History of Rock and Roll- Stu Scott

Pitch

position of a single sound in the complete range of sound. Sounds are higher or lower in pitch according to the frequency of vibration of the sound waves producing them.

Interval

Difference in pitch between two sounds

Timbre

The tone of a sound

Beat

Generic pulse in music

Big Beat

1-2-3-4

Back Beat

Emphasis on 1-TWO-3-FOUR

Downbeat

first beat of every measure

Meter

organization of stressed and unstressed beats

Tempo

speed of the music

Syncopation

Accent takes place in an unexpected place

Melody

Most identifiable part of music, coherent succession of pitches

Sequence

Melodic pattern going a little higher or lower

Step wise

Notes were close by

Motive

Smallest most recognizable fragment of music

Phrase

part of a melody

Harmony

Verticality, notes on top of each other

Consonance

Pleasant to the ear, dissonance= opposite

Tonality

System of music

Tonic

chord within the key

Modulation

Started in 1 key, moved to another in performance

Texture

Layers of sound and their relationship to each other

Homophony

Single melody with compliment

Monophony

Single melody, nothing else (LOOK AT THE WORD TO SEE HOW MANY)

Verse

Corresponds to Poetic stanza

Instrumental Verse/Bridge

Music played by guitar as a place holder

Reprise

a repeat of a performance or a passage in music. A chorus in a song that is repeated several times throughout the song is an example of a reprise.

Simple Verse Form

Contains a series of verses, but doesn’t employ chorus or bridge sections

Simple Verse Chorus

Only lyrics differ between verse and chorus

Contrasting Verse-Chorus Form

Verse and Chorus form contrast musically-beyond lyrics

Compound AABA Form

A section consists of a verse and chorus

Groove

Pattern of beats “feel of a rhythm”

Harmonic Filler

Music that takes place between the bass and treble parts

Reverb

Time based effect emulating echo

Sound Box

A perceived 3d space, forged through the use of stereo, creating a sense of depth & textual density

Blues

-Ostinato

-Tonic=Most important

-Lyrics AAB

Urban/ Electric Blues

Chicago/Memphis

Electric Guitar

Microphone singer

Hokum Blues

Piano/Guitar

Sexual lyrics

“Its Tight Like That”

Black Gospel

Harmony, Acapella singing

Call and response

Rhythm & Blues (R&B)

African American music

Sun Records (Memphis)

Chess Records (Chicago)

King Records (Cincinnati)

ATL Records (NYC)

Shake Rattle and Roll

Early Rock and Roll

Alan Freed (Disc Jockey) Made the term popular

Teenagers wanting to be different

Sister Rosetta Thorpe= Godmother

Rockabilly

Blues+ Hillbilly music

Associated with white performers

electric guitar primary solo instrument

wide range of vocal inflections

Brill Sound and Soul

Broadway, NY

Rise of the singer-songwriter late 60s

Successful af

Girl groups, bubblegum pop, doo-wop, soul, latin music

Brill Building Sound

Songwriters and producers- Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller

Phil Specter- Wall of Sound

“Wrecking Crew”

MoTown

-Berry Gordy

-Detroit, 1961

-Appealed to all audiences

-Emphasis on the singer

-Influenced by wall of sound