THEORIES OF MUSIC

Key signature refers to any of several combinations of sharps and flats after the clef at the beginning of each stave, indicating the key of a musical composition.

 

TIME SIGNATURE

Timesignature is the amount and type of notes that each measure contains. The first measure is in 4/4 time and the second measure is in 3/4 time. The first measure (4/4) contains four quarter notes. The second measure(3/4) contains three quarter notes. 6/8 time contains six eight notes. 3/2 time contains three half notes.

 

TYPES OF TIME SIGNATURE

There are two types of time signature namely;

1. SIMPLE TIME SIGNATURE: Examples are as follows;
2. Simple Duple Time: 2 2   2    2     2   2

2 4 8 16 32 64

1. Simple Triple Time: 3 3   3   3    3     3

2   4   8   16 32   64

• Simple Quadruple Time: 4   4   4   4   4    4

2   4   8 16   32  64

2. COMPOUND TIME SIGNATURE: Examples are as follows;
3. Compound Duple Time: 6  6  6  6  6  6

2  4   8  16  32  64

1. Compound Triple Time:   9   9   9    9    9  9

2   4   8   1632 64

• Compound Quadruple Time: 12   12   12   12   12   12

2     4     8    16   32   64

ACCIDENTALS

Accidental in music is a symbol that indicates the modification of a pitch.Accidental is a note of a pitch or pitch class that is not a member of the scale. The most commonly used accidentals in music are the sharp, the flat, and the natural. Sharp is a musical sign that raises a note by half step or half a semitone. Flat is a musical sign that lowers a note by half step or half a semitone.Microtonal music may use ‘fractional accidentals’One occasionally sees double sharps or flats, which raise or lower the indicated note by a whole tone.Natural restores a note to its original pitch.Accidentals are shown below:

 

EVALUATION

1. Define key signature and time signature respectively.
2. (i) State the two types of time signature.
3. What are accidentals?

 

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTI ONS

1. State three importance of art.
2. What is art appreciation?

 

WEEKEND ASSIGNMENT

1. ____ restores the note to its normal pitch.(a) Sharp (b) Flat (c) Double flat
2. ____ lowers a note by a semitone.(a) Double flat (b) Flat  (c) Sharp
3. ____ raises a note by a semitone.(a) Double sharp (b) Flat (c) Double flat
4. Musical signs introduced just before a note are called ____
5. A musical piece in the 2 time represents ____ (a)two minim beats in a bar (b) two crotchet beats in a bar  (c) two quaver beats in a bar (d) None of the above

THEORY

1. Define time signature.
2. List the two types of time signature.

 

See also

MOSAIC

COSTUME IN DRAMA

GOD’S LAW IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

GOD’S LAWS IN THE OLD TESTAMENT

LIVING IN THE COMMUNITY UNDER GOD’S LAW