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Music Theory > AP Vocab List > Flashcards

AP Vocab List Flashcards

(61 cards)

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1
Q

Antecedent

A

First phrase of a period; Ends with inconclusive cadence (usually half cadence)

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2
Q

Anticipation

A

Unaccented embellishing tone resulting from “early” arrival of a pitch; The embellishing tone is repeated as consonance on next beat

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3
Q

Appoggiatura

A

Dissonance that occurs on strong beat; Resolves down by step; Accented dissonance approached by skip / leap; Accented incomplete neighbor

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4
Q

Asymmetrical period

A

Period containing 2 phrases of different length

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5
Q

Canon

A

Contrapuntal composition where same melody is imitated by one or more voices - start at different times / with specific time delay

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6
Q

Canonic

A

Describes music in style of canon; Music using strict imitation

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7
Q

Codetta

A

“Little coda” at end of a section / piece

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8
Q

Contour motive

A

Motive that maintains its contour / musical shape; Changes its intervals; Rhythm can/cannot be altered

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9
Q

Contrasting period

A

Period where the 2 phrases don’t share same initial melodic material

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10
Q

Consequent phrase

A

2nd phrase of period; Ends with conclusive cadence (usually a PAC)

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11
Q

Deceptive progression

A

Progression (series of chords) where deceptive motion can happen anywhere - not just at cadence

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12
Q

Escape tone / Échappée

A

Type of incomplete neighbor; Approached by step + left by leap

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13
Q

Fragmentation

A

Isolation and/or development of small but recognizable part of a motive

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14
Q

Heterophony

A

Texture where multiple performers play or sing the same melody at the same time, but with slight variations

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15
Q

Homophony

A

Texture with main melody supported by one or more additional voices / instruments providing harmonic accompaniment

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16
Q

Hypermeter

A

High-level metric grouping that interprets groups of measures as though they were groups of beats within a single measure (strong → weak → strong → weak)

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17
Q

Imitation

A

Repetition of musical idea (melodic fragment / theme) by another voice / instrument - shortly after its 1st appearance; Can be exact / varied

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18
Q

Imitative polyphony

A

Technique where 1 or more melodic lines imitate each other exactly; Create a polyphonic texture

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19
Q

Improvisation

A

Creation / modification of music while performing without writing it down first

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20
Q

Interlude

A

Musical composition inserted between the parts of a larger composition; Music is interrupted, spaced out, or intervened with in some way

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21
Q

Irregular meter

A

Time signatures where the beats per bar don’t divide evenly into groups of two or three; Often feature 5 or 7 beats per bar

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22
Q

Marcato

A

∧ which indicates that a note, chord, or passage should be played with strong emphasis, often louder and more forcefully than surrounding music

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23
Q

Melismatic

A

A single syllable of text is sung over multiple notes, creating a run or flourish

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24
Q

Monophony

A

Texture consisting of a single melodic line, without any accompanying harmony or counterpoint

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25
Nonimitative polyphony
2 or more independent melodic lines that "converse" with each other, but without any melodic material being directly imitated or echoed between them; Each voice has its own distinct melodic idea, and the overall texture is one of interwoven, independent lines.
26
Parallel period
Period in which 2 phrases share same beginning melodic material
27
Pentatonic
Musical scale with only 5 notes within an octave, derived from either a major(1,2,3,5,6) / minor scale(1,3,4,5,7)
28
Period
Musical unit consisting (usually) of 2 phrases; 1st phrase ends with weak cadence (typically HC) → Answered by more conclusive cadence (usually PAC) at end of 2nd phrase
29
Phrase
Similar to a sentence; Has beginning, middle, end; Must end with cadence in tonal / other musical features in non-tonal
30
Phrase group
3 or more phrases with tonal and/or thematic design elements that group them together
31
Phrase rhythm
Interaction of hypermeter + phrase structure
32
Phrase elision / overlap
Simultaneous ending of 1 phrase + beginning of another; Articulated by same pitches; *Not all involve metric reinterpretation (if phrase 1 extend to 5 measures, its overlap with phrase 2 would already be on a strong beat)
33
Picardy third
Raising the third of the tonic chord from a minor to a major third - Practice of ending a piece of music in a minor key on a major tonic chord instead of the expected minor tonic chord
34
Polyphony
Texture where two or more independent melodic lines are played simultaneously
35
Polyrhythm
Simultaneous use of two or more different rhythmic patterns or time signatures
36
Polyphony rhythm
2 or more independent melodic lines are played or sung simultaneously
37
Preparation
Consonant pitch or chord which precedes a dissonant nonharmonic tone
38
Refrain
Repeated line or phrase, often used at the end of a verse, that serves to emphasize a key idea or the title of a song
39
Retardation (ret)
Rhythmic embellishment where consonance is held over to next beat, creating dissonance with new harmony; Resolved upward by step, creating consonant interval
40
Retrogression
Chord progression that moves backwards or away from the expected tonic, creating a sense of tension and unresolvedness
41
Ritardando
Gradually slow down, then stop
42
Ritenuto
Immediate slowing down of the tempo, more abrupt than a ritardando
43
Rubato
Tempo is not strictly adhered to, allowing the performer to subtly speed up or slow down to enhance expressiveness
44
Sequence
Pattern where a melodic or harmonic idea is repeated at a higher or lower pitch level, maintaining the interval relationships of the original pattern
45
Swing rhythm
Rhythmic feel where first of 2 eighth notes in each pair is lengthened, and the second shortened, creating a "triplet feel" without actually being triplets
46
Syllabic
Each syllable of a text is sung to a single note
47
Syncopation
Placement of rhythmic stresses or accents where they wouldn't normally occur
48
Extensive syncopation
Accents are shifted away from the expected strong beats
49
Tenuto
--- mark that instructs the performer to hold or sustain a note for its full duration
50
Terraced dynamics
Sudden change from one dynamic level to another without either crescendo or diminuendo
51
Tessitura
General range of pitches found in a melody or vocal part
52
Timbre
The unique quality of the sound that a musical instrument makes
53
Tonality
Principle of organizing musical compositions around a central note, the tonic
54
Tonicization
Process of making a non-tonic chord temporarily sound like tonic
55
Tremolo
Rapid reiteration or oscillation of a musical tone, creating a tremulous or trembling effect
56
Variation
A musical idea is repeated with modifications; Often while maintaining a recognizable connection to the original
57
Verse
A series of lyrics that tell the main story of the song and keep the action or thoughts moving forward
58
Walking bass
A bass line characterized by a steady, rhythmic motion, typically using quarter notes, where the bass player moves from one chord to another, outlining the chord tones
59
Imitative counterpoint
Repetition of a main melodic idea across different vocal parts, with or without variation
60
Alberti Bass
Notes of a chord are broken and played in the order: lowest, highest, middle, highest
61
Ostinato
Continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm

Music Theory (11 decks)

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