Polyphonic Transcription Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real Music Transcription practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Polyphonic Transcription Techniques flashcards as text
When voices cross in polyphonic music (the lower voice momentarily sounds higher than the upper voice), how should this be notated?
Answer: Maintain the original stem convention for each voice regardless of pitch crossings
Voice identity is preserved by stem direction, so even when voices cross, stems for each voice remain consistent — the original 'upper' voice keeps stems up even if it momentarily sounds lower.
In Baroque counterpoint transcription, a 'stretto' entry refers to:
Answer: Overlapping imitative entries where a new voice enters before the previous one finishes the subject
Stretto is a contrapuntal technique in which imitative entries overlap — a new voice begins the subject before the previous voice has completed it, creating a compressed, intensified texture.
When transcribing a string quartet, the viola part is written in which clef?
Answer: Alto (C) clef
The viola typically uses the alto clef (C clef on the middle line), which places middle C on the center line and reduces the need for ledger lines in the viola's common range.
In open score for a string quartet, how many staves are used?
Answer: Four staves (one per instrument)
Open score assigns each independent voice or instrument its own staff, so a string quartet (violin I, violin II, viola, cello) requires four separate staves.
A polyphonic texture in which two voices move in parallel thirds throughout is sometimes called:
Answer: Parallel motion or fauxbourdon-style writing
When two voices move together in the same direction maintaining consistent thirds, this is parallel motion; extended parallel thirds are characteristic of fauxbourdon and certain folk textures.
When transcribing a fugue, the 'answer' to the subject is typically:
Answer: An exact transposition of the subject to the dominant key (real answer) or a slightly adjusted version (tonal answer)
In fugue construction, the answer is the second voice's entry, which transposes the subject to the dominant — either exactly (real answer) or with slight adjustments to preserve tonal stability (tonal answer).
When two voices in a polyphonic transcription move in opposite directions, this type of motion is called:
Answer: Contrary motion
Contrary motion occurs when two voices move in opposite directions simultaneously — one ascending while the other descends — creating independence and balance between the voices.