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Level 9 History > Vocabulary > Flashcards

Vocabulary Flashcards

(57 cards)

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1
Q

answer

A

the 2nd statement of the main theme in a fugue

usually in the dominant key

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2
Q

art song

A

poem set to music

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3
Q

atonal

A

deliberately avoids establishing a tonal center

usually results in many unresolved dissonances

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4
Q

augmentation

A

thematic material presented in longer time values

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5
Q

ballet

A

highly stylized type of dance that often interprets a story

first developed in the 17th c. at the court of Louis XIV

flourished in the 19th c. Russian court

many significant composers: Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Debussy, Prokofiev

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6
Q

Baroque

A

from Portuguese “barroco” meaning “irregularly shaped or misshapen pearl”

first used as a derogatory term in reference to the overly ornate art of the era

now applied to art, architecture, music of 17th-early 18thc

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7
Q

basso continuo

A

two performers - one playing the notated bass line, one realizing the harmonies, usu on harpsichord or organ

provides harmonic framework

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8
Q

bel canto

A

“beautiful singing”

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9
Q

choreography

A

the art of designing the dance steps and movements in a ballet or musical

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10
Q

chromatic harmony

A

from Greek word khroma, meaning “color”

Chromatic harmonies represent a group of chords or sounds based on notes from outside of the key in which a work is written

ex: half-diminished 7th chord of “Tristan und Isolde: Prelude”

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11
Q

clavier

A

German for kybd instruments other than organ

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12
Q

concerto

A

popular instrumental genre of Baroque era for soloist(s) and orchestra

generally in three movements: fast - slow - fast

frequently employed ritornello form

intended to showcase virtuosity of the soloist(s)

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13
Q

counterpoint

A

combination of two or more independent melodic lines

also referred to as “polyphonic texture”

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14
Q

countersubject

A

a recurring countermelody

accompanies entries of the subject, answer

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15
Q

episode

A

passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present

frequently sequential

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16
Q

equal temperament

A

method of tuning keyboard instruments

8ve divided into 12 equal half-steps

facilitated composition and performance of music in all keys

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17
Q

expanded tonality

A

chromatic harmonies are used to destabilize the sense of tonality, but the music still remains connected to its tonal center

Stravinsky - “Rite of Spring”

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18
Q

fanfare

A

a loud ceremonial tune or flourish that features brass instruments

“Short Ride in a Fast Machine”, aka “Fanfare for Great Woods”

compare Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man”

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19
Q

figured bass

A

musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era

numbers below the bass line to show harmonic progression

performed or realized by basso continuo

provides structure for guided improvisation

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20
Q

fugue

A

highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition

single theme or subject prevails

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21
Q

hemiola

A

a temporary shift of the metric accents
e.g. - notes grouped in 3’s are momentarily grouped in 2’s, or vice versa

“America” from ‘West Side Story’ (Bernstein)

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22
Q

idiomatic writing

A

highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing

developed in the Baroque era

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23
Q

Impressionism

Study These Flashcards
A

new way of painting

conscious reaction to earlier, more formal, “learned” styles

explored the interplay of light and color…in order to create impressions of their subjects rather than literal depictions of them

24
Q

jazz

Study These Flashcards
A

uniquely American idiom, originated at the beginning of the 20th c.

based on improvisation, combining elements of African, popular, and European music

ex:
Benny Goodman - “Sing, Sing, Sing”
Dizzy Gillespie - “Salt Peanuts”
Thelonious Monk - “‘Round About Midnight”

“West Side Story”, Bernstein

25
lied
German art song (musical setting of a German poem) for solo voice, generally w/pno accompaniment flourished in 19th c. ex: "Erlkonig", "Der Wanderer" (Schubert) Schubert wrote >600
26
mazurka
region in Poland | Polish dance, more lively than polonaise
27
minimalism
characterized by the repetition of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns with little variation Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams ex: Alexina Louie "Changes"
28
modal scales
pattern of whole/half steps are different from major/minor scales ex: Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian
29
musical
play with spoken dialogue that also features musical numbers such as songs, dances, and choruses uniquely American similar to operettas often feature staging that includes grand sets, elaborate costumes, and spectacular lighting
30
ornamentation
musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line either represented with symbols or improvised
31
ostinato
Italian for "obstinate" or "persistent" rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period
32
pedal point
note or series of notes sustained through harmony changes in other parts
33
pentatonic scales
five different pitches (= black keys)
34
polytonal
two tonal centers are used simultaneously
35
prelude
short kybd work in improvisatory style often paired with fugue
36
primitivism
effect created largely through rhythm - particularly polyrhythms - and use of strong accents and heavy syncopation, all supported by an expanded percussion section "Rite of Spring" - Stravinsky
37
programmatic writing
music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical association, like a story or painting evolved into a significant feature of 19th-c. instrumental writing (program music)
38
real answer
an exact transposition of the subject
39
ripieno
Italian for "full" or "complete" use to denote use of full orchestra in Baroque concerto
40
ritornello form
structure employed in 1st, 3rd movements of Baroque concerto opening passage (ritornello) restated throughout the movement, serving as refrain
41
song cycle
a collection of art songs United by a central theme or narrative thread; intended to be performed together
42
sotto voce
"under the voice" a subdued, gentle character lowering the volume level as if to a whisper
43
stretto
from Italian "stringere" meaning 'to tighten' overlapping subject entries in close succession
44
subject
the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue in the tonic key
45
Symbolism
French literary movement that began in the late 19th c. Symbolist authors sought to suggest their subject matter rather than depict it outright.
46
symphonic poem
invented by Franz Liszt single-movement work, generally in free form, with literary or pictorial associations drawn from an extra-musical source (poem, short story, novel, historical event, scene from nature, paint, any non-musical work of art)
47
terraced dynamics
Baroque practice of changing volume levels abruptly realists in stark contrast rather than gradual changed
48
the Affections
Baroque philosophy inspired by Ancient Greek, Roman writers & orators refers to emotional states of the soul in Baroque music, a single "affection" or "affect" is usually projected through an entire composition or movement
49
through-composed
durchkomponiert the song structure does not repeat entire sections of music
50
toccata
very fast keyboard work demonstrating a virtuosic, improvisatory character "Prelude in B flat Major"
51
tonal answer
a statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony
52
tonality
key in which a composition is written, which informs characteristic sound and structure helps create moments of tension and repose, and a sense of movement, and stability
53
whole-tone scales
six pitches, all whole steps apart
54
oratorio
large-scale work for soloists, chorus, orchestra serious subject, generally based on biblical texts consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, choruses developed in Baroque era
55
French overture
Baroque orchestral genre, often orch intro to opera or oratorio developed by Jean-Baptiste Lully generally in 2 parts: - 1st part -- slow tempo, homophonic texture, features dotted figures - 2nd part -- fast tempo, imitative texture
56
libretto
text of an opera, oratorio, cantata usually written by someone other than the composer
57
recitative
speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, cantatas follows inflections of text, resulting in rhythmic flexibility usually used to advance plot, storyline; moves through text quickly

Level 9 History (7 decks)

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