Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Entertainment/2016 April 27

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April 27

Formal musical term for that low-pitched sound at the end of a melodic progression of notes?

I have very little formal music education, other than the elementary-level piano lessons I took when I was younger or the recorder and guitar lessons in public schools. I don't know much about the formal terminology, so I can't articulate what I see on the sheet music or hear. Anyway, I observe that many music sheets have this one-note or two-note thing, played by the left hand, at the end of a melodic progression of notes, played by the right hand. Upon hearing these notes, they sound like a period of a sentence. If the music has lyrics, then the notes would appear behind the singer's voice or in the middle of a long held note.

Also, what is it called when the left hand's music seems to mirror the right hand's music like an echo? 140.254.77.204 (talk) 14:37, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

I think you're hearing Resolution_(music). That is not precisely about the low notes on the left hand -- resolution is generally about moving through a chord progression and returning to a chord with more consonance. However, often that resolution is accompanied a few low notes on the left hand, see e.g. the examples at the first link. But there may be other terms and things going on, so I too will be looking at further responses with interest :) SemanticMantis (talk) 14:48, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

Agree with SemanticMantis, and also you may find Ground bass and Cadence worth looking at. --TammyMoet (talk) 14:54, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

In my experience, a common name for a single bass note at the end of a piece or song is button note, but I see we don't have an article, and googling finds nothing: does anyone else know this term? AndrewWTaylor (talk) 17:16, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

To answer the second question, "when the left hand's music seems to mirror the right hand's music like an echo" is a Canon (music). Tevildo (talk) 20:15, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

Father Ted - Ted calling Jack 'Father Jack' and 'Father'

In the Irish sitcom Father Ted, why does Father Ted Crilly call Father Jack Hackett 'Father Jack' and 'Father' rather than just 'Jack'? 86.169.72.176 (talk) 18:53, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

Because that's what priests call each other, or so pop culture has it. ←Baseball Bugs ^{What's up, Doc?} carrots→ 19:41, 27 April 2016 (UTC)

How come he calls Father Dougal McGuire just 'Dougal' rather than 'Father Dougal' or 'Father'? To Jack, 'Father Jack' and 'Father'. Not just 'Jack'. To Dougal, just 'Dougal'. Not 'Father Dougal' or 'Father'. 86.169.72.176 (talk) 16:20, 28 April 2016 (UTC)

Actual answer, because that's how the scriptwriters wrote it. As speculative justification: Father Jack is older than Father Ted, so Father Ted addresses him more respectfully, even though he's a brain-rotted boozer. Father Dougal is younger than Father Ted (as well as being a half-wit) so Father Ted adopts a Teacher-to-Pupil attitude and addresses him more familiarly. {The poster formerly known as 87.81.230.195} 185.74.232.130 (talk) 17:11, 28 April 2016 (UTC)

And how come Dougal calls Ted just 'Ted' rather than 'Father Ted' or 'Father'? 86.169.72.176 (talk) 14:22, 30 April 2016 (UTC)

Because he's a half-wit, who is unaware of proper etiquette. Ghmyrtle (talk) 15:19, 1 May 2016 (UTC)