Glossary Flashcards
(264 cards)
1
Q
Sudden modulation in the middle of a piece
A
Abrupt modulation
2
Q
Speed up the tempo
A
Accelerando (accel.)
3
Q
A type of articulation that tells you to emphasise or stress a note
A
Accent
4
Q
A type of ornament that’s played by squeezing in a note between the main note. It’s a type of grace note.
A
Acciaccatura
5
Q
A note that doesn’t belong to the home key of a piece, indicated by a sharp, flat or natural
A
Accidental
6
Q
The part of the music that’s not the main melody
A
Accompaniment
7
Q
Play at 66-76 beats per minute. Slightly faster than largo and larghetto
A
Adagio
8
Q
Played in an agitated way
A
Agitato
9
Q
A pattern played in the bass part that goes root, fifth, third, fifth
A
Alberti bass
10
Q
A choir made up of two groups of sopranos and two groups of altos
A
All-female choir
11
Q
A choir made up of trebles, altos, tenors and basses
A
All-male choir
12
Q
Play in a March style
A
Alla marcia
13
Q
Slow down the tempo slightly and play more broadly
A
Allargando
14
Q
120-168 bests per minute. Quick and lively
A
Allergo
15
Q
The name given to the C clef when the middle point is on the middle line of the stave. Often used for viola parts
A
Alto clef
16
Q
Voice that sings roughly from the F below middle C to the F at the top of the treble clef stave
A
Alto voice
17
Q
Another name for plagal cadence
A
‘Amen’ cadence
18
Q
Play in a romantic, loving way
A
Amoroso
19
Q
An unaccented beat at the start of a phrase
A
Anacrusis
20
Q
76-108 beats per minute. Walking pace
A
Andante
21
Q
Short polyphonic choral piece performed in Protestant churches
A
Anthem
22
Q
A type of ornament that clashes with the accompanying chord, then moves to a note of the chord. It’s a type of grace note
A
Appoggiatura
23
Q
Go back to the original tempo
A
A tempo
24
Q
song for a soloist in an opera
A
aria
25
the notes of a chord played in succession
arpeggio
26
directions telling the performer how the piece should be played
articulation
27
music that's not written in a key
atonal
28
increasing the note lengths in a tune to form a new version of it. the opposite of diminution
augmentation
29
an interval that's one semitone larger than a major or perfect interval
augmented interval
30
a type of melodic decoration that's one note higher than the notes either side (which are the same)
auxiliary note
31
a type of slushy pop song, or 15th century song that tell a story
ballad
32
a male voice that sings the top part of the bass range and the bottom part of the tenor range
baritone voice
33
clef used for low instrument and voices
bass clef
34
male voice that sings roughly from the F below the bass clef to the E above middle C
bass voice
35
a note that changes pitch slightly. it sounds a bit like a wobble
bent note
36
a large jazz band
big band
37
type of musical structure where the music has two distinct sections
binary form
38
chord played by sounding all notes at once
block chord
39
the flattened notes used in a blues scale
blue note
40
a major scale with flattened third, seventh and sometimes fifth
blue scale
41
band with brass and percussion sections
brass band
42
a chord that's played as a series of separate notes
broken chords
43
a type of clef that can move up and down on the stave. its middle point is middle C
C celf
44
pair of chords used to finish off a phrase
cadence
45
a short melody followed by an answering phrase
call and response
46
play the music so it sounds very calm
calmato
47
like an oratorio, but uses words from books or poems
cantata
48
a type of dance from the 17th century that uses a ground bass
chaconne
49
music for small groups, originally written to be performed in people's houses
chamber music
50
orchestra with small string and percussion sections, and one or two of each wind and brass instrument
chamber orchestra
51
a group of singers
choir
52
hymn for a choir
chorale
53
two or more notes played at the same time
chord
54
different ways of playing chords
chord figurations
55
a series of chords. another name for a harmonic ________
chord progression
56
a group of singers, that support the soloists, all sing together
chorus
57
notes used as melodic decoration that don't belong to the home key
chromatic decoration
58
13-note scale using all the notes in an octave
chromatic scale
59
diagram showing how all the keys relate to each other
circle of fifths
60
small group with clarinet, two violins, viola and cello (not five clarinets)
clarinet quintet
61
music composed in Europe in the late 18th and early 19th century
classical
62
swirly thing at the start of a piece of music that helps you figure out how high or low a note is
clef
63
section at the end of a piece that's a bit different from the rest and finishes it off nicely
coda
64
for sting players- play the instrument with the wooden bit of the bow
col legno
65
time signature where each main beat can be split into three little ones
compound time
66
play with the bow. the opposite of pizzicato
con arco
67
play with a mute
consordino
68
piece for a soloist with an orchestra
concerto
69
bossy individual who stands at the front of an orchestra waving their hands or baton to keep everyone in time
conductor
70
where the melody is smooth - there aren't big jumps between the notes
conjunct
71
nice sound that you get when notes that fit together are played at the same time. also called concordance
consonance
72
another word for polyphonic
contrapuntal
73
when two parts move in opposite directions. it is a polyphonic
contrary motion
74
male singers who sing within the female vocal range
counter-tenors
75
extra tune played at the same time as the main theme to keep it interesting
countermelody
76
get louder gradually
crescendo
77
when two different rhythms that don't fit together are played at the same time
cross=rhythm
78
note that lasts for one beat
crotchet
79
start again from the beginnning
da capo/D.C.
80
go back to the beginning and play all the way through till you get to the sign that says fine.
cal capo al fine
81
star again from the sigh
da segno/D.S.
82
higher tune sung or played at the same time as the main melody and harmonising with it
descant
83
section in sonata form where ideas are developed
development
84
notes used as melodic decoration that belong to the home key
diatonic decoration
85
an interval that's one semitone smaller than a minor or perfect interval
diminished interval
86
a triad made up of two minor thirds
diminished triad
87
get quieter gradually
diminuendo
88
decreasing the note lengths in a tune to form a new version of it. the opposite of augmentation
diminution
89
when there are big jumps between the notes in a melody. the opposite of conjuct
disjunct
90
horrible sound that you get when notes that don't fit together are played at the same time. also called discordance
dissonance
91
disc jockey. chooses which tracks to play on the radio or at a club
DJ
92
play sweetly
dolce
93
fifth note in a major or minor scale
dominant
94
cord V with an added 7th. Written V7
dominant 7th chord
95
when a dot is added to a note, it increases its length by half its value
dotted note
96
you get a double bar line at the end of a piece or section of a piece
double bar line
97
symbol that tells you to play a note two semitones lower
double flat
98
symbol that tells you to play a note two semitones higher
double sharp
99
like the oboe that are played by blowing down two reeds
double-reed instruments - woodwind instruments
100
playing two notes at the same time on a string instrument
double-stopping
101
when two different instruments or voice play exactly the same tune at the same time
doubling
102
symbol for string players telling them to bow from the end when they hold the bow
down bow
103
a long, held-on note, usually in the bass
drone
104
a type of sequencer that plays built-in drum sounds
drum machine
105
a piece for two players or two singers
duet
106
music with two beats in a bar
duple metre
107
how loud or quiet the music is
dynamics
108
like the flute that played by blowing air across a hole
edge-tone instruments - woodwind instruments
109
play energetically
energico
110
a note with a different name that sounds exactly the same
enharmonic equivalent
111
a contrasting section in rondo form
episode
112
the first section of sonata form where ideas are introduced
exposition
113
when male singers sing notes in the female vocal range - much higher than their normal range
falsetto
114
the third note of a triad - the fifth note of a scale
fifth
115
a triad with the third at the bottom
first inversion
116
symbol that tells you to play the note a semitone lower
flat
117
loud
forte
118
very loud
fortissimo
119
music with no particular metre
free metre
120
the players who play the tune in a jazz band. usually trumpets, saxophones and clarinets
front line
121
play in a light-hearted, jokey way
giocoso
122
a slide between notes
glissando
123
a type of ornament. appoggiaturas and acciaccaturas are both _________
grace note
124
play very grandly
grandioso
125
a way of playing variations with a strong repeating bass as the main theme
ground bass
126
another name for a crescendo or diminuendo
hairpin
127
the difference between two notes played at the same time
harmonic interval
128
8-note minor scale using notes from the minor key except for the seventh note, which is sharpened by one semitone
harmonic minor scale
129
a series of chords. another name for a chord progression
harmonic progression
130
the speed at which the chords change
harmonic rhythm
131
two parts of music harmonise when they fit together nicely. sometimes the accompaniment is called the ______
harmony
132
in ________ music, all the parts have different versions of the same tune
heterophonic
133
the key a piece starts and finishes in
home key
134
music where the tune is accompanied by chords
homophonic
135
when a phrase is repeated with little variation. could be one instrument or voice, or two or more, ________ each other
repeat not exactly within another parts or instrument
imitation
136
cadence moving usually from chord I, II or IV to chord V
imperfect cadence
137
part of a pop song where the singer rests and the other instruments get to show off
instrumental section
138
cadence moving from chord V to any chord (usually ) except chord I
interrupted cadence
139
the gap between two notes, played one after another or at the same time in a chord
interval
140
opening section of a song or piece
introduction
141
rearranging the root chord so a different note goes at the bottom
inversion
142
a type of ornament
inverted turn
143
type of metre where the beats in a bar are of different lengths
irregular metre
144
Music with lots of improvisation and syncopation
Jazz
145
Band that play jazz. Usually has a front line and a rhythm section
Jazz band
146
Small jazz group
Jazz combo
147
Jazz band with string section
Jazz orchestra
148
A set of notes all from the same scale
Key
149
Sharps or flats just after the clef that tell you what key a piece is in
Key signature
150
Instruments with keys. Eg piano, harpsichord, organ
Keyboard instrument
151
Play broadly and slowly. Though not quite as slow as largo
Larghetto
152
40-60 beats per minute. Broad and slow.
Largo
153
A jump between notes that's bigger than a tone
Leap
154
Legato
Play smoothly
155
The words of an opera
Libretto
156
A song for one singer and piano. Popular in the romantic period
Lied
157
The words of a song
Lyrics
158
Song from the Renaissance times for five or six singers
Madrigal
159
Musical idea. Usually quite memorable.
Main theme
160
Key using notes from a major scale
Major key
161
Intervals between the first note of a major scale and the second, third, sixth and seventh note
Major interval
162
Series of eight notes. Intervals between them are TTSTTTS
Major scale
163
Train with an interval of four semitones between the bottom note and middle note (a major third), three semitones between middle note and top note (a minor third)
Major triad
164
A choir made up of two groups of tenors as well as bartoned and basses
Male voice choir
165
Play all the notes with accent
Marcato
166
Piece of music sung as part of the Catholic Church service
Mass
167
notes that are added to the tune to make it more interesting
melodic decoration
168
the difference between two notes played one after another in a tune
melodic interval
169
turning a tune upside down to get a new version of it
melodic inversion
170
fairly loud/quiet
mezzo forte/piano
171
a female voice that sings the top part of the alto range and the bottom part of the soprano range
mezzo-soprano voice
172
eight bars in the middle of a pop song that have different chords and/or tune to keep you interested
middle 8
173
stands for Musical Instrument Digital Interface - a way of connecting different electronic instruments
MIDI
174
marching band with woodwind, brass and percussion section
military band
175
third movement of a sonata or symphony. developed from a seventeenth century dance, so it's quite lively
minuet
176
eight note scale following a particular pattern of tones and semitones
mode
177
108-120 beats per minute. moderate speed
moderato
178
when the music shifts from the home key to another, usually related
modulation
179
thin musical texture with just a tune and nothing else
monophonic
180
twiddly ornaments
mordents
181
short polyphonic choral piece performed in Catholic churches
motet
182
wooden, rubber or metal gadget used to dampen the sound of brass and string instruments
mute
183
a really important part of the music that can't be missed out. obligatory
obbligato
184
a piece for eight players/singers
octet
185
drama set to music
opera
186
twiddly notes added to a tune to make it more interesting
ornament
187
a musical pattern which repeats over and over again
ostinato
188
another name for a coda. used in pop songs
outro
189
when two or more parts move with the same interval between them
parallel motion
190
a type of dance from the 17th century that uses a ground bass
passacaglia
191
a linking note. used as melodic decoration
passing note
192
play heavily
pesante
193
very quite
pianissimo
194
one piano, one violin and one cello (classic chamber music)
piano trio
195
chord that belongs to two keys. it's used to shift a piece of music from one key to another
pivot chord
196
'plucked'. a way of playing a string instrument
pizzicato
197
180-200 beats per minute. really fast
presto
198
a piece for four players or four singers
quartet
199
a piece for five players or singers
quintet
200
slowing down gradually
rallentando (rall.)
201
the third section of sonata form where the ideas are recapped
recapitulation
202
part of an opera where the characters talk over simple accompaniment from the orchestra
recitative
203
when a piece of music is turned into a dance track by speeding it up and adding a drum beat
remix
204
play the melody backwards
retrograde
205
play the melody upside down and backwards
retrograde inversion
206
instruments that keep the rhythm in a jazz band, eg double bass, drum kit, bass guitar and piano
rhythm section
207
chords played in a rhythmic way so you get rhythm and harmony
rhythmic chords
208
repeated phrase played over and over again. used in pop, rock and jazz music
riff
209
play confidently, decisively
risoluto
210
slow dow immediately
ritenuto (rit.)
211
musical style from the mid-19th to early 20th
Romantic
212
a way of structuring music so you start with one tune, go on to a new one, go back to the first one, on to another new one, back to the first one, on to a new one... as many times as you like
rondo form
213
playing a chord with the root at the bottom
root position
214
you can be flexible with the speed of the music
rubato
215
a piece of equipment that lets you record, alter and play back sections of sound
sampler
216
short sections of recorded sound
samples
217
similar to conjunct. a smooth melody that moves up and down a scale
scalic
218
lively third movement of a symphony or sonata
scherzo
219
a triad with the fifth at the bottom
second inversion
220
a piece for seven player/singers
septet
221
a piece of equipment that can record, edit and replay MIDI information
sequencer
222
a piece for six players or six singers
sextet
223
a strongly accented note
sforzando
224
woodwind instruments like the clarinet that are played by blowing between a reed and the mouthpiece
single-reed instruments
225
a piece of music in three or four movements for one to tow players. the first movement is always in sonata form
sonata
226
a piece of music with three sections - exposition, development and recapitulation
sonata form
227
play in a sighing sort of way
sospirando
228
play each note slightly short and separated from the notes either side of it
staccato
229
notes that are a tone apart
steps
230
when a tune moves in steps
stepwise
231
playing a note on a string instrument by using your finger to change the pitch
stopping
232
two violins a viola and a cello
string quartet
233
a violin, a viola and a cello
string trio
234
a type of melodic decoration that's made up of three notes. the middle note clashes with the accompanying chord then resolves
suspension
235
a large jazz band
swing band
236
a large pieve of music in three or four movements for an orchestra
symphony
237
the biggest type of orchestra
symphony orchestra
238
when the accents are moved away from the main beat
syncopation
239
a piece of equipment that lets you create new sounds
synthesizer
240
type of musical structure where the music has three sections. the first and last are pretty much the same, but the middle one is in a different key
ternary form
241
how a piece is put together
structure
242
how chords and melody are woven together
texture
243
type of structure where a main theme is played, followed by variations on it
theme and variation form
244
a triad with an added seventh, with the seventh at the bottom
third inversion
245
whether a piece is in a major or minor key
tonality
246
separating notes with your tongue when playing a woodwind or brass instrument
tongued
247
a boy soprano
treble
248
play in a trembly, nervous-sounding way
tremolo
249
a twiddly ornament
trill (tr)
250
play in a triumphant, confident-sounding way
trionfale
251
uncomfortable-sounding interval of three tones
tritone
252
percussion instruments that can play notes of different pitches
tuned percussion
253
twiddly ornaments
turn
254
everyone plays or sings together
tutti
255
everyone plays or sings the same notes at the same time
unison
256
percussion instruments that can't play a tune
untuned percussion, eg cymbals, maracas
257
symbol for sting players telling them to bow from the tip of the bow
up bow
258
different version of the main theme
variation
259
structure used in pop songs - verses have the same tune but the lyrics changes each time, and choruses have a different tune to the verse but the words don't change each time
verse and chorus structure
260
when singers made their voices wobble, giving a richer sound
vibrato
261
play fast and lively
vivace
262
a bass part that moves in crochets, usually either in steps or arpeggios
walking bass
263
band with woodwind, brass and percussion sections
wind band
264
a group made up of a flute, a clarinet, an oboe, a horn and a basson
wind quintet
