Music (from Greek: musike, literally - art of muses), an art form in which as means of an embodiment of artistic images definitely organized musical sounds serve. Basic elements and expressive means of music:
· harmony,
· rhythm,
· metre,
· rate,
· loudness dynamics,
· timbre,
· melody,
· harmony,
· polyphony,
· instrumentation.
Music is fixed in a musical notation and realized in the course of execution.
Division of music on secular and spiritual is accepted. The basic area of a sacred music - cult (most ancient of existed nowadays - music Buddhist ritual). Development of the European musical theory of the musical letter, musical pedagogic is connected with the European cult (religious) music (usually named “Church”).
On performing means music is subdivided on:
- vocal (singing),
- instrumental,
- vocal-instrumental.
Music is often combined with choreography, a theatrical art, and cinema.
Distinguish music one-voiced (monody) and many-voiced (a homophony, polyphony). Music is subdivided:
· on genus and kinds:
- theatrical (an opera, etc.),
- symphonic,
- chamber, etc.;
· on genres:
- song,
- choral,
- dance,
- march,
- symphony,
- suite,
- sonata, etc.
The certain, rather steady typical structures are peculiar to music pieces
Translated from "Big encyclopedia of Cyril and Methodius (rus)"