Unit 1 Vocabulary 1

Vocabulary 1   Time Signature Tells musician how to count the composition Counts per measure and note value Indicated by "band leader" at beginning of song Four/four, two/four, etc. Top indicates number of counts Bottom indicates what note value equals one count Measure Basic unit indicated in the time signature Separated by a bar or bar line Building blocks which make up a composition Many jazz musicians don't or prefer not to use music (improve) Tempo The speed of the music (slow/fast) Rubato Music with no steady tempo Examples: Art Tatum (piano) and Michel Camillo (latin piano) Rhythm Articulation of sound and silence in time and space Example: Jazz hi-hat Sub-Division Beats have a duple or triple sub-division Divisible by two or three Duple: Count 1-2-1-2 or 1-2-3-4 Triple/Triplet: 1-2-3-1-2-3 Poly-Rhythm Rhythms occurring simultaneously w/one instrument Example: Drums (4 limbs) or Piano (2 hands) Syncopation Critical element in jazz Component at the bass of improvisation Strong accents occur when not expected (off-beat) Example: drummer's hi-hat Possible on all instruments Time Feel Familiar rhythm styles in music Example: Waltz, march, latin, swing, etc. Swing Eighth Notes Interpretation that falls somewhere between duple and triple First credited to Louis Armstrong "African" way of interpreting time Interval Numeric distance between the vibrating frequencies of two notes Scales are divided into numerical increments measured by half steps and whole steps Octave Two notes holding the same name Vibrate exactly twice as fast as the other Scales Constructed with intervals (eight notes between octave) Jazz attempt scales w/ more or fewer than eight Modes Name used for scales prior to major and minor Scales with a variety of intervals each sounding different Blues Scale Originally had 6 notes but now has 8 Melody The part of a song which is memorable Comprised of pitch, intervals, and rhythm Counter-Melody Second melody used "against" the primary melody Used as accompaniment Can create harmony Examples: dixieland and chicago Counterpoint is sometimes used to describe countermelody Quote Playing part of the melody from one song while playing another Example: Ella Fitzgerald in 'Air Mail Special Deliver' Motive An idea generated from a melody Not an exact quote Uses either the rhythm or the intervals from the melody Harmony Two or more notes sounding at the same time Chord Three or more notes sounding at the same time Voicing New ambience by redistributing the notes of a chord Tone Color Dependant on the number of vibrating frequencies in a sound Difference between two different instruments