way as the western transverse flute and either 6 or 7 finger-holes. Sounds like a flute but slightly rustier.

Harmonium

It is a reed organ. It was brought to India during the 19th Century. Sound is produced by air, supplied by foot-operated or hand-operated bellows, being blown through sets of free reeds. It produces a sound similar to an accordion.

SectionInstrumentsWhat Happens Here?

Alap Sitar Tambura This is the opening section where the soloist introduces the raga. The soloist is accompanied only by the drone. The raga is explored, slowly and serenely. The improvisation on the raga has a free sense of rhythm with no distinct pulse or beat.

Jhor Sitar Tambura This section is still only the soloist and the drone. The improvisation becomes more elaborate. This section is slightly faster. A sense of rhythm emerges in the improvisation, with a clear feeling of pulse or beat.

Jhala Sitar Tambura Tabla This section is signalled by the entrance of the tabla (or other drum). The tala is stated by the drummer and the soloist improvises on the raga in the set rhythmic structure of the tala.

Indonesian Gamelan

About Indonesian Gamelan

If you hear lots of metallic sounds, it has GOT TO BE gamelan music. The main instruments are gongs, metallophones and drums. Comes from Java and Bali. It is played at celebrations and religious events and is thought to be magical and spiritual. Balinese gamelans consist of 4-40 instruments, whereas, Java gamelans consists of 15-20 instruments. It also has a lot of repetition, variations in tempo and long notes on gongs. Gamelan music isnt written down. It is learnt through listening, watching and copying.

The Scales

The five-note gamelan scale is called Slndro. It goes like C, D, E, G, A. The seven-note gamelan scale is called Plog. It goes like E, F, G, A, B, C, D.

The Rhythm

A rhythmic cycle is called a gongan. A bar is called a keteg. Each bar consists of four beats. Gongans are usually written with the lowest instruments and the top and the highest ones at the bottom.

Melody and Structure

There are four main parts. All parts work around a main tune, called the balungan (Java) or the pokok (Bali). The tune is repeated over and over by the metallophone, creating a rhythmic cycle. The texture is heterophony.

The Four Main Layers

Balungan The main melody, played sometimes by the Saron

Penerusian Metallaphones, such as the Gambang

Drum Layer Kendung

Gong Layer - Gongageng

Instruments

Saron

A metallophone which has a metal bar for each note of an octave. The bars rest on hollowed-out wooden cradles. You hit the bars with a wooden mallet.

Gender

Narrow keys made of bronze with bamboo pipes below to resonate the sound.

Gambang

A xylophone with wooden bars.

Rebab

A 2-stringed fiddle.

Celempung

A plucked instrument abit like a mini-harp.

Suling

A bamboo flute.

Kendang

Cone-shaped drums which are played sideways.

Latin American Music

Refers to the islands that lie in the Caribbean Sea between North and South America. It includes the islands of Cuba, Haiti, Jamaica, The Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Trinidad and many others. Caribbean music uses a host of percussion instruments, many of which are of African origin. They are often called Latin Percussion.

How It Sounds

Catchy rhythms, ostinatos Lively dances Use of percussion instruments Call-and-response Improvisation Polyrhythms Fast tempo Diversity of styles Syncopation Close association between music and dance

Instruments

Charango Spanish guitar Panpipes Guiro, congas, bongos Cabasa Maracas Claves Tibales Agogo Bells

Tango

Thetangois a style of dance and song, which originates from Argentina but saw equal popularity in Europe in the early twentieth century.

The main feature of the tango is a 2/4 rhythm, which can be notated as follows:

Instrumental ensembles which performed tangos varied, but generally included a violin, flute and guitar or accordion (or bandonon a type of accordion).

MUSIC OF CHINA Earliest form of Chinese music based on pentatonic note Used in festivals/celebrations/ceremonies

STYLE No harmony Sometimes no metre Instruments play in unison Use of repeated melodies and pitch-bending. Heterophonictexture, where musicians elaborate on a single melodic line, is a particular characteristic of the music of the Han Chinese. Other music can have ahomophonictexture, with vocal melodies, for example, doubled at anintervalof a fourth or fifth by accompanying instruments. Melodies tend to be highlyornamented.

INSTRUMENTS

Guzheng

21 stringed instrument that is plucked by picks called plectra. Has a movable bridge strings used to be made of silk, but now metal. Also has a large resonant cavity. Strings are tuned to the pentatonic scale G and D are the most common keys. It has a range of 3 octaves. The left-hand controls the pitch and the right-hand does the tremolo.

Er Hu

2 stringed bowed instrument that contains a resonator covered with python skin and no fingerboard. It has a range of about 3 5 octaves. The bow is made of horse hair and is un-detachable from the instrument. High pitched - usually plays solo.

Gu Qin

7 stringed zither instrument that is plucked. Ranges 4 octaves with the lowest note being two octaves below middle C. Does not contain a bridge. Uses lots of glissando and harmonics. More bass sound than Guzheng.

Pipa

4 stringed instrument with 12-26 frets. Plucked with plectrums (fake nails). Pear shaped body sounds like an electric guitar.

Dizi

A bamboo flute with a range of 2 octaves Has a buzzing timbre. Circular breathing (a technique that involves using cheek muscles to push air through the instrument and maintain the note for a long period; whilst inhaling through the nose).