(Glossary) Terms Flashcards
1
Q
Define:
Measure
A
A metrical unit containing a fixed number of beats; separated on the staff by bar lines
2
Q
Define:
Meter
A
Fixed patterns of strong and weak beats
3
Q
Define:
Simple Time
A
Time signatures where each beat contains two subdivisions
4
Q
Define:
Compound Time
A
Time signatures where each beat contains three subdivisions
5
Q
Define:
Syncopation
A
A deliberate shifting of the musical accent to a weak beat
6
Q
Define:
Anacrusis (2)
A
An upbeat into a phrase
The last portion of a measure anticipating the downbeat
7
Q
What is an anacrusis also called?
A
A pickup
8
Q
What is rhythm?
A
The rhythmic pulse
9
Q
Define:
Pitch
A
The highness or lowness of a particular sound
10
Q
Define:
Range
A
The distance between the highest and lowest notes in a melody
11
Q
Define:
Interval
A
The distance between any two pitches
12
Q
Define:
Conjunct
A
Melodies that contain mostly stepwise direction
13
Q
Define:
Disjunct
A
Melodies that contain many leaps and changes in direction
14
Q
Define:
Motive
A
A short melodic or rhythmic fragment used to build a melody
15
Q
Define:
Phrase
A
A unit of melody that comprises a complete musical thought, much like a sentence
16
Q
Define:
Period
A
A basic building block that is used to create larger forms
17
Q
How many measures long is a period, generally?
A
Eight measures long
18
Q
How many phrases is a period comprised of, generally?
A
Two phrases
19
Q
Define:
Sequence
A
Repetition of a short musical phrase at another pitch
20
Q
What is a melody?
A
The main musical composition
21
Q
Define:
Chord
A
A combination of three or more pitches that create a unit of harmony
22
Q
Define:
Triad
A
A three-note chord that consists of a root, third, and fifth
23
Q
Define:
Diatonic
A
Melodies/harmonies built from the notes of a major or minor scale
24
Q
Define:
Chromatic
A
Melodies/harmonies that include notes outside the key or mode
25
What word does "chromatic" come from?
"Khroma", Greek for "colour"
26
Define:
| Consonance
An agreeable combination of tones that provides a sense of relaxation and stability
27
Define:
| Dissonance
A combination of tones that sounds discordant, thus creating restlessness and a sense of instability
28
Define:
| Harmonic Rhythm
The rate (frequency) or chord changes
29
Define:
| Cadence
A specific combination of chords that provide moments of rest at the ends of phrases
30
What represents a cadence in grammar?
Punctuation
31
Define:
| Modulation
The process of changing from one tonal centre to another, with or without a change of key signature
32
What is harmony?
The musical content that supports the melody and provides context
33
Define:
| Binary Form
A two-part form: A || B ||
34
True or False:
| Both parts do not repeat in binary form
False, both parts repeat in binary form
35
In binary form:
| Section A generally ends with an ____ cadence in the ________ or relative _____ key
Open
Dominant
Major
36
Define:
| Rounded Binary Form
A two-part form: A || B + A1 ||
37
What is the key difference between rounded binary form and binary form?
Rounded binary form: Opening material from section A returns after B material
38
Define:
| Ternary Form
A three-part form: A || B || A ||
39
In ternary form:
| Section A generally ends with a ______ cadence in the _____ key
Closed
| Tonic
40
In ternary form:
| Section B generally creates contrast in ___ and/or ________
Key
| Material
41
How does Section A generally end in ternary form?
With a closed cadence in the tonic key
42
How does Section A generally end in binary form?
With an open cadence in the dominant or relative major key
43
Where is ternary form often used? (3)
Baroque arias
| Classical menuet and trio movements
44
What is form?
The overall shape and design of a musical composition
45
Define:
| Monophonic Texture
A single line of unaccompanied melody
46
Define:
| Polyphonic Texture
A combination of two or more melodic lines
47
Define:
| Homophonic Texture
A single line of melody supported by a harmonic accompaniment
48
What is texture?
The way melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic elements are woven together within a musical composition
49
Define:
| Dynamics
The levels of volume in music
50
What are dynamics indicated by?
Traditionally indicated by Italian terms or symbols
51
Define:
| Timbre
Tone colour, the quality of sound specific to a voice or instrument
52
Define:
| Idiomatic Writing
Highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing
53
What is the opposite of idiomatic writing?
Generic
54
When was idiomatic writing developed?
In the Baroque Era
55
Define:
| Tempo
The speed at which music is performed
56
How is tempo indicated?
Traditionally with Italian terms
57
Define:
| Genre
The classification of a composition type
58
Sonatas, symphonies, and operas are all examples of what classification?
Genre
59
Define:
| Opus
Indicates the order in which a composer's works are organized
60
What does opus mean?
Latin for "work", usually abbreviated op.
61
What word does "Fugue" come from?
"Fugere", Italian for "to flee"
62
What is a Fugue? (2)
A form favoured by composers in the Baroque era
| A complex contrapuntal work dominated by a single theme called the subject
63
Define:
| Baroque
A term now applied to art, architecture, and music of the 17th and early 18th century
64
What word does "Baroque" come from?
"Barroco", Portuguese for "irregularly shaped or misshapen pearl"
65
How was the term "Baroque" first used?
First used as a derogatory term in reference to the overly ornate art of the era
66
Define:
| Major-Minor Tonal System
Music based on major and minor scales
67
What language did the major-minor tonal system gradually replace? During what era?
Modal Language
| Baroque Era
68
Define:
| Terraced Dynamics
Baroque practice of changing volume levels abruptly
69
Terraced dynamics was a practice during what era?
Baroque Era
70
```
Define:
Figured Bass (2)
```
A musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era
| Numbers are placed below the bass line to show harmonic progression
71
Figured bass was performed or realized by who?
Basso Continuo
72
What did figured bass provide the structure for?
Guided improvisation
73
Define:
| Basso Continuo
Baroque performance practice
74
How many performers does Basso Continuo generally involve? Explain
2
One playing the notated bass line
One realizing the harmonies as indicated by the figured bass
75
What were harmonies often played on in Basso Continuo? (2)
Harpsichord or Organ
76
Basso Continuo provides ________ _________
Harmonic framework
77
Define:
| "the Affections" (2)
A Baroque philosophy inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers and orators
Refers to emotional states of the soul
78
In Baroque music, a single "_________" or "______" (one clear emotion) is usually projected through an entire __________ or ________
Affection
Affect
Composition
Movement
79
What was "the Affections" also referred to as? (2)
"Doctrine of Affections"
| "the affects"
80
Define:
| Ornamentation
Musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line
81
Define:
| Concerto
A popular instrumental genre of the Baroque era for soloist(s) and orchestra
82
```
Define:
Ritornello form (2)
```
A structure employed in the first and third movements of the Baroque concerto
The opening passage (ritornello) is restated throughout the movement, serving as a refrain
83
How is ornamentation notated?
Either represented with symbols or improvised
84
What is the general structure of a concerto? What is frequently used in it? What is it intended to showcase?
Generally in three movements: fast-slow-fast
Frequently employed ritornello form
Intended to showcase the virtuosity of the soloist(s)
85
What is the opening passage known as in ritornello form?
Ritornello
86
Define:
| Ripieno
A term used to denote the use of the full orchestra in the Baroque concerto
87
What does ripieno mean?
Italian for "full" or "complete"
88
Define:
| Ostinato
A rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period
89
What does ostinato mean?
Italian for "obstinate" or "persistent"
90
Define:
| Pedal Point
A note, or a series of notes, sustained through harmony changes in other parts
91
Define:
| Programmatic writing
Music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical associations, like a story or painting
92
What did programmatic writing evolve into?
Program music, a significant feature of 19th-century instrumental writing
93
Define:
| Equal Temperament
A method of tuning keyboard instruments
94
How is the octave divided? Why?
The octave is divided into twelve equal half steps
| Facilitated the composition and performance of music in all keys
95
Define:
| Clavier
A German word for keyboard instruments other than the organ
96
Define:
| Prelude
A short keyboard work in improvisatory style
97
What is a prelude often paired with?
A fugue
98
Define:
| Fugue
A highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition
99
In a fugue, a ______ _____ or _______ prevails
Single theme
| Subject
100
Define:
| Counterpoint
Combination of two or more independent melodic lines
101
What is counterpoint also known as?
Polyphonic texture
102
Define:
| Subject
The initial statement of the main theme of a fugue
103
What key is the subject in?
Tonic
104
Define:
| Answer
The second statement of the main theme in a fugue
105
What key is the answer usually in?
Dominant
106
Define:
| Real Answer
An exact transposition of the subject
107
Define:
| Tonal Answer
A statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony
108
Define:
| Countersubject
A recurring countermelody
109
What does the countersubject accompany?
Accompanies entries of the subject and answer
110
Define:
| Episode
A passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present
111
What is a frequent detail of an episode?
Frequently sequential
112
Define:
| Augmentation
Thematic material presented in longer time values
113
Define:
| Stretto
Overlapping subject entries in close succession
114
Where does stretto come from? What does it mean?
Comes from Italian "stringere", means "to tighten"
115
Define:
| Oratorio
A large-scale work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
116
What is an oratorio based on? What does an oratorio consists of?
Serious subject, generally based on biblical texts
| Consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, and choruses
117
When was oratorios developed?
Developed in the Baroque Era
118
Define:
| French overture
A Baroque orchestral genre, often the orchestral introduction to an opera or oratorio
119
Where were French overtures first developed?
First developed at the court of Louis XIV by Jean-Baptiste Lully
120
How many parts are generally in a French overture? Describe the parts
Generally in two parts
First part: Slow tempo, homophonic texture, features dotted figures
Second part: Fast tempo, imitative texture
121
Describe the first part of a French overture (3)
Slow tempo
Homophonic texture
Features dotted figures
122
Describe the second part of a French overture (2)
Fast tempo
| Imitative texture
123
Define:
| Libretto (2)
The text of an opera, oratorio, or cantata
| Usually written by someone other than the composer
124
Define:
| Recitative (2)
A speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas
Follows inflections of the text, resulting in rhythmic flexibility
125
What is the purpose of recitatives?
Usually used to advance the plot or storyline; moves through text quickly
126
Define:
| Recitativo secco
A speech-like, declamatory style of singing
| Supported only by continuo
127
What instruments can be part of the continuo? (2)
Keyboard
| Cello
128
Where is recitativo secco employed? (3)
Opera
Oratorio
Cantata
129
Where does recitativo secco come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means "dry recitative"
130
Define:
| Recitativo accompagnato
A speech-like, declamatory style of singing
| Allows for greater connection with the text
131
What instruments support the recitativo accompagnato?
Instrumental ensemble or orchestra
132
Where is recitativo accompagnato employed? (3)
Opera
Oratorio
Cantata
133
Where does recitativo accompagnato come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means "accompanied recitative"
134
Define:
| Aria (3)
A solo song with accompaniment, head in an opera, oratorio, or cantata
Highly emotional and often virtuosic
May have lyrical or dramatic qualities; often serves to reveal the characters' most intimate emotions
135
Where does aria come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means "air"
136
Define:
| Da capo aria
An aria (solo song) employing a ternary (ABA) structure
137
What is the return of Section A like in performance of da capo aria?
Generally ornamented
138
What is the most common type of aria in Baroque opera and oratorio?
Da capo aria
139
```
Define:
Word painting (3)
```
Musical pictorialization
The music mirrors the literal meaning of the words
Achieved through melody, harmony, or rhythm
140
Define:
| Melisma (2)
A group of notes sung on a single syllable/vowel
| Demonstrates vocal virtuosity and often serves to highlight key words
141
Define:
| Homorhythmic texture
All voices sing or play the same rhythm
Results in a blocked chordal texture (homophonic)
Delivers the text with clarity and emphasis
