MJ Music Theory I
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Second Bassoon: Specialist, Support, Teamwork Dick Hanemaayer Amsterdam, Holland (!E Following Article first Appeared in the Dutch Magazine “De Fagot”
THE DOUBLE REED 103 Second Bassoon: Specialist, Support, Teamwork Dick Hanemaayer Amsterdam, Holland (!e following article first appeared in the Dutch magazine “De Fagot”. It is reprinted here with permission in an English translation by James Aylward. Ed.) t used to be that orchestras, when they appointed a new second bassoon, would not take the best player, but a lesser one on instruction from the !rst bassoonist: the prima donna. "e !rst bassoonist would then blame the second for everything that went wrong. It was also not uncommon that the !rst bassoonist, when Ihe made a mistake, to shake an accusatory !nger at his colleague in clear view of the conductor. Nowadays it is clear that the second bassoon is not someone who is not good enough to play !rst, but a specialist in his own right. Jos de Lange and Ronald Karten, respectively second and !rst bassoonist from the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra explain.) BASS VOICE Jos de Lange: What makes the second bassoon more interesting over the other woodwinds is that the bassoon is the bass. In the orchestra there are usually four voices: soprano, alto, tenor and bass. All the high winds are either soprano or alto, almost never tenor. !e "rst bassoon is o#en the tenor or the alto, and the second is the bass. !e bassoons are the tenor and bass of the woodwinds. !e second bassoon is the only bass and performs an important and rewarding function. One of the tasks of the second bassoon is to control the pitch, in other words to decide how high a chord is to be played. -
Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates Debut-G8 Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates Debut-G8
Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates debut-G8 Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates Debut-G8 Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates DEBUT-G5 Technical Exercise submission list Playing along to metronome is compulsory when indicated in the grade book. Exercises should commence after a 4-click metronome count in. Please ensure this is audible on the video recording. For chord exercises which are stipulated as being directed by the examiner, candidates must present all chords/voicings in all key centres. Candidates do not need to play these to click, but must be mindful of producing the chords clearly with minimal hesitancy between each. Note: Candidate should play all listed scales, arpeggios and chords in the key centres and positions shown. Debut Group A Group B Group C Scales (70 bpm) Chords Acoustic Riff 1. C major Open position chords (play all) To be played to backing track 2. E minor pentatonic 3. A minor pentatonic grade 1 Group A Group B Group C Scales (70 bpm) Chords (70 bpm) Acoustic Riff 1. C major 1. Powerchords To be played to backing track 2. A natural minor 2. Major Chords (play all) 3. E minor pentatonic 3. Minor Chords (play all) 4. A minor pentatonic 5. G major pentatonic Acoustic Guitar 2019 Graded Certificates Debut-G8 grade 2 Group A Group B Group C Scales (80 bpm) Chords (80 bpm) Acoustic Riff 1. C major 1. Powerchords To be played to backing track 2. G Major 2. Major and minor Chords 3. E natural minor (play all) 4. A natural minor 3. Minor 7th Chords (play all) 5. -
On Modulation —
— On Modulation — Dean W. Billmeyer University of Minnesota American Guild of Organists National Convention June 25, 2008 Some Definitions • “…modulating [is] going smoothly from one key to another….”1 • “Modulation is the process by which a change of tonality is made in a smooth and convincing way.”2 • “In tonal music, a firmly established change of key, as opposed to a passing reference to another key, known as a ‘tonicization’. The scale or pitch collection and characteristic harmonic progressions of the new key must be present, and there will usually be at least one cadence to the new tonic.”3 Some Considerations • “Smoothness” is not necessarily a requirement for a successful modulation, as much tonal literature will illustrate. A “convincing way” is a better criterion to consider. • A clear establishment of the new key is important, and usually a duration to the modulation of some length is required for this. • Understanding a modulation depends on the aural perception of the listener; hence, some ambiguity is inherent in distinguishing among a mere tonicization, a “false” modulation, and a modulation. • A modulation to a “foreign” key may be easier to accomplish than one to a diatonically related key: the ear is forced to interpret a new key quickly when there is a large change in the number of accidentals (i.e., the set of pitch classes) in the keys used. 1 Max Miller, “A First Step in Keyboard Modulation”, The American Organist, October 1982. 2 Charles S. Brown, CAGO Study Guide, 1981. 3 Janna Saslaw: “Modulation”, Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy (Accessed 5 May 2008), http://www.grovemusic.com. -
Many of Us Are Familiar with Popular Major Chord Progressions Like I–IV–V–I
Many of us are familiar with popular major chord progressions like I–IV–V–I. Now it’s time to delve into the exciting world of minor chords. Minor scales give flavor and emotion to a song, adding a level of musical depth that can make a mediocre song moving and distinct from others. Because so many of our favorite songs are in major keys, those that are in minor keys1 can stand out, and some musical styles like rock or jazz thrive on complex minor scales and harmonic wizardry. Minor chord progressions generally contain richer harmonic possibilities than the typical major progressions. Minor key songs frequently modulate to major and back to minor. Sometimes the same chord can appear as major and minor in the very same song! But this heady harmonic mix is nothing to be afraid of. By the end of this article, you’ll not only understand how minor chords are made, but you’ll know some common minor chord progressions, how to write them, and how to use them in your own music. With enough listening practice, you’ll be able to recognize minor chord progressions in songs almost instantly! Table of Contents: 1. A Tale of Two Tonalities 2. Major or Minor? 3. Chords in Minor Scales 4. The Top 3 Chords in Minor Progressions 5. Exercises in Minor 6. Writing Your Own Minor Chord Progressions 7. Your Minor Journey 1 https://www.musical-u.com/learn/the-ultimate-guide-to-minor-keys A Tale of Two Tonalities Western music is dominated by two tonalities: major and minor. -
Playing Harmonica with Guitar & Ukulele
Playing Harmonica with Guitar & Ukulele IT’S EASY WITH THE LEE OSKAR HARMONICA SYSTEM... SpiceSpice upup youryour songssongs withwith thethe soulfulsoulful soundsound ofof thethe harmonicaharmonica alongalong withwith youryour GuitarGuitar oror UkuleleUkulele playing!playing! Information all in one place! Online Video Guides Scan or visit: leeoskarquickguide.com ©2013-2016 Lee Oskar Productions Inc. - All Rights Reserved Major Diatonic Key labeled in 1st Position (Straight Harp) Available in 14 keys: Low F, G, Ab, A, Bb, B, C, Db, D, Eb, E, F, F#, High G Key of C MAJOR DIATONIC BLOW DRAW The Major Diatonic harmonica uses a standard Blues tuning and can be played in the 1st Position (Folk & Country) or the 2 nd Position (Blues, Rock/Pop Country). 1 st Position: Folk & Country Most Folk and Country music is played on the harmonica in the key of the blow (exhale) chord. This is called 1 st Position, or straight harp, playing. Begin by strumming your guitar / ukulele: C F G7 C F G7 With your C Major Diatonic harmonica Key of C MIDRANGE in its holder, starting from blow (exhale), BLOW try to pick out a melody in the midrange of the harmonica. DRAW Do Re Mi Fa So La Ti Do C Major scale played in 1st Position C D E F G A B C on a C Major Diatonic harmonica. 4 4 5 5 6 6 7 7 ©2013-2016 Lee Oskar Productions Inc. All Rights Reserved 2nd Position: Blues, Rock/Pop, Country Most Blues, Rock, and modern Country music is played on the harmonica in the key of the draw (inhale) chord. -
GRAMMAR of SOLRESOL Or the Universal Language of François SUDRE
GRAMMAR OF SOLRESOL or the Universal Language of François SUDRE by BOLESLAS GAJEWSKI, Professor [M. Vincent GAJEWSKI, professor, d. Paris in 1881, is the father of the author of this Grammar. He was for thirty years the president of the Central committee for the study and advancement of Solresol, a committee founded in Paris in 1869 by Madame SUDRE, widow of the Inventor.] [This edition from taken from: Copyright © 1997, Stephen L. Rice, Last update: Nov. 19, 1997 URL: http://www2.polarnet.com/~srice/solresol/sorsoeng.htm Edits in [brackets], as well as chapter headings and formatting by Doug Bigham, 2005, for LIN 312.] I. Introduction II. General concepts of solresol III. Words of one [and two] syllable[s] IV. Suppression of synonyms V. Reversed meanings VI. Important note VII. Word groups VIII. Classification of ideas: 1º simple notes IX. Classification of ideas: 2º repeated notes X. Genders XI. Numbers XII. Parts of speech XIII. Number of words XIV. Separation of homonyms XV. Verbs XVI. Subjunctive XVII. Passive verbs XVIII. Reflexive verbs XIX. Impersonal verbs XX. Interrogation and negation XXI. Syntax XXII. Fasi, sifa XXIII. Partitive XXIV. Different kinds of writing XXV. Different ways of communicating XXVI. Brief extract from the dictionary I. Introduction In all the business of life, people must understand one another. But how is it possible to understand foreigners, when there are around three thousand different languages spoken on earth? For everyone's sake, to facilitate travel and international relations, and to promote the progress of beneficial science, a language is needed that is easy, shared by all peoples, and capable of serving as a means of interpretation in all countries. -
10 - Pathways to Harmony, Chapter 1
Pathways to Harmony, Chapter 1. The Keyboard and Treble Clef Chapter 2. Bass Clef In this chapter you will: 1.Write bass clefs 2. Write some low notes 3. Match low notes on the keyboard with notes on the staff 4. Write eighth notes 5. Identify notes on ledger lines 6. Identify sharps and flats on the keyboard 7.Write sharps and flats on the staff 8. Write enharmonic equivalents date: 2.1 Write bass clefs • The symbol at the beginning of the above staff, , is an F or bass clef. • The F or bass clef says that the fourth line of the staff is the F below the piano’s middle C. This clef is used to write low notes. DRAW five bass clefs. After each clef, which itself includes two dots, put another dot on the F line. © Gilbert DeBenedetti - 10 - www.gmajormusictheory.org Pathways to Harmony, Chapter 1. The Keyboard and Treble Clef 2.2 Write some low notes •The notes on the spaces of a staff with bass clef starting from the bottom space are: A, C, E and G as in All Cows Eat Grass. •The notes on the lines of a staff with bass clef starting from the bottom line are: G, B, D, F and A as in Good Boys Do Fine Always. 1. IDENTIFY the notes in the song “This Old Man.” PLAY it. 2. WRITE the notes and bass clefs for the song, “Go Tell Aunt Rhodie” Q = quarter note H = half note W = whole note © Gilbert DeBenedetti - 11 - www.gmajormusictheory.org Pathways to Harmony, Chapter 1. -
Chapter 21 on Modal Mixture
CHAPTER21 Modal Mixture Much music of the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries commonly employs a type of chromaticism that cannot be said to derive from applied functions and tonicization. In fact, the chromaticism often appears to be nonfunctional-a mere coloring of the melodic and harmonic surface of the music. Listen to the two phrases of Example 21.1. The first phrase (mm. 1-8) contains exclusively diatonic harmonies, but the second phrase (mm. 11-21) is full of chromaticism. This creates sonorities, such as the A~-major chord in m. 15, which appear to be distant from the underlying F-major tonic. The chromatic harmonies in mm. 11-20 have been labeled with letter names that indicate the root and quality of the chord. EXAMPLE 21.1 Mascagni, "A casa amici" ("Homeward, friends"), Cavalleria Rusticana, scene 9 418 CHAPTER 21 MODAL MIXTURE 419 These sonorities share an important feature: All but the cadential V-I are members of the parallel mode, F minor. Viewing this progression through the lens of F minor reveals a simple bass arpeggiation that briefly tonicizes 420 THE COMPLETE MUSICIAN III (A~), then moves to PD and D, followed by a final resolution to major tonic in the major mode. The Mascagni excerpt is quite remarkable in its tonal plan. Although it begins and ends in F major, a significant portion of the music behaves as though written in F minor. This technique of borrowing harmonies from the parallel mode is called modal mixture (sometimes known simply as mixture). We have already encountered two instances of modal mixture. -
Unicode Technical Note: Byzantine Musical Notation
1 Unicode Technical Note: Byzantine Musical Notation Version 1.0: January 2005 Nick Nicholas; [email protected] This note documents the practice of Byzantine Musical Notation in its various forms, as an aid for implementors using its Unicode encoding. The note contains a good deal of background information on Byzantine musical theory, some of which is not readily available in English; this helps to make sense of why the notation is the way it is.1 1. Preliminaries 1.1. Kinds of Notation. Byzantine music is a cover term for the liturgical music used in the Orthodox Church within the Byzantine Empire and the Churches regarded as continuing that tradition. This music is monophonic (with drone notes),2 exclusively vocal, and almost entirely sacred: very little secular music of this kind has been preserved, although we know that court ceremonial music in Byzantium was similar to the sacred. Byzantine music is accepted to have originated in the liturgical music of the Levant, and in particular Syriac and Jewish music. The extent of continuity between ancient Greek and Byzantine music is unclear, and an issue subject to emotive responses. The same holds for the extent of continuity between Byzantine music proper and the liturgical music in contemporary use—i.e. to what extent Ottoman influences have displaced the earlier Byzantine foundation of the music. There are two kinds of Byzantine musical notation. The earlier ecphonetic (recitative) style was used to notate the recitation of lessons (readings from the Bible). It probably was introduced in the late 4th century, is attested from the 8th, and was increasingly confused until the 15th century, when it passed out of use. -
Major and Minor Scales Half and Whole Steps
Dr. Barbara Murphy University of Tennessee School of Music MAJOR AND MINOR SCALES HALF AND WHOLE STEPS: half-step - two keys (and therefore notes/pitches) that are adjacent on the piano keyboard whole-step - two keys (and therefore notes/pitches) that have another key in between chromatic half-step -- a half step written as two of the same note with different accidentals (e.g., F-F#) diatonic half-step -- a half step that uses two different note names (e.g., F#-G) chromatic half step diatonic half step SCALES: A scale is a stepwise arrangement of notes/pitches contained within an octave. Major and minor scales contain seven notes or scale degrees. A scale degree is designated by an Arabic numeral with a cap (^) which indicate the position of the note within the scale. Each scale degree has a name and solfege syllable: SCALE DEGREE NAME SOLFEGE 1 tonic do 2 supertonic re 3 mediant mi 4 subdominant fa 5 dominant sol 6 submediant la 7 leading tone ti MAJOR SCALES: A major scale is a scale that has half steps (H) between scale degrees 3-4 and 7-8 and whole steps between all other pairs of notes. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 W W H W W W H TETRACHORDS: A tetrachord is a group of four notes in a scale. There are two tetrachords in the major scale, each with the same order half- and whole-steps (W-W-H). Therefore, a tetrachord consisting of W-W-H can be the top tetrachord or the bottom tetrachord of a major scale. -
PROGRAM NOTES by Phillip Huscher
PROGRAM NOTES by Phillip Huscher Wolfgang Mozart – Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 464 Born January 27, 1756, Salzburg, Austria. Died December 5, 1791, Vienna, Austria. Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor, K. 464 Mozart entered this concerto in his catalog on February 10, 1785, and performed the solo in the premiere the next day in Vienna. The orchestra consists of one flute, two oboes, two bassoons, two horns, two trumpets, timpani, and strings. At these concerts, Shai Wosner plays Beethoven’s cadenza in the first movement and his own cadenza in the finale. Performance time is approximately thirty-four minutes. The Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s first subscription concert performances of Mozart’s Piano Concerto no. 20 were given at Orchestra Hall on January 14 and 15, 1916, with Ossip Gabrilowitsch as soloist and Frederick Stock conducting. Our most recent subscription concert performances were given on March 15, 16, and 17, 2007, with Mitsuko Uchida conducting from the keyboard. The Orchestra first performed this concerto at the Ravinia Festival on July 6, 1961, with John Browning as soloist and Josef Krips conducting, and most recently on July 8, 2007, with Jonathan Biss as soloist and James Conlon conducting. This is the Mozart piano concerto that Beethoven admired above all others. It’s the only one he played in public (and the only one for which he wrote cadenzas). Throughout the nineteenth century, it was the sole concerto by Mozart that was regularly performed—its demonic power and dark beauty spoke to musicians who had been raised on Beethoven, Chopin, and Liszt. -
HOW to FIND RELATIVE MINOR and MAJOR SCALES Relative
HOW TO FIND RELATIVE MINOR AND MAJOR SCALES Relative minor and major scales share all the same notes–each one just has a different tonic. The best example of this is the relative relationship between C-major and A-minor. These two scales have a relative relationship and therefore share all the same notes. C-major: C D E F G A B C A-minor: A B C D E F G A Finding the relative minor from a known major scale (using the 6th scale degree) scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 C-major: C D E F G A B C A-(natural) minor: A B C D E F G A A-minor starts on the 6th scale degree of C-major. This relationship holds true for ALL major and minor scale relative relationships. To find the relative minor scale from a given major scale, count up six scale degrees in the major scale–that is where the relative minor scale begins. This minor scale will be the natural minor mode. 1 2 3 4 5 6 C-D-E-F-G-A The relative minor scale can also be found by counting backwards (down) by three scale degrees in the major scale. C-major: C D E F G A B C ←←← count DOWN three scale degrees and arrive at A 1 2 3 C-B-A Finding the relative major from a known minor scale (using the 3rd scale degree) scale degrees: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 A-(natural) minor: A B C D E F G A C-major: C D E F G A B C C-major starts on the 3rd scale of A-minor.