AP Music Theory Vocab Terms for Exam

Question 1

Cautionary accidental

Answer 1

An accidental placed between parantheses even though the same note with the same accidental is used in the same measure

Question 2

Timbre

Answer 2

Unique sound or tone of a musical note

Question 3

Alla Breve

Answer 3

Cut time (2/2)

Question 4

Anacrusis

Answer 4

Pick up note of a melody. The last measure has 3 beats to balance with the 1 beat at the beginning, which is the anacrusis.

Question 5

Hemiola

Answer 5

Rhythmically alters or regroups the music so that it presents 2 bars of triple meter as 3 bars of duple meter

Question 6

Syncopation

Answer 6

Accenting beats that are usually not stressed (like the 2nd and 4th beats)

Question 7

Church Modes

Ionian Mode

Answer 7

Major scale

Question 8

Dorian Mode

Answer 8

Natural Minor with raised 6th (scale degree)

Question 9

Phrygian Mode

Answer 9

Natural Minor with lowered 2nd

Question 10

Lydian Mode

Answer 10

Major with raised 4th

Question 11

Mixolydian

Answer 11

Major with lowered 7th

Question 12

Aeolian

Answer 12

Natural Minor

Question 13

Locrian

Answer 13

Natural Minor with lowered 2nd and 5th

Question 14

I Don’t Play Loud Music At Lunch

Answer 14

Ionian Dorian Phrygian Lydian Mixolydian Aeolian Locrian

Question 15

Scalar Variance

Answer 15

Use of all 3 forms of minor in the same piece

Question 16

Enharmonic Intervals

Answer 16

Sound the same but spelled differently

Question 17

1. Simple Intervals
2. Compound Intervals

Answer 17

1. Octave or Smaller
2. Larger than Octave

Question 18

1. Consonant Intervals
2. Dissonant Intervals

Answer 18

1. Stable: P1, P5, P8, M3, m3, M6, m6
2. Unstable: M2, m2, M7, m7

Question 19

Phrygian Half Cadence (PHC)

Answer 19

A kind of half cadence occuring in harmonic minor. iv^6 - V (Le-So)

Question 20

1. Conjunct Motion
2. Disjunct

Answer 20

1. Stepwise
2. Skipwise

Question 21

Motivic transformation

Answer 21

Changing or transforming original motive

Question 22

Andante

Answer 22

Moderately slow tempo

Question 23

Presto

Answer 23

Very fast (faster than allegro & vivace)

Question 24

Marcato

Answer 24

Playing notes louder

Question 25

Tenuto

Answer 25

Hold or sustain a note

Question 26

# Dynamics of Music Pianississimo Pianissimo Piano Mezzo Piano Mezzo Forte Forte Fortissimo Fortississimo

Answer 26

Very, very Soft Very Soft Soft Kinda soft Kinda loud Loud Very Loud Very, very loud

Question 27

Vivace

Answer 27

Lively and fast (faster than just allegro, a bit slower than presto)

Question 28

Subito forte/piano

Answer 28

Suddenly loud/soft

Question 29

Tremolo

Answer 29

Quivering or Trembling

Question 30

Sempre (legato, allegro, tenuto)

Answer 30

Always (connected, fast, sustaining)

Question 31

Adagio

Answer 31

Played slowly

Question 32

Ritardando

Answer 32

Gradual decrease in speed

Question 33

Diminution

Answer 33

When the rhythm gradually condenses (Ex: half notes to quarter notes)

Question 34

Alberti vs. Walking Bass

Answer 34

Alberti: Broken chords on left hand (bottom, top, middle, top) Walking: Notes move on every beat (jazz)

Question 35

Canon

Answer 35

Richly layered and harmonious texture

Question 36

Imitative vs. Non-Imitative Polyphony

Answer 36

If lines are similar, imitative; but if lines are completely unrelated; non-imitative

Question 37

Basso Continuo

Answer 37

Bass line group

Question 38

Intimative Counterpoint

Answer 38

Same melodic idea throughout multiple parts w/o variation

Question 39

Terraced Dynamics

Answer 39

Sudden change in dynamics without crescendo or diminuendo

Question 40

Sequences

Answer 40

Repeating melodic passage or similar at a higher or lower pitch

Question 41

Picardy third

Answer 41

Major chord played at the end of a piece with a minor key

Question 42

Syllabic and Melismatic

Answer 42

Syllabic: Relating to syllables Melismatic: A phrase or composition where you hold a word or words with different pitches flowing until the end.

Question 43

Grave

Answer 43

Slow, slower than andante

Question 44

Retrograde

Answer 44

Playing a musical piece backwards

Question 45

Voice exchange

Answer 45

Between two chords with a passing chord in between, the notes of the bass and soprano exchange so that the bass and soprano of the first chord are switched as the soprano and base of the last chord.

Question 46

Cross rhythm, relation

Answer 46

When two notes or sounds are played in a chromatic alteration to make it sound dissonant, two conflicting rhythms being played together

Question 47

Phrygian Half Cadence

Answer 47

Only in minor, when iv6 (first inversion four chord) goes to a major five chord (V) with a sharp on 7th scale degree.

Question 48

Rhythmic Augmentation

Answer 48

Doubling note values. Ex: eighth changes to quarter note, quarter to half. The opposite of rhythmic augmentation is called diminution

Question 49

Elision

Answer 49

When two phrases overlap with the overlapping material as a PAC. The first phrase will end in a PAC. After the PAC, another phrase continues off of that.