Definitions Flashcards
(122 cards)
0
Q
Absolute music
A
Instrumental music without extra musical associations
1
Q
Abellimenti
A
Ornaments or or embellishments
2
Q
A Cappella
A
Without accompaniment
3
Q
Accelerando; accel.
A
Becoming gradually faster
4
Q
Accent >
A
To emphasize a note
5
Q
Accidentals
A
Sharps, double sharps, flats, double flats or natural signs used to raise, lower or return a note to its normal pitch, this only last through the measure
6
Q
Accompaniment
A
Vocal or instrumental parts that accompany a melody
7
Q
Acoustic
A
A non amplified or non electric instrument
8
Q
Acoustics
A
The science of sound
9
Q
Adagio
A
A slow tempo which is faster than largo and slower than andante
10
Q
Aeolian
A
A mode that corresponds to the half and whole step patterns created when playing A-A on the white keys of the piano; same as the natural minor scale.
11
Q
Agitato
A
Agitated
12
Q
Al coda
A
To the coda
13
Q
Al fine
A
To the end
14
Q
Allegretto
A
A lively quick tempo that is slightly slower than allegro
15
Q
Allegro
A
Cheerful, quick or fast
16
Q
Al segno
A
Go to the sign
17
Q
Alto
A
The lowest female singing voice; A high falsetto male singing voice
18
Q
Alto clef
A
The C clef usually used by the viola, where the C lies on the third line of the staff
19
Q
Andante
A
A moderate graceful tempo, slower than Allegretto and faster than adagio
20
Q
Aria
A
A solo vocal piece usually associated with opera and oratorios
21
Q
Aria buffa
A
A comic aria
22
Q
Arioso
A
Lyrically
23
Q
Arpeggio
A
The notes of a chord played one after another
24
Ars antiqua
Literally 'old art '. Used to indicate music of the 12th and 13th centuries
25
Ars nova
Literally 'new art'. Used to indicate the music of the 14th century
26
A tempo
Return to the original tempo or speed
27
Atonal
Music without a tonal center or key
28
Ballet
A dance set to music that depicts a story
29
Baritone clef
The F clef on the third line of the staff
30
Baroque
The historical period of music roughly from 1600-1750
31
Bass clef
The F clef on the fourth line of the staff
32
Basso buffo
Comical bass voice in an Opera
33
Basso ostinado
A bass part of a composition that is repeated
34
Basso profundo
The male bass voice that extends below the common bass range
35
Binary form
A musical form where one section is followed by a contrasting section : AB
36
Cadence
The melodic or harmonic ending of a phrase,section, movement or complete composition
37
Cadenza
A virtuosic solo section of a piece used to display the performers technique, either written by the composer or improvised by the performer
38
Camerata
Small schools of writers and musicians in the 16th century
39
Cantabile
Singing
40
Cantata
A multi movement vocal work for chorus and/or soloists with orchestral accompaniment that is performed without staging
41
Capo
The head of the beginning of a piece
42
Cappella
In the church style
43
C clef
A movable clef that indicates the placement of middle c on the staff
44
Chamber music
Music for a small ensemble where each part is played by only one performer and suitable for a small room
45
Chamber orchestra
A small orchestra
46
Chant
Unaccompanied monophonic sacred plainsong in free rhythm
47
Church modes
Scales originally used in the medieval church. Dorian, Phrygian , Lydian, mixolydian, aeolian, locrian and Ionian
48
Circle of fifths
The clockwise arrangement of successive keys arranged in order of ascending fifths
49
Coda
An ending section of a movement or piece
50
Comic opera
An opera with comical elements and a happy ending
51
Concertino
A short concerto usually In one movement
52
Concerto
A composition for orchestra and soloist
53
Concerto grosso
A baroque concerto that uses a full orchestra and a group of soloists
54
Consonance
Combinations of notes that produce the feeling of rest. Consonant intervals are major and minor thirds and sixths, perfect fourths, perfect fifths and octaves
55
Counterpoint
Composing with two or more melodies that are to be played simultaneously. Literally note against note
56
Da capo
From the beginning
57
Da capo al coda
Go back to the beginning of the piece and play to the coda indication, then skip to the coda
58
Da capo al fine
Go back to the beginning and play til the fine/ end of piece
59
Da capo aria
An opera aria in three sections with the third being a repetition of the first
60
Deceptive cadence
Where the progression moves from the dominant chord to a chord other than the tonic usually to the submediant
61
Decrescendo
Gradually getting softer
62
Diminished interval
Minor or perfect intervals lowered by a half step
63
Dorian mode
A mode that corresponds to the whole and half step patterns created when playing D-D on the white keys of the piano
64
Enharmonic
Two notes that sound the same but are spelled differently, ie. B flat A sharp
65
Evaded cadence
A cadence that does not resolve where it is expected to resolve
66
Fermata
A hold or pause sign that indicates the not should be held longer than expected
67
Figured bass
A bass part with numbers that indicate the intervals of harmony that are to be played above the bass note
68
Forte
Loud, abbreviated
69
Forza
With force
70
French overture
Developed in the 18th century that has 3 sections; the first is slow the second is fast and the third is slow
71
Gallant
The light elegant style of the 18th century
72
Galliard
A spirited dance from the 15th century in triple meter
73
Giocoso
Humorous
74
Grave
Slow, heavy, solemn
75
Gregorian chant
Roman Catholic liturgical chants developed by pope Gregory I
76
Harmonic minor
A natural minor scale with a raised seventh providing a leading tone
77
Homophony
Music with one melodic part that is supported by a chordal accompaniment
78
Homorhythmic
When all the voices or parts move in the same rhythm
79
Imperfect cadence
A cadence that ends on a dominant chord
80
Incomplete cadence
A cadence where the highest note of the tonic chord is not the keynote
81
Intermezzo
Short lyrical instrumental piece either part of a larger work or an independent composition; comical musical entertainment played between the acts of an opera during the 18th century
82
Ionian mode
A mode that corresponds to the whole and half step patterns created when playing C -C on the white keys of the piano, same as a major scale
83
Isometric
When all parts of a polyphonic piece have the same rhythm
84
Largo
Very slow and broad
85
Legato
To play or sing in groups of notes smoothly and without separate attacks
86
Libretto
The words or text of an opera, oratorio or musical
87
Liturgical drama
Medieval plays representing biblical stories with monophonic music
88
Locrian mode
The mode that corresponds to the half and whole step patterns created when playing B-B on the white keys of a piano
89
Lydian mode
A mode that corresponds to the half and whole step patterns created when playing F-F on the white keys of a piano
90
Madrigal
Italian vocal music through the 14th and 16th century usually unaccompanied
91
Marcato
Accented,stressed indicated by ^
92
Melodic minor
A natural minor scale with the sixth and seventh degrees raised while ascending and then lowered when descending
93
Mixolydian mode
A mode that corresponds to the whole and half step patterns created playing G-G on the white keys of the piano
94
Moderato
In a moderate tempo
95
Monophonic/ monophony
A single melodic line without any additional parts or accompaniment
96
Offertory
The fourth part of the Roman Catholic mass sung by the choir during offering
97
Oratorio
A composition for voices and instrumental accompaniment usually within a sacred text
98
Overture
An instrumental composition used as an intro to a ballet, opera or oratorio
99
Parallel motion
The movement of two or more parts, with the interval between the parts remaining the same
100
Pastorale
A vocal or instrumental piece imitating the music of shepherds or idyllic scenes
101
Passing tones
A non chordal tone that is melodically placed between two chord tones and usually occurs on a Weak beat
102
Perfect cadence
A cadence where the progression moves froma root position dominat chord to the root position tonic chord (V-I)
103
Phrygian mode
A mode that corresponds to the whole and half step patterns created when playing E-E on the white keys of a piano
104
Plagal cadence
A cadence where the progression moves from a subdominant to a tonic chord (IV-V) the amen cadence
105
Polyphony
When two or more melodic lines are combined
106
Polyrhythm
Two or more rhythms played simultaneously
107
Recapitulation
The section of a movement in sonata form when the themes of the exposition are repeated
108
Recitative
A style of singing that imitates speech, usually found between arias of an opera or oratorio
109
Rounded binary
A binary form with a repeat of the first section ABA
110
Sinfonia
An overture to an opera, suite or cantata
111
Singspiel
A light 18th century German opera that has spoken interludes
112
Sonata form
Form used for the first movements of sonatas, symphonies and chamber works, it consists of 3 main sections : exposition, development, recapitulation.
113
Sonata
A multi movement composition usually for a solo instrument but often accompanied by a piano
114
Sonata da camera
Chamber sonata
115
Sonata de chiesa
Church sonata
116
Sonatina
A short sonata
117
Staccato
Short, detached. Indicated by a dot over or under the note .
118
Subdominant
The fourth degree of a major or minor scale
119
Submediant
The sixth degree of a major or minor scale
120
Tenuto
To hold a note for its full value, indicated by a line over or under the note
121
Timbre
Tone colour or quality
