Key Words
Accompaniment
A part or parts, usually instrumental, supporting the main melody. Listen for the piano accompanying the voice.
Arrangement
An adaptation of an existing piece of music / melody. This is an arrangement of Men of Harlech.
Bar
Vertical lines on a sheet of music which divide notes into groups of equal numbers of beats
Call and Response
Two distinct phrases, usually performed by different musicians, where the second phrase is a response to the first
Crotchet
A note with a value of one beat.
Dotted Rhythms
Notes which are followed by a dot to increases its value by half the value of the original note.
Dynamics
Gradations of loudness and quietness
Folk Song
A traditional song that is sung by people of a country or region and forms part of their culture
Home notes
The first or home note of a scale (tonic)
Homophony
A texture in which all parts move together rhythmically
Improvising
Creating and developing musical ideas spontaneously while performing; an important feature of jazz and popular music
Lyrics
The words of a song
Male Voice Choir
A body of male singers who perform together as a group.
Melodic movement
A melody can move up or down in step, leap or repetetive movement.
Melody
A succession of notes combining pitch and rhythm; also known as the tune
Mode / Modal
A type of early scale, used before major and minor keys were developed
Modulation
A change of key
Orchestra
A large ensemble comprising strings, woodwind, brass and percussion
Phrase
A short musical idea; part of a melody
Pitch
The highness and lowness of sounds in relation to each other
Polyphony
A texture in which two or more melodic lines, possibly of equal importance, weave independently of each other
Quaver
A note with a value of half a beat.
Rhythm
A variety of notes of different length shaped into patterns
Sequence
A melodic phrase immediately repeated at a higher or lower pitch
Solo
One instrument or voice
Structure
The way a piece of music is organised or put together
Texture
The result of combining timbres, melodies, rhythms and chords.
Transposing instrument
A musical instrument whose music is notated different to the pitch that actually sounds (concert pitch).
Tuned instrument
Any instruments that can play a variety of pitch (piano, flute, trumpet, xylophone)
Unaccompanied
Singing or playing without accompaniment
Unison
Two or more parts or voices sounding at the same pitch
Variations
A technique where the main theme is repeated in a varied way e.g. with added notes, different rhythms, etc.(see Theme and variations)
Verse
Part of a song, heard after the introduction; each verse has more or less the same melody, but different lyrics
What will you do?
Compose a
call and response song
Performing suggestions
- Hen Ferchetan
- Migldi Magldi
- Wrth fynd efo Deio i Dywyn
Information
Listen to this vocal arrangement of ‘Dacw ’Nghariad’ and follow the lyrics.
It is a call and response love song, and the melody uses the notes of the ancient Dorian mode.
Clap the rhythm of each response, then rehearse and perform the response (vocally or on an instrument).
When you are familiar with the response, sing or play the call and response.
LNF
8.OS4 /
8.OL1
- How can you improve your vocal / instrumental performance?
