Flashcards in Terms 2A Deck (76)
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maestoso
majestically
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marcato
emphasized, heavily accented
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medesimo
the same
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mediant
the third degree of the major or minor scale. the triad built on this degree is labeled iii in the major scale, III in the minor scale, and III+ in the harmonic scale.
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medieval
the period prior to the Renaissance, c. 500-1450, marking the music of the early Christian church
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melody
a succession of musical tones. It represents the linear or horizontal aspect of music.
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meno mosso
less motion
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mezzo
half, medium
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mezzo forte
medium loud
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mezzo piano
medium soft
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mode
any scalewise arrangement of pitches; patterns upon which medieval music was structured, the patterns which preceded the development of major and minor scales and tonality
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moderato
moderate speed
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modulation
the process of changing from one key to another within a composition
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molto
very; used with other terms e.g. molto allegro
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mordent
an ornament consisting of an alteration (once or twice) of the written note by playing the immediately below it, or above it.
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morendo
gradually decreasing in volume, dying away
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motive
a short melodic or rhythmic pattern
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moto
motion. con moto, with motion
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nonharmonic tones
a designation for tones outside the harmonic structure of the chord. passing tone, appoggiatura
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non troppo
not too much
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nuance
subtle variations in tempo, phrasing, dynamics
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octet
a piece for eight instruments or voices
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open fifth
a triad without a third
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open strings
strings are not stopped, fingered, or fretted
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opus op
the term, meaning work, is used by composers to show the chronological order of their work
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orchestration
the art of writing, arranging, or scoring for the orchestra
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ornamentation
note or notes added to the original melodic line for embellishment and add interest
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ossia
"or" indicating an alternative passage or version
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ostinato
a repeated melodic or rhythmic pattern, frequently appearing in the bass line
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overtones
the almost inaudible higher tones which occur with the fundamental tone. They are the results of the vibration of small sections of a string or column of air. Partials and harmonics.
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passing tones
unaccented notes which move conjunctly between two chords to which they do not belong harmonically
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pesante
heavy
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petite
little
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phrase
a relatively short portion of a melodic line which expresses a musical idea, comparable to a line or sentence in poetry
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pianoforte
"soft-loud" a keyboard instrument, the full name for the piano, on which sound is produced by hammers striking strings when keys are pressed. 88 keys
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picardy third
term for raising of the third, making a major triad, in the final chord of a composition which is in a minor key.
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piu
more
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pizzicato
pinched. on string instruments, plucking the string
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poco
little
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primo
first
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quartet
a piece for four instruments or voices. four performers
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rallentando
gradually slower
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renaissance
1450-1600
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resonance
reinforcement and intensification of sound by vibrations
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rhythm
term which denotes the organization of sound in time; the temporal quality of sound
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rubato
flexibility of tempo to assist in achieving expressiveness
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rudiments
on drums, the basis sticking patterns
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sans
without
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schnell
fast
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secco
dry. unornamented
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sempre
always
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senza
without. used with other terms e.g. senza crescendo
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sforzando
sudden strong accent on a note or chord
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simile
an indication to continue in the same manner
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sonata
an instrumental piece, often in several movements
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sostenuto
sustaining of tone or slackening of tempo
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spiccato
on string instruments, a bowing technique wherein the bow is bounced on the string at moderate speed
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staccato
detached sounds, indicated by a dot over or under a note. the opposite of legato
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stanza
a selection of a son, two or more lines long, characterized by a common meter, rhyme, and number of lines
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subdominant
the fourth degree of the major or minor scale. Also, the name of the triad built on the fourth degree of the scale, indicated by IV in a major key and by iv in a minor key
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subito
suddenly
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suspension
the use of a nonharmonic tone to delay the resolution of a chord, frequently as it occurs
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syncopation
accent on an unexpected beat
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tempo primo
return to the original tempo
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tenuto, ten
hold or sustain a note longer than the indicated value, usually not as long a duration as the fermata
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ternary form
three part form in which the middle section is different from the other sections. ABA
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terraced dynamics
the baroque style of using sudden changes in dynamic levels, as opposed to gradual increase and decrease in volume
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tertian harmony
a term used to describe music based on chords arranged in intervals of thirds
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tessitura
the general pitch range of a vocal part
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tranquillo
tranquilly; quietly; calm
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troppo
too much. used with other terms e.g. allegro non troppo not too fast
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tutti
all. a direction for the entire ensemble to sing or play simultaneously
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unison
singing or playing the same notes by all singers or players, either at exactly the same pitch or in a different octave
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un poco
a little
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virtuoso
a brillant, skillful performer
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