Music Theory Fundamentals Part 2: Understanding Time Signatures

CORSO LINGUA INGLESE

CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA- ROMA

Α.Α. 2024/25 Docente: MIRELLA DI VITA

MUSIC THEORY FUNDAMENTALS

PART 2

Stem Flag Head

PARTS OF A MUSIC NOTE

The part of a note, usually elliptical in shape, whose placement on the staff indicates the pitch, is called head or notehead. The thin, vertical line directly connected with the notehead is called stem (or stick). Stem may point up or down. The little line that comes off the top of the note stem is called flag (or tail). Prof. Mirella Di Vita Conservatorio Santa Cecilia - Roma

Beam Stem > < Flag Notehead

IN MUSICAL NOTATION A BEAM IS A LINE (HORIZONTAL OR DIAGONAL) USED TO CONNECT MULTIPLE CONSECUTIVE NOTES TO INDICATE RHYTHMIC GROUPING.

IN INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC, BEAMS ARE THE PREFERRED WAY OF NOTATING NOTE VALUES LESS THAN A QUARTER NOTE.

IN VOCAL MUSIC, FLAGS ARE GENERALLY USED INSTEAD OF BEAMS.

J. d. A DOT (ON AN AUGMENTATION DOT) ON ANY NOTE OR REST ADDS HALF THE DURATION. A SECOND AUGMENTATION DOT CAN BE FOUND IN MUSIC: IT ADDS HALF THE FIRST DOT'S VALUE (DOUBLE DOTTED NOTES) PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

REST INDICATES THE LENGTH OF SILENCE.

A PAUSE (OR FERMATA) SIGN TELLS YOU TO HOLD THE NOTE OR REST FOR SLIGHTLY LONGER THAN ITS WRITTEN VALUE. PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

Slur 1 Slur

A TIE CONNECTS TWO NOTES OF THE SAME PITCH AND INDICATES THAT THEY ARE TO BE PERFORMED LIKE ONE NOTE EQUAL IN LENGTH TO THE TWO LINKED NOTES.

TIES CAN EXTEND ACCIDENTALS ACROSS THE BARLINE

A SLUR JOINS NOTES OF DIFFERENT PITCHES WHICH NEED TO BE PLAYED LEGATO (SMOOTHLY).

A PHRASING SLUR CAN DELINEATE THE EXTENT OF A PHRASE LINE AND INDICATE THE LEGATO PERFORMANCE OF MELODIES OR ARPEGGIATED CHORDS.

TIE PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

indicates number of beats per bar indicates value of each beat

THE TIME SIGNATURE A SYMBOL PLACED AT THE LEFT SIDE OF THE STAFF INDICATING THE METER OF THE COMPOSITION. (IT TELLS YOU HOW THE PIECE OF MUSIC IS TO BE COUNTED).

THE TIME SIGNATURE IS WRITTEN AT THE BEGINNING OF THE STAVE, AFTER THE CLEF AND THE KEY SIGNATURE.

PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

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IN SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURE (OR METRE SIGNATURE 4/4- 2/4- 3/4)THE TOP NUMBER INDICATES HOW MANY BEATS THERE ARE IN ONE BAR, WHILE THE BOTTOM NUMBER INDICATES THE RHYTHMIC VALUE OF EACH BEAT (BEAT UNIT OR PULSE).

SIMPLE TIME SIGNATUZE = THE PULSE IS DIVIDED INTO 2 INNER BEATSL

61h . G . SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURE = THE PULSE IS DIVIDED INTO 2 INNER BEATS = IT TAKES 2 INNER BEATS TO MAKE ONE PULSE

IN COMPOUND TIME SIGNATURE (3/8- 6/8- 9/8) THE TOP NUMBER INDICATES THE NUMBER OF INNER BEATS PER BAR WHILE THE BOTTOM NUMBER INDICATES THE RHYTHMIC VALUE OF EACH INNER BEAT.

PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

Andante grazioso (+ = 120) P - . Compound time signature = the pulse is divided into 3 inner beats. = It takes 3 inner beats to make one pulse. Prof. Mirella Di Vita Conservatorio Santa Cecilia/ Roma

4/4 IS SOMETIMES CALLED COMMON TIME

2/2 IS CALLED CUT TIME (OR ALLA BREVE)

Beethoven: "Moonlight" Sonata Tempo Adagio sostenuto = 48 HH 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 7:14 #40 0 1¢

TEMPO = IT IS USED TO EXPLAIN HOW FAST A PIECE IS MEANT TO BE PLAYED

TEMPO CAN BE SPECIFIED: - USING A NUMBER AND A NOTE DURATION - USING AN ITALIAN TEMPO TERM SUCH AS ANDANTE, LARGO, ALLEGRO ETC ...

PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA

Word Common Abbreviations

English Definition and Description

Recommended beats per minute (bpm)

Accelerando Accel. Gradually getting faster Adagio At ease. Slowly 66 - 76 Allargando Broaden. A slower version of rallentando Allegretto Moderately fast 100 Allegro Lively and fast 120 - 140 Andante At an easy walking pace 56 - 88 Andantino Between adagio and andante A tempo Return to the former speed Largo Broadly; Slowly 40 - 60 Larghetto Less slowly than largo 60 - 66 Larghissimo Very, very slow <20 Lento Lent Slowly 40 - 60 Moderato Moderately 100 - 120 Mosso Movement. Slightly more lively Prestissimo As fast as possible >200 Presto Very fast 150 - 200 Rallentando Rall. Gradually slower Ritardando Rit/ Ritard Gradually slower (but not as slow as rallentando) Ritenuto Riten Holding back Stretto Quickening Stringendo Tightening. Gradually faster Vivace Lively. Faster than allegro 140 Vivo Lively

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Key signatures: major and relative minor

C major A minor G major D major E minor : B minor A major E major F#minor C# minor B major G#mnor F# major D# minor C# major A# minor C major A minor F major D minor Bb major G minor Eb major C minor Ab major F minor Db major Bb minor Gb major Eb minor Cb major Ab minor

THE KEY SIGNATURE COMES RIGHT AFTER THE CLEF SYMBOL ON THE STAVE

IT IS A LIST OF ALL THE SHARP, FLAT AND NATURAL SIGNS IN THE KEY (TONALITY).

PROF. MIRELLA DI VITA CONSERVATORIO SANTA CECILIA - ROMA