Theories Of Music

DEFINITION: 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

1. Simple Quadruple Time:  4   4   4   4   4    4

                                                2   4   8 16   32  64

• COMPOUND TIME SIGNATURE: Examples are as follows;
• 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

1. 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.

(ii) What are accidentals?

GENERAL EVALUATION/REVISION QUESTI ONS

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

READING ASSIGNMENT

A Proper Approach to Cultural and Creative Art Book 1 by Peter Akinyemi and other authors.Pages 46 – 49.

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.