Midterm

almost exclusively keyboard music associated with Beethoven, light in tone, fairly short, a focus on sentimentality; arpeggiated textures

Piano-like instrument whose sound comes from steel planks, more metallic timbre, very nostalgic

Individual “song,” say, within a film score “single discreet span of music”

A mechanical box that plays a short tune on a small, celesta-adjacent keyboard, associated with child hood

Music meant to remind one of childhood in a positive, sentimental way

Music written underneath dialogue

Whose music perspective is being captured

Music that copies another piece of music with an earnest reproduction of the meaning of the original

Distinguished shape of a theme that allows it to become memorable

Distance between two notes/pitches

A small musical figure that doesn't change even as everything changes around it, almost stubborn

Music that copies another piece of music, breaking the seriousness/meaning of the original

The length and pattern of notes in a song

The volume (loudness/quietness) of a piece of music

A distinctive and repeated melodic idea, often associated with something

The leading musical tune or line (what you would most likely hum along to)

Any musical material that supports the melody, often, but not always, less distinctive than the tune

Sounds good/sounds bad

The sound of, and processes & patterns of organization involving more than one pitch simultaneously

Music centered around a single pitch (the “tonic”) vs not

Two different types of scales, Major has a generally positive/inspiring connotation, Minor has a more melancholy, reflective connotation (mostly but not always)

Diatonic: Using only or almost entirely notes from a scale
Chromatic: Utilizing all twelve notes, without as much regard to scale

Music is primarily diatonic

The unique sonic quality of an instrument, group of instruments, or other sound source

Set of instrumental choices that help distinguish a score

Going through the movie’s rough cut, seeing where the movie needs musical scoring, determining the kind of themes/music needed

sudden, loud chord for emphasis on a certain moment

Where music is very literal, tracking the character’s movements etc; the music tracks very directly the action of the film

Longer lines that play for mood; not trying to catch every event on screen

Artistic expressions that are related to but not directly the original piece of art; which enrich or supplement the original art (trailers, performances, arrangements)

A written description of the cues within a piece of media; what they are, when they happen, etc. Indication of recurrence and/or novelty

Temporary tracking: pre-existing pieces of music temporarily placed with certain scenes to give the composer an idea of what the director is looking for with the scene

Music editor aligning the music with the visuals

An album version of the cues from the film, oftentimes edited and produced in a way to make them more pleasant to listen to as songs outside of a piece of media

An arrangement of a score meant to fit well in the context of a concert orchestra

Style of jazz with beginnings in the late 1940s, often marked by lower dynamics, high polish, restraint. Often marked by warm, rich arrangements

General term for jazz that strives to incorporate modernistic, innovative techniques. Characteristics of 1940s-1950s. Can be applied to various forms of bebop and post-war jazz

Genre of music named and promulgated by Gunther Schuller that aims to synthesize jazz and classical styles, particularly the rhythmic and improvisatory qualities of the former and the formal and orchestral qualities of the latter. Characteristic of 1950s-1960

Music written out for a large orchestra or orchestra-like ensemble that is conceived with classical dimensions and orchestrational techniques. Lacks true improvisation. Characteristic of Gershwin, Whiteman, Ellington, Bernstein

The practice in a piece of music of having multiple voices/instruments repeat a melody in succession, overlapping somewhat in order to harmonize the melody with itself

A complete piece of music in canonical style, in which one musical idea is introduced by one voice in the beginning and repeated in others, modulated and changed throughout the length of the piece

Fast moving stand-alone piece of instrumental music, characterized by elements of surprise in dynamics and form, originally with a comedic or light tone. In modern usages, showcases brilliant instrumental and orchestrational technique. Often in triple (¾) or compound-duple (6/8) meter.

Period of European music from 1600-1750, marked by rise of instrumental forms, consolidation of functional tonality, emphasis on complex ornamentation, contrapuntal sophistication. Styles which emulate or recapture this aesthetic, esp. in 20th century are called “neo-Baroque”

Composition of multiple melodies in succession, common in Baroque era

A musical style that shows off technical complexity, esoteric knowledge, and deference to the past. Meant to impress & delight a group of musical insiders.

In a fugue, a repetition of a melody before the melody has finished

Precise timings, brief description of relevant on-screen action (events, dialogue, visuals, sound effects, etc), brief description of relevant music (instrumentation, style, density, theme, harmony, etc), indication of recurrence and/or novelty of musical ideas which can be done explicitly through description, or with a short-hand like “Theme 1” or “Motif A”

A characteristically American style, often including long, open chords, use of brass and solo trumpet

Study of sainthood or relation to sainthood; spoken about in a political context as the mythologizing of figures in a way that portrays them as an almost holy and exclusively positive figure

Consonant, tonal, melody-driven
Intensely nostalgic
Prominent use of strings, solo trumpet
Alluding to Samuel Barber (Violin Concierto)

Dissonant, atonal, timbre/effects-driven
Intensely frightening
Prominent use of synths and extended techniques
Alluding to mid-20th century avant gard
Not meant to sound Vietnamese, meant to evoke

The idea of trying to write music that is accessible to all who listen, oftentimes through the creation of pleasant sounds and recognizable melodies (often in contrast to more experimental works)

disrespectful or irreverent treatment of a piece of music or musical tradition that is considered sacred, revered, or highly valued

Consistently slow throughout the piece, often emotional/moving

Basically just a bunch of fuckin notes together that are dissonant (don’t make up a familiar/nice sounding chord)

Sense of exaggeration, suspiciousness, conspiratorial fantasy

Typically very low note that is held at a single pitch/dynamic for long period while the melody, rest of harmony plays over the top