Music Terms

Question 1

12 bar Blues

Answer 1

Style of blues with a 12-bar repeating chord pattern (I-I-I-I-IV-IV-I-I-V-IV-I-I).

Question 2

12-tone system

Answer 2

Schoenberg’s composition system, which involves rearranging the 12 chromatic notes of an octave into a set order - also known as serialism.

Question 3

Acapella

Answer 3

Singing with no instrumental backing.

Question 4

Acciaccatura

Answer 4

An ornament that’s played as quickly as possible before the written note, sometimes called a ‘crushed’ note.

Question 5

Action Song

Answer 5

A song in a musical that tells you what is going on - a bit like a recitative.

Question 6

Alap

Answer 6

The first phrase of a rage performance.

Question 7

Alto

Answer 7

Low female or high male voice. Signs roughly from the F below middle C to the F at the top of the treble clef stave.

Question 8

Ambient

Answer 8

Slow, chilled club dance music.

Question 9

Anacrusis

Answer 9

An upbeat

Question 10

Antiphonal

Answer 10

A texture performed by two semi-independent groups in interaction, often singing alternate musical phrases. Like a Call and Response.

Question 11

Appoggiatura

Answer 11

An ornament that clshed with the accompanying chord then resolves. This ornament takes half of the duration of the note it is attached to.

Question 12

Arch-Shape form

Answer 12

A musical structure: a symmentrical structure based on a repeating A section. The most popular Arch-Shape is ABCBA.

Question 13

Arpeggio

Answer 13

Chord that is played as a series of notes (also known as broken chord).

Question 14

Articulation

Answer 14

The way notes/phrases are played.

Question 15

Tenuto

Answer 15

Hold the note in question its full length (or longer, with slight rubato), or play the note slightly louder.

Question 16

Marcato

Answer 16

Indicates a note, chord, or passage to be played louder or more forcefully that surrounding music.

Question 17

Staccato

Answer 17

Signifies a note of shortened duration: a detached note.

Question 18

Staccatissimo

Answer 18

Very detached note.

Question 19

Legato

Answer 19

Indicates musical notes are to be played or sung smoothly and connected.

Question 20

Augmentation

Answer 20

Making a note longer in duration.

Question 21

Aria

Answer 21

Slo vocal piece in opera, oratorio or a cantata. Shows the characters’ emotions - also known as an air.

Question 22

Art music

Answer 22

Music that’s written down (unlike folk music).

Question 23

Atonal

Answer 23

Music that’s not written in any key.

Question 24

Balafon

Answer 24

West African xylophone.

Question 25

Ballad

Answer 25

A song that tells a story.

Question 26

Bandish

Answer 26

A song that forms the final phrase of a raga performance. Known as 'gat' if it's played only on instruments.

Question 27

Bansuri

Answer 27

A bamboo flute used in Indian Classical Music.

Question 28

Barbershop Quartet

Answer 28

A group of singers who sing in close harmony, often popular songs.

Question 29

Baroque

Answer 29

Musical style of the 17th and early 18th centuries. It has lots of contrasts in dynamics and ornamentation.

Question 30

Bass

Answer 30

Low male voice that can sing from about the F below the bass clef to the E above middle C.

Question 31

Basso continuo

Answer 31

A continuous bass part in Baroque music, often played on the harpsichord with the cello.

Question 32

Bebop

Answer 32

A type of jazz characterised by complex harmonies and fast syncopated rhythms.

Question 33

Bi-rhythm

Answer 33

Two different rhythmic cycles played at the same time.

Question 34

Big band

Answer 34

A band that plays jazz and swing music.

Question 35

Binary form

Answer 35

A musical structure: music in two distinct sections (AB).

Question 36

Block chord

Answer 36

Chord played by sounding all the notes at once.

Question 37

Blue notes

Answer 37

Flattened 3rd, 7ths and sometimes 5ths, of the major scale.

Question 38

Blues

Answer 38

Style of the 20th-century music from America with a distinctive scale and swung rhythms.

Question 39

Blues scale

Answer 39

A major scale with flattened 3rd and 7th.

Question 40

Bodhran

Answer 40

An Irish framed drum used in Celtic folk music.

Question 41

Brass Band

Answer 41

An ensemble of brass instruments.

Question 42

Breakbeats

Answer 42

Electronic music that has syncopation or polyrhythms.

Question 43

Bridge section

Answer 43

A bit of music that bridges a gap between sections.

Question 44

Brass

Answer 44

The family of Orchestra including Brass instruments: Trumpet, Cornet, French Horn, Trombone, Tuba.

Question 45

Broken chord

Answer 45

Chord that is played as a series of notes (also known as arpeggio).

Question 46

Cadence

Answer 46

Pair of chords used to finish off a phrase (Perfect, Plagal, Interrupted and Imperfect).

Question 47

Cadenza

Answer 47

Section of a piece where a soloist can really show off.

Question 48

Call and Response

Answer 48

A short melody (the call) followed by an answering phrase (the response).

Question 49

Canon/Canonic

Answer 49

Where the same tune is played by two or more parts, each starting before the previous part has finished. Also called a round.

Question 50

Cantata

Answer 50

Vocal piece made up of 2 or 3 arias, separated by recitatives.