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NeoStats-triviaserv/Questions/musicterms1.qns

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1 Got a musical ear, try out the tone of these questions
music term: (e) (ger.) - half. halbsopran, mezzo-soprano. halbtenor, baritone.*halb
music term: (eng. and fr.), romanze (ger.), romanza (it.) - the term has been used widely, but it often implies an intimate and iyrical piece for voice or instrument.*romance
music term: (eng.) or pavane (fr.) - a slow, stately dance usually in duple time dating from the 16th century. it was normally followed by the quicker galliard after about 1550, often employing the same theme.*pavan
music term: (eng.), minuetto (it.) - a moderately fast french dance of rustic origin in 3 / 4 time but rising to court and becoming fashionable in the 18th century. the minuet is the standard third movement in the classical sonata, symphony, string quartet, etc., developing later into the scherzo with beethoven. form is a a b a.*minuet
music term: (eng.), rigaudon (fr.) - a lively old french dance in 2 / 4 or 4 / 4 time.*rigadoon
music term: (fr ) - step. a pas d 'action is a ballet scene of dramatic nature and a pas de deux is a dance for two.*pas
music term: (fr. ) - meditative, collected.*recueilli
music term: (fr. and ger.) - same as mass.*messe
music term: (fr. and ger.) - style galant. courtly. this term, adopted by german writers, refers to a mid-18th century style characterised by a homophonic, formal elegance as opposed to the german contrapuntal traditional style. this was practised by c.p.e. bach and influenced mozart.*galant
music term: (fr. and it.) - fasy, fluent.*facile
music term: (fr.) - (1) a term sometimes used in english for leitmotif. (2) sarne as motiv or motive.*motif
music term: (fr.) - (1) brilliant, bright; (2) blaring. cossaise (fr.) - short for danse ecossaise. although meaning scottish dance, the term is apparently not of scottish origin. a quick dance in 2 / 4 time, it was popular in britain and on the continent in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. cultivated by beethoven.*clatant
music term: (fr.) - (1) repeat; (2) the recapitulation in sonata form; (3) the return to the first section after contrasting music in the second section in binary form.*reprise
music term: (fr.) - (i) interval during a play or opera. (2) music to be played between the acts of a play or opera.*entr'acte
music term: (fr.) - a dance of provence in 6 / 8 time accompanied by pipe and tabor.*farandole
music term: (fr.) - a light, often satirical opera or operetta (e.g. by offenbach).*opera bouffe
music term: (fr.) - a lively dance in triple time popular in the baroque period and found in the suite.*courante
music term: (fr.) - a piece composed deliberately in the style of another well- known composer. see also pasticcio above.*pastiche
music term: (fr.) - a popular dance form in the 13th and 14th centuries consisting of several sections (puncta) each of which has a first ending (ouvert) and a second ending (clos).*estampie
music term: (fr.) - a type of french medieval song of the 13th to15th centuries with a choral refrain. this french spelling was used in instrumental works of the baroque period to describe rondo.*rondeau
music term: (fr.) - a type of trouvere song similar to the sequence with sections of irregular length and melodic repetition.*lai
music term: (fr.) - a wordless composition for performance (e.g. in an opera or as an exercise for solo voice).*vocalise
music term: (fr.) - again. refers to an extra selection performed by musicians after a program in response to audience applause. french term is bis.*encore
music term: (fr.) - beat.*temps
music term: (fr.) - chiefly a 17th century french music term for (i) an introductory piece for the entry of characters in ballet or opera; (2) an independent instrumental piece of similar nature; (3) the equivalent of a scene or act in ballet or opera.*entree
music term: (fr.) - damped sound. mostly found in harp music indicating that the performer should dampen vibrations immediately after plucking, to produce a 'dry' sound.*sons etouffes
music term: (fr.) - empty. cordc a vide, open string.*vide
music term: (fr.) - falsetto.*fausset
music term: (fr.) - fast.*vite
music term: (fr.) - held back.*retenu
music term: (fr.) - i) melody. (2) song.*melodie
music term: (fr.) - in various contexts this term may mean either note, tone or key.*ton
music term: (fr.) - increase speed.*pressez
music term: (fr.) - light.*leger
music term: (fr.) - link together (e.g. go straight on to the next section or movement without a break).*encha nez
music term: (fr.) - little .*petit
music term: (fr.) - lively.*vif
music term: (fr.) - march.*marche
music term: (fr.) - music designed to improve a specific branch of technique by practice. chopin and clementi, however, wrote many of artistic merit.*study
music term: (fr.) - operetta.*operette
music term: (fr.) - point of the bow.*pointe d'archet
music term: (fr.) - same as intermezzo.*intermede
music term: (fr.) - same as sul tasto.*sur la touche
music term: (fr.) - stopped notes on the horn.*sons bouches
music term: (fr.) - sustained and flowing.*soutenu
music term: (fr.) - the coach, usually in an opera house, who teaches singers their parts. the repetiteur may also give them cues during the performance.*repetiteur
music term: (fr.) - the correct position of lips to the mouthpiece of an instrument to produce accurate intonation and good tone.*embouchure
music term: (fr.) - the end of the bow (held by the player).*talcon
music term: (fr.) - the surprising sound of a major third at the end of a piece otherwise in a minor key thus converting the expected minor chord to a major one. this was a common device up to the mid-18th century .*picardy third
music term: (fr.) - this term describes comic opera but has two special meanings: (1) a type of french comic opera with spoken dialogue, lighter than current serious operas in the 18th century; (2) an opera, comic or otherwise, with spoken dialogue (e.g. bizet's carmen in the l9th century).*opera comique
music term: (fr.) - trill.*tremblement
music term: (fr.) - up bow as opposed to tire, down bow.*pousse
music term: (fr.) - waltz.*valse
music term: (fr.) or conservatory - a school for musical training.*conservatoire
music term: (fr.) rehearsal. repetition general is the dress rehearsal, often given before a full, but invited audience, in continental opera houses.*repetition
music term: (fr.), galanter stil (ger.) - the musical equivalent of the rococo style in painting. the term described the homophonic but ornamented french and italian music between 1730 and 1770 written by couperin and d. scarlatti. it contrasted with the german contrapuntal style.*style galant
music term: (fr.), humoreske (ger.) - an instrumental composition of a capricious nature. schumann wrote in this style.*humoresque
music term: (fr.), lclangfarbe (ger.) - this is the characteristic quality of an instrument's or voice's tone. in basic terms it is the quality which distinguishes a note performed on one instrument compared with the same note sounded on an other instrument or sung by a voice the tone colour of an instrument corresponds with the harmonics of that instrument.*tone-colour
music term: (fr.), menuett (ger.) - same as minuet.*menuet
music term: (fr.), sonoro (it.) - with full tone.*sonore
music term: (fr., 'a following') - commonly describes an instrumental piece in several movements consisting of a sequence of dances. in the 17th and 18th centuries, the suite included the characteristic dance forms allemande, courante, sarabande and gigue. in the mid-18th century, the binary form feature of the dances was developed into sonata form. the sonata and also the symphony then became the chief instrumental forms. in the l9th and 20th centuries the term describes a lighter work t*suite
music term: (fr., 'amusement') - (i) entertainment in ballet form, sometimes with songs, found in operas or plays for contrast (e.g. the operas of lully. (2) same as divertimento. (3) instrumental piece or fantasia employing popular tunes.*divertissement
music term: (fr., 'concrete music') - music in which natural sounds (instrumental, vocal or other) were recorded on tape and then distorted, combined, etc. this term was coined by peter schaeffer in 1948 but it has largely been superseded by electronic music.*musique concrete
music term: (fr., 'cunning') - in opera or operetta, this often describes a soprano singing the role of a shrewd, rather pert servant girl.*soubrette
music term: (fr., 'damp') - indication to harp or cymbal players, etc. that sound must be immediately cut short.*etouffez
music term: (fr., 'dry') - an indication that a note or chord is to be played sharply.*sec
music term: (fr., 'enjoyment') - this title is sometimes found in spirited movements in suites of the baroque period.*rejouissance
music term: (fr., 'fixed idea') - berlioz' term for motto theme which means a recurring theme in a composition used (e.g. in his symphonie fantastique).*idee fixe
music term: (fr., 'follow') - (1) go staight on to the next section or movement without a break; (2) an indication to an accompanist to follow any changes in tempo made by the soloist.*suivez
music term: (fr., 'study') - an instrumental piece to improve or demonstrate certain technical points. however, many etudes (such as those by chopin) have great artistic merit.*etude
music term: (fr., 'together') - (l) a small group of performers (e.g. a vocal or instrumental ensemble; (2) in opera, an ensemble is an selection for several soloists with or without chorus.*ensemble
music term: (from italian toccare, 'to touch') - generally a solo instrumental piece involving rapid changes of notes to demonstrate the player's touch. often the toccata is followed by a fugue (e.g. toccata and fugue in d minor).*toccata
music term: (from lat. cantus planus) - medieval church music usually describing the gregorian chant which still survives today in the roman catholic church. it consists of a single, unaccompanied vocal line in free rhythm like speech with no regular bar lengths.*plainchant
music term: (gael.) - same as mouth music.*port a beul
music term: (ger. ) - cheerful, jolly.*lustig
music term: (ger. ) - speechsong. voice delivery midway between song and speech, used mostly by schonberg although he preferred the terms sprechstimme (speaking voice), sprechmelodic (speech melody) or rezitation.*sprechgesang
music term: (ger. plural, 'scottish') - a popular l9th century ballroom dance similar to the polka.*schottische
music term: (ger.) - a bow stroke.*strich
music term: (ger.) - a composition, piece.*stuck
music term: (ger.) - a light tenor voice in opera.*spieltenor
music term: (ger.) - a prelude.*vorspiel
music term: (ger.) - a setting. (1) a musical setting; (2) a movement in a composition; (3) style (e.g. freier satz, free style; (4) a theme or subject.*satz
music term: (ger.) - a short piece similar to capriccio or intermezzo.*fantasiestuck
music term: (ger.) - alliteration. this term describes the alliterative verse used by wagner in his music dramas.*stabreim
music term: (ger.) - an appoggiatura.*vorschlag
music term: (ger.) - an interlude or episode (e.g. in a fugue or rondo).*zwischenspiel
music term: (ger.) - an opera term for a 'sitting rehearsal' when all performers sing through the roles while sitting down, with the accompaniments played by the orchestra.*sitz-probe
music term: (ger.) - at a moderate speed.*gehend
music term: (ger.) - beat.*schlag
music term: (ger.) - chamber. kammerrnusik, chamber music.*kammer
music term: (ger.) - cheerful.*heiter
music term: (ger.) - clef.*schlussel
music term: (ger.) - cradle song.*wiegenlied
music term: (ger.) - dance.*tanz
music term: (ger.) - detached. same as staccato.*gestossen
music term: (ger.) - drinking song.*trinklied
music term: (ger.) - dying away, fading.*schwindend
music term: (ger.) - easy going, cosy, comfortable.*gemutlich
music term: (ger.) - end.*schluss
music term: (ger.) - exercise.*ubung
music term: (ger.) - fantasy.*phantasie
music term: (ger.) - fast. schneller, quicker.*schnell
music term: (ger.) - flowing.*fliessend
music term: (ger.) - fugue.*fuge
music term: (ger.) - heavy, weighty.*wuchtig
music term: (ger.) - held back, tempo sustained.*gemessen
music term: (ger.) - hindemith's term for works (mainly in the 1920s) intended to be closer to the public and directed to a social or educational purpose, utilising idioms in everyday use. gebrauchmusik was represented in many forms, including music written to be played by anyone.*utility music
music term: (ger.) - holding back, slowing down.*zuruckhaltend
music term: (ger.) - indication to pianists to use the soft (left) pedal.*verschiebung
music term: (ger.) - intimate, heartfelt.*innig
music term: (ger.) - inversion, reversal.*umkehrung
music term: (ger.) - leading motif. this is a recurring theme symbolising a character, emotion or object and was first used by h. von wolzogen in a discussion of wagner's the ring.*leitmotif
music term: (ger.) - lightly.*leicht
music term: (ger.) - little.*klein
music term: (ger.) - lively.*lebhaft
music term: (ger.) - loud, strong.*stark
music term: (ger.) - markedly .*gut
music term: (ger.) - muted.*gedampft
music term: (ger.) - note or sound (not the interval of a tone, i.e. two semitones).*ton
music term: (ger.) - optional dances (e.g. polonaise or minuet) in the 18th century suite, normally placed between the sarabande and gigue.*galantieren
music term: (ger.) - ornament in german music in the 17th and 18th centuries.*nachschlag
music term: (ger.) - over, above.*uber
music term: (ger.) - quick.*rasch
music term: (ger.) - rather slow.*ziemlich langsam
music term: (ger.) - rather.*ziemlich
music term: (ger.) - rattle.*ratsche
music term: (ger.) - recitative.*rezitativ
music term: (ger.) - restless.*unruhig
music term: (ger.) - sacred.*geistlich
music term: (ger.) - sad.*traurig
music term: (ger.) - same as utility music.*gebrauchmusik
music term: (ger.) - serenade or 'night music'. a title used in mozart's eine klcine nachtmusik.*nachtmusik
music term: (ger.) - simply.*einfach
music term: (ger.) - slow and sustained. same as sostenuto.*getragen
music term: (ger.) - smooth. same as legato.*geschleift
music term: (ger.) - soft, gentle. leiser, softer.*leise
music term: (ger.) - songful.*gesangvoll
music term: (ger.) - stepwise, at a walking pace and equivalent of andante.*schrittmassig
music term: (ger.) - sustained. cutgehalten, well sustained.*gehalten
music term: (ger.) - swing. schwungvol, spirited.*schwung
music term: (ger.) - symphony.*sinfonie
music term: (ger.) - tempo.*zeitmass
music term: (ger.) - tender.*zart
music term: (ger.) - tenderly.*zartlich
music term: (ger.) - tenderness.*zarthcit
music term: (ger.) - time.*mal
music term: (ger.) - to drag. schleppend, dragging.*schleppen
music term: (ger.) - to hurry. nicht cilen, do not hurry.*eilen
music term: (ger.) - to, after.*nach
music term: (ger.) - under, lower.*unter
music term: (ger.) - very.*sehr
music term: (ger.) - waltz.*waltzer
music term: (ger.) - weak, soft.*schwach
music term: (ger.) - with.*mit
music term: (ger.) - without.*ohne
music term: (ger.), motive (eng.) - (1) a short but recognisable melodic or rhythmic figure. (2) in analysis, this term describes the smallest subdivision of (e.g. a theme). moto (it.) - movement. con moto means 'with movement'.*motiv
music term: (ger., 'after dance') - a quick dance used to follow a slow one.*nachtanz
music term: (ger., 'blaring' ) - an indication to horn players to use a harsh brassy tone.*schmetternd
music term: (ger., 'play with singing') - generally the singspiel is a comic opera with spoken dialogue in the local dialect instead of recitative. an example is mozart's the magic flute (1791). in the early l9th century the style combined with german romantic opera and later came to be known simply as 'german musical comedy'.*singspiel
music term: (ger., 'storm and stress') - the powerful romantic expressiveness sweeping austrian and german music in the 1760s and 1770s was so called. especially evident in haydn's symphonies of that time.*sturm und drang
music term: (ger., 'table music') - music suitable for social gatherings (e.g. for performance after or during a dinner).*tafelmusik
music term: (ger., plural lieder) - song. this term is particularly applied to the german romantic songs of schubert, schumann and brahms. a characteristic is the importance paid to the piano part and the mood of the words.*lied
music term: (gk ., ' breath ' ) - a type of florid passage in plainsong sung to a single vowel.*pneuma
music term: (gk ., 'equal-rhythmed') - a device used in motets around 1300- 1450 in which the rhythmic pattern is repeated according to a strict scheme. this usually occurs in the tenor line in which the rhythm is repeated several times in diminishing note values.*isorhythmic
music term: (gk., ' song'; plural melismata) - describes a group of notes sung to the same syllable. however, the term is also applied to any florid vocal passage of improvisatory or cadenza-like nature.*melisma
music term: (gk., 'new') - a prefix indicating a new interest in older styles (e.g. neo- romantic refers to composers in the 20th century writing in the romantic style).*neo
music term: (gk., 'same-sounding') - music in which parts move together presenting a top melody with accompanying chords. the opposite of polyphony.*homophony
music term: (gk., 'single song') - a term used to describe a solo song with accompaniment (or continuo) in contrast to the polyphonic style in which all parts are of equal importance.*monody
music term: (gk., 'single sound') - this term describes music with a single melody line without support of accompaniment.*monophony
music term: (hung.) - hungarian dance in contrasting sections (slow and fast).*csardas
music term: (ir. caoine) - an irish funeral song accompanied by wailing.*keen
music term: (it ) - end. this term sometimes occurs in the middle of music, often where there is an instruction to repeat an opening section. the directionfine indicates the end of a piece.*fine
music term: (it . 'wood ') - (1) direction in some scores to use the woodblock; (2) direction to string players to hit the string with the back of the bow.*leyno
music term: (it. 'a little return') - many meanings, but the following are the most common. (i) in a concerto, it is a passage for the full orchestra without the soloist; (2) in the 14th century italian madrigal, the ritornello is the closing section; (3) in early opera, it was an instrumental piece.*ritornello
music term: (it. 'mano sinistra') - left hand. instruction to play with left hand in piano playing.*ms
music term: (it. ) - abbreviation for viola da gamba.*gamba
music term: (it. ) - morning song.*mattinata
music term: (it. ) - very slightly. superlative of poco.*pochissimo
music term: (it.) - generally this term means 'all the players' (e.g. in a concerto). the expression is used when the orchestra is playing without the soloist. in choral works tutti means chorus as opposed to soloists, or full chorus as opposed to semi-chorus.*tutti
music term: (it.) - (1) but; (2) abbreviation of the major scale.*ma
music term: (it.) - (1) in strict time. (2) at a reasonable speed.*giusto
music term: (it.) - (1) soft, abbreviation p; (2) standard abbreviation in french and english for pianoforte.*piano
music term: (it.) - (i) an instrumental movement with long bass notes giving a drone-like effect in 6 / 8 or 12 / 8 time; (2) obsolete term for a stage entertainment based on a legendary or rustic subject.*pastorale
music term: (it.) - (i) the rapid reiteration of a single note. (2) the rapid alteration between two or more notes.*tremolo
music term: (it.) - a bass line or pattern repeated over and over while upper parts proceed. the ground bass is a foundation for varied melodic, contrapuntal or harmonic treatment. forms which use this device include the chaconne and passacaglia.*ground bass
music term: (it.) - a bowing indication for string players to play near the bridge to achieve a brittle tone.*sul ponticello
music term: (it.) - a bowing indication to string players to play near or above the fingerboard, producing a 'colourless' tone.*sul tasto
music term: (it.) - a comic opera especially in the 18th century (e.g. by pergolesi).*opera buffa
music term: (it.) - a held or sustained note (of a single note or chord) where one might expect to play staccato. abbreviation is ten.*tenuto
music term: (it.) - a little duet.*duettino
music term: (it.) - a measure. senza misura, not in strict time.*misura
music term: (it.) - a popular and light italian strophic song for several voices, with the melody on top, flourishing around 1500. particularly heard in aristocratic circles.*frottola
music term: (it.) - a quick italian dance in 6 / 8 time similar to the tarantella with a characteristic jumping feel to the rhythm. examples date from the 14th century.*saltarello
music term: (it.) - a rest (not a pause).*pausa
music term: (it.) - a short scherzo.*scherzetto
music term: (it.) - a shorter, lighter symphony. also sometimes used as a performing name for small orchestras.*sinfonietta
music term: (it.) - a suite. this term was much used in the 18th century. in the 17th century, however, a partita was a variation.*partita
music term: (it.) - a very fast italian dance with alternating major and minor key sections in 6 / 8 time.*tarantella
music term: (it.) - alluringly.*lusingando
music term: (it.) - always. sempre piu mosso, always getting faster.*sempre
music term: (it.) - animated .*risvegliato
music term: (it.) - animated, moving.*mosso
music term: (it.) - as far as the sign.*fino al segno
music term: (it.) - as if, almost.*quasi
music term: (it.) - at a moderate pace. this term is used in other tempos (e.g. allegro moderato, implying a moderately fast pace).*moderato
music term: (it.) - at pleasure (e.g. not at any strict speed).*piacere a
music term: (it.) - at the same tempo.*istesso tempo
music term: (it.) - becoming gradually softer.*decrescendo
music term: (it.) - becoming slower.*slentando
music term: (it.) - becoming slower. abbreviation is rit.*ritardando
music term: (it.) - broad and deliberate in style.*largamente
music term: (it.) - by, through, for (e.g. per archi, for strings).*per
music term: (it.) - calm.*tranquillo
music term: (it.) - carrying sound. on bowed string instruments or in singing, the effect is obtained by gliding from one note to another higher or lower one, without a break in the sound.*portamento
music term: (it.) - change. direction to the timpani player to change tuning or to the wind player to change instrument.*muta
music term: (it.) - clearly articulated. this term is used in string playing for a light, staccato touch created by playing with the middle of the bow and a loose wrist.*splccato
music term: (it.) - distant.*lontano
music term: (it.) - doubling. usually indicates doubling of the bass at an octave below.*raddoppiamento
music term: (it.) - dragging.*strascinando
music term: (it.) - drawn together, close; (1) indication to quicken pace. (2) in a fugue, the term describes the overlapping of the entries when the subject begins in one voice before the preceding entry has finished.*stretto
music term: (it.) - dying away (of force and sometimes, speed).*morendo
music term: (it.) - dying away.*smorzando
music term: (it.) - english.*inglese
music term: (it.) - fast and light.*volante
music term: (it.) - fast. in mozart's music this means as fast as possible.*presto
music term: (it.) - final. in english there are two main meanings: (1) the last movement of a work in several movements; (2) the lengthy concluding section of an opera, often subdivided into smaller sections with contrasting tempos or keys. involves several singers and often a chorus.*finale
music term: (it.) - fire.*fuoco
music term: (it.) - first time.*prima volta
music term: (it.) - first.*prima
music term: (it.) - first. (1) upper part of a piano duet, the lower part being termed sccondo; (2) the first of two or more performers (e.g. violino primo means first violin). (3) tempo primo indicates that the original speed is to be resumed.*primo
music term: (it.) - force.*forza
music term: (it.) - freedom, licence. con akune licenze, with some freedom in style.*licenza
music term: (it.) - funeral. march funebre, funeral march.*funebre
music term: (it.) - gay.*gaio
music term: (it.) - generally, an instrumental composition in which one section recurs at certain times. by the 18th century, a standard pattern had developed as a b a c a d a, etc. appearing as the last movement of a sonata or concerto. the recurring theme a is called the rondo theme and b c d, etc. represent the contrasting sections known as episodes. however, a can be varied. the combination of sonata form and rondo resulted in sonata rondo which was much used by mozart and beethoven.*rondo
music term: (it.) - gentle, delicate.*morbido
music term: (it.) - getting gradually louder.*crescendo
music term: (it.) - getting slower.*rallentando
music term: (it.) - graceful .*garbato
music term: (it.) - grandeur.*grandezza
music term: (it.) - half.*meta
music term: (it.) - haydn and mozart's preferred title to concerto for an orchestral work with more than one solo parts.*sinfonia concertante
music term: (it.) - heavy, ponderous.*pesante
music term: (it.) - held back (tempo). sometimes used as an equivalent of ritardando.*ritenuto
music term: (it.) - humour. con umore, with humour.*umore
music term: (it.) - impetuously.*precipitato
music term: (it.) - in a pompous manner.*pomposo
music term: (it.) - in a resolute manner.*risoluto
music term: (it.) - in an imposing manner.*grandioso
music term: (it.) - in the old concerto grosso, the ripieno indicates the full body of performers as opposed to the solo group (concertino). scnza ripieni indicates that the first desks only of the accompanying orchestra are to play.*ripieno
music term: (it.) - in the style of gypsy music.*zingarese
music term: (it.) - in the style or manner of.*in modo di
music term: (it.) - in the turkish style.*turca
music term: (it.) - incisive.*inciso
music term: (it.) - indication to pianist to release the left-hand pedal.*tutte le corde
music term: (it.) - indication to pianists that the left (soft) pedal is to be released.*tre corde
music term: (it.) - indication to pianists to use the left (soft) pedal to reduce the volume.*una corda
music term: (it.) - indication to pluck notes on a bowed string instrument. abbreviation pizz.*pizzicato
music term: (it.) - labouring, holding back on each note.*stentando
music term: (it.) - left hand.*sinistra
music term: (it.) - less.*meno
music term: (it.) - light, lightly.*leggiero
music term: (it.) - lively .*vivace
music term: (it.) - lively.*vivo
music term: (it.) - long.*lungo
music term: (it.) - loud. abbreviated f.*forte
music term: (it.) - majestic, dignified.*maestoso
music term: (it.) - major.*maggiore
music term: (it.) - manner. in modo di, in the manner of.*modo
music term: (it.) - march. alla marcia, in a march-like style.*marcia
music term: (it.) - marked, emphatic.*marcato
music term: (it.) - martial.*marziale
music term: (it.) - melancholy.*malinconia
music term: (it.) - merry, playful.*giocoso
music term: (it.) - mournful .*flebile
music term: (it.) - mournful, sad.*lacrimoso
music term: (it.) - much, very.*molto
music term: (it.) - mute. (1) of a string or wind instrument, con sordino or con sordini means with mute(s). senza sordino or senza sordini means without mutes; (2) in piano playing scnza sordini indicates that dampers are to be raised and the performer is to use the sustaining, or right pedal. alternative and more common term is ped.*sordino
music term: (it.) - noisy.*strepitoso
music term: (it.) - nothing. a niente, to nothing. used after a diminuendo symbol to indicate the sound dying away entirely. nobile, nobilmente (it.) - noble, nobly.*niente
music term: (it.) - octave. often written 8ve. all'ottava, at the octave and ottava bassa, an octave lower.*ottava
music term: (it.) - or. indicates an alternative passage (usually a simpler version) in a composition.*ossia
music term: (it.) - pause.*fermata
music term: (it.) - plaintively.*piangendo
music term: (it.) - played by instruments.*stromentato
music term: (it.) - playfully, light-hearted.*scherzando
music term: (it.) - pleasantly.*piacevole
music term: (it.) - pleasing .*gradevole
music term: (it.) - point of the bow.*punta d'arco
music term: (it.) - precise.*preciso
music term: (it.) - quick, rapid.*tosto
music term: (it.) - rage.*rabbia
music term: (it.) - realism. particularly applied to italian opera around 1900 with its violent and contemporary leanings.*verismo
music term: (it.) - reinforcing. a sudden strong accent on notes or chords. similar to sforzando.*rinforzando
music term: (it.) - repeat.*replica
music term: (it.) - rhythm.*ritmo
music term: (it.) - sad.*mesto
music term: (it.) - scurrying, rapid.*scorrevole
music term: (it.) - see polonaise.*polacca
music term: (it.) - serious opera and opposite of opera buffa. this term is especially applied to the flourishing 18th century style as used by rossini. characterised by the use of castrato singers, heroic or mythological plots, italian libretti and formality in the music and action.*opera seria
music term: (it.) - short fugue.*fughetta
music term: (it.) - sign. dal segno, from the sign. this means the performer must repeat the passage from the appropriate sign.*segno
music term: (it.) - simple, simply.*semplice
music term: (it.) - singing or speech by an adult male voice in a higher register than normal. it is sometimes used for a comic effect and is used by tenors for notes above their normal range.*falsetto
music term: (it.) - slightly, little, rather. poco crescendo, getting slightly louder. poco a poco, little by little.*poco
music term: (it.) - slow and solemn.*grave
music term: (it.) - slow.*lento
music term: (it.) - smooth.*spianato
music term: (it.) - smoothly.*legato
music term: (it.) - so much. allegro non tanto, not too fast.*tanto
music term: (it.) - solely .*soltanto
music term: (it.) - somewhat, rather.*piuttosto
music term: (it.) - spirit, spirited.*spirito
music term: (it.) - strongly accented. abbreviated fz.*forzando
music term: (it.) - style.*stile
music term: (it.) - suddenly.*subito
music term: (it.) - sustained, in a smooth manner. the sostenuto pedal on the piano is the middle pedal, only fitted on more expensive instruments. this enables the performer to select notes he wishes to be sustained.*sostenuto
music term: (it.) - sustaining.*tenendo
music term: (it.) - sweet and gentle.*dolce
music term: (it.) - sweetly, tenderly.*soave
music term: (it.) - tenderly.*teneramente
music term: (it.) - the bass part (played on keyboard or other chordal instrument) with figures written below the notes indicating the harmonies to be played above them. this system was used greatly in the baroque period as an accompaniment for soloists or to enrich the general texture of a larger composition.*figured bass
music term: (it.) - the chief castrato or tenor role, used in the 18th century.*primo vomo
music term: (it.) - the steady increasing and decreasing of volume on one long held note in singing.*messa di voce
music term: (it.) - theme.*tema
music term: (it.) - then. in the phrase scherzo da capo, e poi la coda it means repeat the scherzo and then go on to the coda.*poi
music term: (it.) - threatening.*minacciando
music term: (it.) - time, pace.*tempo
music term: (it.) - time. (1) the terms prima volta (first time) and seconda volta (second time) are used when a section of a composition, or the composition, is to be repeated with some change in the final bar(s) indicated by these words and horizontal brackets; (2) a lively dance in 6 / 8 time popular in the late 16th and early 17th centuries in which men swing women high in the air.*volta
music term: (it.) - too much.*troppo
music term: (it.) - turn over (the page) quickly. volti subito, turn quickly.*volti
music term: (it.) - two strings. in piano music this occasionally indicates the release of the soft pedal (same as tre corde).*due corde
music term: (it.) - urged on, pushed.*spinto
music term: (it.) - usually an 18th century term for an entertaining suite of movements for chamber ensemble or orchestra. mozart wrote in this style.*divertimento
music term: (it.) - very fast. superlative of presto.*prestissimo
music term: (it.) - very loud. abbreviated ff.*fortissimo
music term: (it.) - very slightly, very little. diminutive of poco.*pochettino
music term: (it.) - very soft, with abbreviation pp.*pianissimo
music term: (it.) - voice-part.*parte
music term: (it.) - voice.*voce
music term: (it.) - whispered, barely audible. this term is applicable to both instrumental and vocal music.*sotto voce
music term: (it.) - with a forced manner (of a note or chord). abbreviation is sf.*sforzando
music term: (it.) - with expression.*espressivo
music term: (it.) - without.*senza
music term: (it.) abbreviation of basso continuo. same as figured bass.*continuo
music term: (it.), fantaisie (fr.), fantasie (ger.), fantasy (eng.) - this style is generally associated with the abandoning of set rules for free flights of the composer's imagination. specific definitions include: (i) a romantic mood piece of the 19th century(e.g. by schumann); (2) a contrapuntal piece, in several sections for one or many players, current in the 16th and 17th centuries, of improvisatory nature, with 'fancy' as an alternative name. the title phantasy was used for the 20t*fantasia
music term: (it.), jig - a lively dance in binary form, usually in 6 / 8 or 12 / 8 time. often occurs as the last movement in the 18th century suite.*gigue
music term: (it.), solfege (fr.) - ear-training by singing exercises to sol-fa syllables. more advanced forms are sung to vowels known as vocalizzi (lt.) or vocalises (fr.).*solfeggio
music term: (it.), sonatine (fr.) - a little sonata. shorter, lighter and generally easier to play than a sonata.*sonatina
music term: (it., 'a flowering') - decoration of a melody with ornaments which may be notated or improvised. evident in 17th and 18th century italian opera.*fioritura
music term: (it., 'a little largo') - not quite as slow as a largo.*larghetto
music term: (it., 'above') - usually found in piano music indicating that one hand has to pass over the other.*sopra
music term: (it., 'alone') - a piece or passage for one performer. a solo concerto is a concerto for one main performer with the others merely accompanving.*solo
music term: (it., 'booklet') - the text of an opera or oratorio.*libretto
music term: (it., 'broad') - slow and broad.*largo
music term: (it., 'changed note') - a contrapuntal device whereby a dissonant note is used when one expects a consonant one.*nota cambiata
music term: (it., 'chest') - in musical contexts used as in voci di petto, chest voice.*petto
music term: (it., 'detached') - the note is performed shorter than normal. a dash beneath or above the note indicates that the note is to be played as short as possible. a dot means the note is to be short. the superlative is staccatissimo.*staccato
music term: (it., 'evaporated') - light and airy playing. the term was used by chopin.*sfogato
music term: (it., 'extinct') - music to be played so that it is barely audible.*estinto
music term: (it., 'first lady') - a female singer with the most important part in an opera.*prima donna
music term: (it., 'german') - alla tedesca, in the german fashion, usually implying music to be played in the style of a german dance.*tedesco
music term: (it., 'half') - mezzo-soprano, female voice midway between a soprano and contralto range.*mezzo
music term: (it., 'it follows') - an indication that the performer should go straight on to the next section without a break.*segue
music term: (it., 'joke') - generally this is a lively movement, but chiefly developed by haydn, mozart and particularly beethoven from the symphonic minuet. usually it is in 3 / 4 time in the form a a b a with the b section being called trio.*scherzo
music term: (it., 'limp') - term describes music with a prominent scotch snap or syncopation.*zoppa
music term: (it., 'little opera') - a term applied in the l9th century to lighter styles of opera involving dialogue. composers included offenbach, johann strauss and sullivan. this style is sometimes referred to as light opera.*operetta
music term: (it., 'losing itself') - gradually dying away.*perdendosi
music term: (it., 'master') - this title was given to well-known conductors and composers in italy. it is now used (sometimes rather amusingly) elsewhere.*maestro
music term: (it., 'obligatory') - an obbligato part is one which has an important and unusual special role and cannot be dispensed with, as opposed to an optional part. however, in some l9th century music, the term obbligato was applied to an additional optional part.*obbligato
music term: (it., 'obstinate') - a persistently repeated musical figure or rhythm. a basso ostinato or ground bass has this feature in the bass part. otez (fr.) - take off. otez ies sourdines, take off the mutes.*ostinato
music term: (it., 'pie') - an operatic work with the material drawn from the works of various composers, especially popular in the 18th century.*pasticcio
music term: (it., 'place') - an indication to a performer that music is to be played at the pitch written. this direction may (a) cancel previous indications to play at a different pitch or (b) indicate a passage to be played in the normal position as opposed to any other in string music.*loco
music term: (it., 'robbed') - an indication to play notes with a controlled flexibility of time by getting slightly quicker or slower. much used in l9th century music.*rubato
music term: (it., 'similar') - indicates that a phrase, etc. is to be performed in the same manner as the previous one.*simile
music term: (it., 'something in the middle') - (i) an instrumental piece in opera, i.e. performed while the stage is empty; (2) a short concert piece. brahms wrote in this style.*intermezzo
music term: (it., 'stage' or 'scene') - (1) a scene in an opera consisting of an extended aria of dramatic nature; (2) a dramatic concert piece for solo voice with accompaniment.*scena
music term: (it., 'texture') - the natural compass of a singer's voice, or simply the compass of a vocal or instrumental part in a composition.*tessitura
music term: (it., 'tightening') - a heightening of tension in the music which in effect means an increase in speed.*stringendo
music term: (it., 'trembling') - employing tremolo.*tremolando
music term: (it., 'truncated') - a note broken off abruptly especially in vocal music.*tronco
music term: (lat ., 'silent ') - an indication that a performer or instrument has no part in a particular movement or section.*tacet
music term: (lat. gemellus, 'twin') - a type of two-part late medieval english vocal music, with great use of thirds and sixths.*gymel
music term: (lat. missa parodia) - a polyphonic mass (e.g. by palestrina) flourishing in the 16th century based on existing material of a motet or chanson. this term has only been used since the 19th century, however.*parody mass
music term: (lat.) - (i) a short concise musical setting of the mass. (2) a setting of the kyrie and gloria only.*missa brevis
music term: (lat.) - mass.*missa
music term: (lat., 'perpetually in motion') - a fast piece of music in which a rapid repetitive note-pattern is played throughout.*perpetuum mobile
music term: (lat., 'what you will') - a piece containing several popular tunes. the composition may be improvised or notated and was especially practised by german composers (e.g. bach) in the 17th and 18th centuries.*quodlibet
music term: (lat., 'wheel') - occasionally this term is used for the round (e.g. of sumer is icumen in).*rota
music term: (lt.) - sorrowful.*dolente
music term: (ment) (fr.) - sweet (sweetly), gentle (gently).*douce
music term: (old it., 'equal') - piece or pieces (equali) for instruments of the same kind.*equale
music term: (sp.) - a catalonian national dance performed to pipes and drums, often in sections. similar to the farandole.*sardana
music term: (sp.) - a lively spanish dance in 3 / 4 or 6 / 8 time accompanied by guitar, castanets and performers' singing. the fandango includes sudden stops and speed increases*fandango
music term: (sp.) - a quick spanish dance with singing in 3 / 4 time often with castanets and similar to the bolero.*seguidilla
music term: (sp.) - a sad andalusian song employing some intervals smaller than a semitone.*hondo
music term: (sp.) - a syncopated cuban dance introduced into spain in the l9th century with singing, usually in 2 / 4 time.*habanera
music term: (sp.) - an andalusian dance, originating in malaga, marked by singing. this term also describes an instrumental piece of similar nature.*malaguena
music term: (sp.) - an andalusian song performed with guitar accompaniment and dancing of a mostly sad nature. various types of namenco exist and are named after districts (e.g. malaguena and sevillana). flamenco-style guitar employs quite different and forceful techniques compared to classical guitar playing.*flamenco
music term: (sp.) - spanish traditional stage entertainment with satirical spoken dialogue.*zaruela
music term: (sp.) - tune, air.*tonada
music term: (sp., 'double step') or paso doble - a modern and quick spanish dance in 2 / 4 time.*pasodoble
music term: (welsh, 'assembly') - music or competitive festival.*eisteddfod
music term: (eng.) or pavane (fr.) - a slow, stately dance usually in duple time dating from the 16th century. it was normally followed by the quicker galliard after about 1550, often employing the same theme.*pavan
music term: (eng.), minuetto (it.) - a moderately fast french dance of rustic origin in 3 / 4 time but rising to court and becoming fashionable in the 18th century. the minuet is the standard third movement in the classical sonata, symphony, string quartet, etc., developing later into the scherzo with beethoven. form is a a b a.*minuet
music term: (fr ) - step. a pas d 'action is a ballet scene of dramatic nature and a pas de deux is a dance for two*pas
music term: (fr ) - step. a pas d 'action is a ballet scene of dramatic nature and a pas de deux is a dance for two.*pas
music term: (fr. ) - meditative, collected.*recueilli
music term: (fr. and ger.) - same as mass.*messe
music term: (fr.) - (1) a term sometimes used in english for leitmotif. (2) sarne as motiv or motive*motif
music term: (fr.) - (1) a term sometimes used in english for leitmotif. (2) sarne as motiv or motive.*motif
music term: (fr.) - (1) repeat; (2) the recapitulation in sonata form; (3) the return to the first section after contrasting music in the second section in binary form.*reprise
music term: (fr.) - a light, often satirical opera or operetta (e.g. by offenbach).*opera bouffe
music term: (fr.) - a piece composed deliberately in the style of another well- known composer. see also pasticcio above.*pastiche
music term: (fr.) - held back*retenu
music term: (fr.) - held back.*retenu
music term: (fr.) - i) melody. (2) song.*melodie
music term: (fr.) - increase speed.*pressez
music term: (fr.) - little .*petit
music term: (fr.) - operetta.*operette
music term: (fr.) - point of the bow.*pointe d'archet
music term: (fr.) - the coach, usually in an opera house, who teaches singers their parts. the repetiteur may also give them cues during the performance.*repetiteur
music term: (fr.) - the surprising sound of a major third at the end of a piece otherwise in a minor key thus converting the expected minor chord to a major one. this was a common device up to the mid-18th century .*picardy third
music term: (fr.) - this term describes comic opera but has two special meanings: (1) a type of french comic opera with spoken dialogue, lighter than current serious operas in the 18th century; (2) an opera, comic or otherwise, with spoken dialogue (e.g. bizet's carmen in the l9th century)*opera comique
music term: (fr.) - this term describes comic opera but has two special meanings: (1) a type of french comic opera with spoken dialogue, lighter than current serious operas in the 18th century; (2) an opera, comic or otherwise, with spoken dialogue (e.g. bizet's carmen in the l9th century).*opera comique
music term: (fr.) - up bow as opposed to tire, down bow*pousse
music term: (fr.) - up bow as opposed to tire, down bow.*pousse
music term: (fr.) rehearsal. repetition general is the dress rehearsal, often given before a full, but invited audience, in continental opera houses.*repetition
music term: (fr.), menuett (ger.) - same as minuet.*menuet
music term: (fr., 'concrete music') - music in which natural sounds (instrumental, vocal or other) were recorded on tape and then distorted, combined, etc. this term was coined by peter schaeffer in 1948 but it has largely been superseded by electronic music.*musique concrete
music term: (fr., 'enjoyment') - this title is sometimes found in spirited movements in suites of the baroque period.*rejouissance
music term: (fr., 'playfulness') - this term was used as a title movement in quick 2 / 4 time in the 18th century suite (e.g. bach's suite in b minor for flute and strings*badinage
music term: (from lat. cantus planus) - medieval church music usually describing the gregorian chant which still survives today in the roman catholic church. it consists of a single, unaccompanied vocal line in free rhythm like speech with no regular bar lengths.*plainchant
music term: (gael.) - same as mouth music*port a beul
music term: (gael.) - same as mouth music.*port a beul
music term: (ger.) - an interlude or episode (e.g. in a fugue or rondo).*zwischenspiel
music term: (ger.) - cradle song.*wiegenlied
music term: (ger.) - evening song*abendlied
music term: (ger.) - fantasy*phantasie
music term: (ger.) - fantasy.*phantasie
music term: (ger.) - heavy, weighty.*wuchtig
music term: (ger.) - holding back, slowing down.*zuruckhaltend
music term: (ger.) - ornament in german music in the 17th and 18th centuries.*nachschlag
music term: (ger.) - quick.*rasch
music term: (ger.) - rather slow.*ziemlich langsam
music term: (ger.) - rather.*ziemlich
music term: (ger.) - rattle.*ratsche
music term: (ger.) - recitative*rezitativ
music term: (ger.) - recitative.*rezitativ
music term: (ger.) - serenade or 'night music'. a title used in mozart's eine klcine nachtmusik.*nachtmusik
music term: (ger.) - tempo.*zeitmass
music term: (ger.) - tender.*zart
music term: (ger.) - tenderly.*zartlich
music term: (ger.) - tenderness.*zarthcit
music term: (ger.) - to, after.*nach
music term: (ger.) - with.*mit
music term: (ger.) - without*ohne
music term: (ger.) - without.*ohne
music term: (ger.), motive (eng.) - (1) a short but recognisable melodic or rhythmic figure. (2) in analysis, this term describes the smallest subdivision of (e.g. a theme). moto (it.) - movement. con moto means 'with movement'.*motiv
music term: (ger., 'after dance') - a quick dance used to follow a slow one.*nachtanz
music term: (gk ., ' breath ' ) - a type of florid passage in plainsong sung to a single vowel.*pneuma
music term: (gk., ' song'; plural melismata) - describes a group of notes sung to the same syllable. however, the term is also applied to any florid vocal passage of improvisatory or cadenza-like nature*melisma
music term: (gk., ' song'; plural melismata) - describes a group of notes sung to the same syllable. however, the term is also applied to any florid vocal passage of improvisatory or cadenza-like nature.*melisma
music term: (gk., 'new') - a prefix indicating a new interest in older styles (e.g. neo- romantic refers to composers in the 20th century writing in the romantic style).*neo
music term: (gk., 'single song') - a term used to describe a solo song with accompaniment (or continuo) in contrast to the polyphonic style in which all parts are of equal importance.*monody
music term: (gk., 'single sound') - this term describes music with a single melody line without support of accompaniment.*monophony
music term: (it. 'mano sinistra') - left hand. instruction to play with left hand in piano playing.*ms
music term: (it. ) - morning song.*mattinata
music term: (it. ) - very slightly. superlative of poco.*pochissimo
music term: (it.) - (1) soft, abbreviation p; (2) standard abbreviation in french and english for pianoforte.*piano
music term: (it.) - (i) an instrumental movement with long bass notes giving a drone-like effect in 6 / 8 or 12 / 8 time; (2) obsolete term for a stage entertainment based on a legendary or rustic subject.*pastorale
music term: (it.) - a comic opera especially in the 18th century (e.g. by pergolesi).*opera buffa
music term: (it.) - a display of a musical passage requiring great virtuosity by the performer*bravura
music term: (it.) - a little or light aria*arietta
music term: (it.) - a measure. senza misura, not in strict time.*misura
music term: (it.) - a rest (not a pause).*pausa
music term: (it.) - a suite. this term was much used in the 18th century. in the 17th century, however, a partita was a variation.*partita
music term: (it.) - animated, moving.*mosso
music term: (it.) - as if, almost.*quasi
music term: (it.) - at a moderate pace. this term is used in other tempos (e.g. allegro moderato, implying a moderately fast pace).*moderato
music term: (it.) - at pleasure (e.g. not at any strict speed).*piacere a
music term: (it.) - by, through, for (e.g. per archi, for strings).*per
music term: (it.) - carrying sound. on bowed string instruments or in singing, the effect is obtained by gliding from one note to another higher or lower one, without a break in the sound.*portamento
music term: (it.) - change. direction to the timpani player to change tuning or to the wind player to change instrument.*muta
music term: (it.) - doubling. usually indicates doubling of the bass at an octave below.*raddoppiamento
music term: (it.) - dying away (of force and sometimes, speed).*morendo
music term: (it.) - fast and lively*allegro
music term: (it.) - fast. in mozart's music this means as fast as possible.*presto
music term: (it.) - first time.*prima volta
music term: (it.) - first.*prima
music term: (it.) - first. (1) upper part of a piano duet, the lower part being termed sccondo; (2) the first of two or more performers (e.g. violino primo means first violin). (3) tempo primo indicates that the original speed is to be resumed*primo
music term: (it.) - first. (1) upper part of a piano duet, the lower part being termed sccondo; (2) the first of two or more performers (e.g. violino primo means first violin). (3) tempo primo indicates that the original speed is to be resumed.*primo
music term: (it.) - gentle, delicate.*morbido
music term: (it.) - getting slower*rallentando
music term: (it.) - getting slower.*rallentando
music term: (it.) - gradually becoming softer. see decrescendo.*diminuendo
music term: (it.) - half.*meta
music term: (it.) - heavy, ponderous.*pesante
music term: (it.) - impetuously.*precipitato
music term: (it.) - in a pompous manner.*pomposo
music term: (it.) - in the style of gypsy music.*zingarese
music term: (it.) - indication to pluck notes on a bowed string instrument. abbreviation pizz.*pizzicato
music term: (it.) - less.*meno
music term: (it.) - manner. in modo di, in the manner of*modo
music term: (it.) - manner. in modo di, in the manner of.*modo
music term: (it.) - much, very.*molto
music term: (it.) - nothing. a niente, to nothing. used after a diminuendo symbol to indicate the sound dying away entirely. nobile, nobilmente (it.) - noble, nobly.*niente
music term: (it.) - octave. often written 8ve. all'ottava, at the octave and ottava bassa, an octave lower.*ottava
music term: (it.) - or. indicates an alternative passage (usually a simpler version) in a composition.*ossia
music term: (it.) - plaintively.*piangendo
music term: (it.) - pleasantly*piacevole
music term: (it.) - pleasantly.*piacevole
music term: (it.) - point of the bow.*punta d'arco
music term: (it.) - precise.*preciso
music term: (it.) - rage.*rabbia
music term: (it.) - repeat.*replica
music term: (it.) - sad.*mesto
music term: (it.) - see polonaise.*polacca
music term: (it.) - serious opera and opposite of opera buffa. this term is especially applied to the flourishing 18th century style as used by rossini. characterised by the use of castrato singers, heroic or mythological plots, italian libretti and formality in the music and action.*opera seria
music term: (it.) - slightly, little, rather. poco crescendo, getting slightly louder. poco a poco, little by little.*poco
music term: (it.) - slow speed. often used as the title of a slow movement in sonatas and similar pieces of music*adagio
music term: (it.) - somewhat, rather.*piuttosto
music term: (it.) - the chief castrato or tenor role, used in the 18th century.*primo vomo
music term: (it.) - the steady increasing and decreasing of volume on one long held note in singing.*messa di voce
music term: (it.) - then. in the phrase scherzo da capo, e poi la coda it means repeat the scherzo and then go on to the coda.*poi
music term: (it.) - threatening.*minacciando
music term: (it.) - very fast. superlative of presto.*prestissimo
music term: (it.) - very slightly, very little. diminutive of poco.*pochettino
music term: (it.) - very soft, with abbreviation pp.*pianissimo
music term: (it.) - voice-part.*parte
music term: (it., 'changed note') - a contrapuntal device whereby a dissonant note is used when one expects a consonant one*nota cambiata
music term: (it., 'changed note') - a contrapuntal device whereby a dissonant note is used when one expects a consonant one.*nota cambiata
music term: (it., 'chest') - in musical contexts used as in voci di petto, chest voice*petto
music term: (it., 'chest') - in musical contexts used as in voci di petto, chest voice.*petto
music term: (it., 'first lady') - a female singer with the most important part in an opera.*prima donna
music term: (it., 'half') - mezzo-soprano, female voice midway between a soprano and contralto range.*mezzo
music term: (it., 'limp') - term describes music with a prominent scotch snap or syncopation.*zoppa
music term: (it., 'little opera') - a term applied in the l9th century to lighter styles of opera involving dialogue. composers included offenbach, johann strauss and sullivan. this style is sometimes referred to as light opera.*operetta
music term: (it., 'losing itself') - gradually dying away.*perdendosi
music term: (it., 'obligatory') - an obbligato part is one which has an important and unusual special role and cannot be dispensed with, as opposed to an optional part. however, in some l9th century music, the term obbligato was applied to an additional optional part.*obbligato
music term: (it., 'obstinate') - a persistently repeated musical figure or rhythm. a basso ostinato or ground bass has this feature in the bass part. otez (fr.) - take off. otez ies sourdines, take off the mutes.*ostinato
music term: (it., 'pie') - an operatic work with the material drawn from the works of various composers, especially popular in the 18th century.*pasticcio
music term: (lat. missa parodia) - a polyphonic mass (e.g. by palestrina) flourishing in the 16th century based on existing material of a motet or chanson. this term has only been used since the 19th century, however.*parody mass
music term: (lat.) - (i) a short concise musical setting of the mass. (2) a setting of the kyrie and gloria only.*missa brevis
music term: (lat.) - mass.*missa
music term: (lat., 'perpetually in motion') - a fast piece of music in which a rapid repetitive note-pattern is played throughout.*perpetuum mobile
music term: (lat., 'what you will') - a piece containing several popular tunes. the composition may be improvised or notated and was especially practised by german composers (e.g. bach) in the 17th and 18th centuries*quodlibet
music term: (lat., 'what you will') - a piece containing several popular tunes. the composition may be improvised or notated and was especially practised by german composers (e.g. bach) in the 17th and 18th centuries.*quodlibet
music term: (sp.) - spanish traditional stage entertainment with satirical spoken dialogue.*zaruela
music term: (sp., 'double step') or paso doble - a modern and quick spanish dance in 2 / 4 time*pasodoble
music term: (sp., 'double step') or paso doble - a modern and quick spanish dance in 2 / 4 time.*pasodoble
music term: - a 20th century term, coined by john cage, describing a piano which has been prepared by the insertion of objects between the piano strings for performance (e.g. a piece of cardboard).*prepared piano
music term: - a cadence with the chord progression consisting of the dominant (chord v) to the tonic (chord i) which has a 'complete' sound.*perfect cadence
music term: - a closing cadence consisting of a progression of the subdominant (chord iv) to the tonic (chord i) sounding like 'amen'.*plagal cadence
music term: - a drama in which all or most characters sing and in which music is an important element. early composers of opera include monteverdi and purcell. other composers are mozart, beethoven, rossini, donizetti, verdi, wagner (who preferred the term music drama), puccini, and in the 20th century, berg and britten.*opera
music term: - a five note scale, the commonest being without minor seconds (e.g. cdega-c...).*pentatonic
music term: - a french square dance popular in the 19th century. it was in five sections alternating between 6 / 8 and 2 / 4 time and performed by two or four couples.*quadrille
music term: - a group of notes forming a unit of a melody. to phrase a melody is to observe and mark the divisions of a melody into units or phrases .*phrase
music term: - an introductory piece or movement before a fugue, an act of an opera etc. chopin and other later composers wrote preludes as short, independent piano pieces in one movement.*prelude
music term: - an opera in which the principal character undergoes a test or a difficult journey, or experiences hardships before reaching his goal (e.g . mozart's magic flute).*quest opera
music term: - popularly known as a round, this is a never-ending canon which is also known as an infinite canon.*perpetual canon
music term: - same as common time consisting of four quarter notes to the bar, written 4 / 4 or c.*quadruple time
music term: - the fudamental or lowest note of the harmonic series especially applied to the playing of brass instruments.*pedal
music term: - the sound of two or more voices singing simultaneously at the same pitch. unison song, a song for several people all singing the same tune.*unlson
music term: - (1) (lat.) a canon in the 15th and 16th centuries. (2) (it.) a fugue.*fuga
music term: - (1) a group of seven performers which may consist of instrumentalists or singers; (2) a composition for seven performers which, if for instrumentalists, will have the character of a sonata in several movements.*septet
music term: - (1) a large-scale work, generally in three movements involving solo instrument(s) contrasted with orchestra and standardised by mozart. also called solo concerto. (2) an orchestral work in several contrasting movements with or without solo instruments, often supported by figured bass in the 17th and 18th centuries.*concerto
music term: - (1) a set of works, especially songs, intended to be performed as a group with thematic connection (e.g. schubert's song cycle die winterreise.*cycle
music term: - (1) a small and light textured concerto. (2) the soloist group in the 17thand 18th century concerto grosso. (3) a less formally structured work than a concerto for one or more solo instruments with orchestra.*concertino
music term: - (1) a subordinate passage serving as a link to another more important one. (2) a sudden change of key not going through the normal procedures referred to as modulation.*transition
music term: - (1) a vocal or instrumental piece for three performers (e.g. a piano trio - piano, violin and 'cello); (2) the middle section of a minuet or scherzo. originally this was written in three-part harmony and the title remained.*trio
music term: - (1) a work for orchestra or for two or more instruments with prominent solo parts. (2) the sinfonia-concertante is a work with a form nearer to a symphony than concerto but employing solo instruments and orchestra*concertante
music term: - (1) adult male voice between bass and alto; (2) part above the bass in a four part vocal composition in satb (soprano, alto, tenor, bass); (3) in sacred polyphonic music before 1450, this was the lowest melodic part upon which the composition was based; (4) a prefix to an instrument (e.g. tenor saxophone indicating the size between alto and bass).*tenor
music term: - (1) an orchestral piece preceding an opera, oratorio or play; (2) since mendelssohn's hebrides of 1832, the overture also describes a one movement orchestral piece composed for the concert hall with a non-musical subject. this is also called the concert overture; (3) in the 17th and 18th centuries the french overture (preceding an opera, etc.) was in three movements, slow-quick-slow, and the italian overture (a precursor of the symphony) also in three movements was quick-slow*overture
music term: - (1) an orchestral piece preceding an opera, oratorio or play; (2) since mendelssohn's hebrides of 1832, the overture also describes a one movement orchestral piece composed for the concert hall with a non-musical subject. this is also called the concert overture; (3) in the 17th and 18th centuries the french overture (preceding an opera, etc.) was in three movements, slow-quick-slow, and the italian overture (a precursor of the symphony) also in three movements was quick-slow-*overture
music term: - (1) an orchestral piece preceding an opera, oratorio or play; (2) since mendelssohn's hebrides of 1832, the overture also describes a one movement orchestral piece composed for the concert hall with a non-musical subject. this is also called the concert overture; (3) in the 17th and 18th centuries the french overture (preceding an opera, etc.) was in three movements, slow-quick-slow, and the italian overture (a precursor of the symphony) also in three movements was quick-slow-quick*overture
music term: - (1) generally a free style keyboard piece; (2) an organ solo played before and after an anglican service.*voluntary
music term: - (1) in ancient greek music this could be represented on the white keys of the piano from c to c; (2) from the middle ages, the iydian mode can be represented on the white keys of the piano from f to f.*iydian mode
music term: - (1) in modern use this is a religious choral composition in latin of the roman catholic service corresponding to the anthem in the anglican service. (2) in medieval times, this was a vocal composition based on a given set of words and melody, which sometimes came from a secular song.*motet
music term: - (1) in modern use this is a religious choral composition in latin of the roman catholic service corresponding to the anthem in the anglican service. (2) in medieval times, this was a vocal composition based on a given set of words and melody, which sometimes came from a secular song.*motet
music term: - (1) in string playing, the term indicates where on the fingerboard the left hand should be in order to play a passage; (2) in trombone playing, the term indicates how far the slide should be pushed out; (3) in harmony, the term describes the layout of a chord. here are the common positions of the chord with c major as an example, using the notes c e and g. in root position, the chord of c is played with c (the root of the chord) at the bottom. infirst inversion, the chord is*position
music term: - (1) in string playing, the term indicates where on the fingerboard the left hand should be in order to play a passage; (2) in trombone playing, the term indicates how far the slide should be pushed out; (3) in harmony, the term describes the layout of a chord. here are the common positions of the chord with c major as an example, using the notes c e and g. in root position, the chord of c is played with c (the root of the chord) at the bottom. infirst inversion, the chord is p*position
music term: - (1) in string playing, the term indicates where on the fingerboard the left hand should be in order to play a passage; (2) in trombone playing, the term indicates how far the slide should be pushed out; (3) in harmony, the term describes the layout of a chord. here are the common positions of the chord with c major as an example, using the notes c e and g. in root position, the chord of c is played with c (the root of the chord) at the bottom. infirst inversion, the chord is played*position
music term: - (1) in vocal music this is a slur mark indicating that a group of notes is to be sung to the same syllable; (2) in instrumental music this is a slur indicating notes which are to be phrased together.*ligature
music term: - (1) the art of writing for an orchestra, band, etc., involving great knowledge of tone colours, range of instruments, technical capacities and combinations of instruments, etc. (2) the scoring of a work, originally intended for another medium, for an orchestra.*orchestration
music term: - (1) the art of writing for an orchestra, band, etc., involving great knowledge of tone colours, range of instruments, technical capacities and combinations of instruments, etc. (2) the scoring of a work, originally intended for another medium, for an orchestra.*orchestration
music term: - (1) the cancelling of a flat or sharp of a note or key indicated by a sign beside the note; (2) a trumpet or horn, etc. not having any valves or keys.*natural
music term: - (1) the division of compass of a singer's voice (e.g. chest register and head register). also applied to the compass of an instrument (e.g. the chalumeau register of the clarinet); (2) a set of organ pipes controlled by one particular stop.*register
music term: - (1) the division of compass of a singer's voice (e.g. chest register and head register). also applied to the compass of an instrument (e.g. the chalumeau register of the clarinet); (2) a set of organ pipes controlled by one particular stop.*register
music term: - (1) the first player of an orchestral section (e.g. the 'principal horn'). (2) in opera, the principal is the singer who performs the main parts, but not the chief ones.*principal
music term: - (1) the first player of an orchestral section (e.g. the 'principal horn'). (2) in opera, the principal is the singer who performs the main parts, but not the chief ones.*principal
music term: - (1) the interval consisting of two semitones (e.g. c to d); (2) the quality of sound of an instrument.*tone
music term: - (1) traditionally a play in mime; (2) nowadays it is a christmas stage entertainment based on a fairy tale or other traditional source with dialogue, popular songs, costumes and actions (e.g. snow white).*pantomime
music term: - (1) traditionally a play in mime; (2) nowadays it is a christmas stage entertainment based on a fairy tale or other traditional source with dialogue, popular songs, costumes and actions (e.g. snow white).*pantomime
music term: - (1) treble clef. g clef on the second line; (2) prefix to an instrument of high pitch within a family (e.g. treble recorder).*treble
music term: - (1) words of a song. (2) a fairly short but expressive piece (e.g. lyric piece by grieg; (3) describes vocal performance with the lyre. (4) a iyric drama is an occasional synonym for opera.*iyric
music term: - (i) a flourish for trumpets (or other imitating instruments) usually for an introduction or proclamation; (2) french for brass band.*fanfare
music term: - (i) alternative name for the madrigal; (2) any piece representing country life.*pastoral
music term: - (i) an instrumental or vocal piece intended to improve aspects of technique and of no artistic value. (2) the term for a keyboard suite in the 18th century.*exercise
music term: - (i) fanfare; (2) decorative musical figuration notated or improvlsed .*flourish
music term: - (i) in a rondo, this is a contrasting section between episodical form recurrences of the main theme. (2) in a fugue, it is a section linking (by means of contrast, modulation or possibly using subject material) one entry and another. in both contexts, an episode has a subordinate role.*episode
music term: - (i) in the early 17th century this described the new expressive music; (2) between 1850 and 1900 it described the new music of wagner and liszt as opposed to the more traditional music of brahms; (3) today it refers to music by contemporary composers.*new music
music term: - (i) in the early 17th century this described the new expressive music; (2) between 1850 and 1900 it described the new music of wagner and liszt as opposed to the more traditional music of brahms; (3) today it refers to music by contemporary composers*new music
music term: - (i) in the early 17th century this described the new expressive music; (2) between 1850 and 1900 it described the new music of wagner and liszt as opposed to the more traditional music of brahms; (3) today it refers to music by contemporary composers.*new music
music term: - (i) music inserted between other pieces of music (e.g. organ passages between hymn verses); (2) music inserted between acts of plays or other non-musical events.*interlude
music term: - (i) on stringed instruments, this is the placing of the left hand fingers on the strings to shorten the vibrating length and to raise the pitch. the terms double stopping, triple stopping, etc. refer to two or three notes simultaneously being played this way; (2) in horn playing, this is the insertion of the hand into the bell of the instrument to alter the pitch and tone quality of a note.*stopping
music term: - (i) the entrance of a theme in a fugue occurring not only at the beginning but also at later stages in the composition. (2) a 17th century term for a prelude.*entry
music term: - (i) the interval consisting of two semitones (e.g. c to d).*whole tone
music term: - (it)soft and loud, abrrev. is piano.*pianoforte
music term: - (it.) - more. piu lento, slower.*pi
music term: - a 20th century concept of playing an adjacent group of notes on a piano simultaneously by applying the forearm, fist or piece of wood to the keyboard.*tone cluster
music term: - a 20th century concept of using two keys simultaneously, evident in stravinsky's music*bitonality
music term: - a 20th century term borrowed from painting and applied to other art forms implying a reaction against impressionism (e.g. the works of composers such as debussy). musically it is especially applied to the works of schonberg, berg and some compositions of hindemith.*expressionism
music term: - a 20th century term, coined by john cage, describing a piano which has been prepared by the insertion of objects between the piano strings for performance (e.g. a piece of cardboard).*prepared piano
music term: - a bow stroke on stringed instruments from point to heel. see bowing and down-bow.*up-bow
music term: - a cadence which ends on the dominant of the relative minor.*phrygian cadence
music term: - a cadence with the chord progression consisting of the dominant (chord v) to the tonic (chord i) which has a 'complete' sound.*perfect cadence
music term: - a canon in which the cornposer leaves the performer to decide where and at what pitch the following voices make their entries*riddle canon
music term: - a canon in which the cornposer leaves the performer to decide where and at what pitch the following voices make their entries.*riddle canon
music term: - a chain of perfect fifths which will lead back to the original note (at a different octave) after working through the other eleven notes of the chromatic scale. it is useful for learning key signatures.*cycle of fifths
music term: - a chord of four notes played on a bowed string instrument*quadruple stop
music term: - a chord of four notes played on a bowed string instrument.*quadruple stop
music term: - a chord on the fourth degree of the scale with a minor third and sixth (e.g. in c major it includes the notes f, a flat and d flat).*neapolitan sixth
music term: - a christian song of praise sung by a congregation with words specially written.*hymn
music term: - a closing cadence consisting of a progression of the subdominant (chord iv) to the tonic (chord i) sounding like 'amen'*plagal cadence
music term: - a closing cadence consisting of a progression of the subdominant (chord iv) to the tonic (chord i) sounding like 'amen'.*plagal cadence
music term: - a combination of sonata form and rondo form. in a rondo the five sections are a b a c a. in sonata rondo these become a b a c a b plus coda in which a becomes the first subject, b becomes the second subject and c becomes the development section. this form was rnuch used by beethoven.*sonata rondo
music term: - a composition for eight voices or instruments, or simply eight people.*octet
music term: - a composition for five performers.*quintet
music term: - a composition for four performers.*quartet
music term: - a composition for two performers sometimes with accompaniment. a piano duet is for two pianists on one piano.*duet
music term: - a composition in three sections in the form a b a with the first section (a) being repeated (not necessarily exactly). b represents a different middle section.*ternary form
music term: - a composition usually for two violins and a 'cello, with a keyboard playing the bass line and supporting harmonies. much favoured in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.*trio sonata
music term: - a concerto for three solo instruments with orchestra.*triple concerto
music term: - a contrapuntal composition for two or more voices or parts built around a theme, which is successively imitated by entries of each voice at the beginning and developed throughout the piece. the initial entry in the tonic key is called the subject. the second entry in the dominant is called the answer. if this answer is exact (e.g. it reproduces the subject note for note in the dominant) then it is a real answer. if the answer is slightly modified to preserve tonality, it is c*fugue
music term: - a curved line grouping notes together, indicating that they be joined smoothly in performance (eg. sung in one breath or played with one stroke of the bow, etc.).*slur
music term: - a device in part-writing in which one voice repeats (or approximately repeats) a musical figure previously stated by another voice. canon and fugue employ imitation with strict rules.*imitation
music term: - a drama in which all or most characters sing and in which music is an important element. early composers of opera include monteverdi and purcell. other composers are mozart, beethoven, rossini, donizetti, verdi, wagner (who preferred the term music drama), puccini, and in the 20th century, berg and britten.*opera
music term: - a dramatic stage work for only one character.*monodrama
music term: - a fairly quick dance in 4 / 4 time.*gavotte
music term: - a fast dance for two or more couples in 2 / 4 or 4 / 4 time, found mainly in scotland, ireland, scandinavia and north america.*reel
music term: - a fast dance for two or more couples in 2 / 4 or 4 / 4 time, found mainly in scotland, ireland, scandinavia and north america.*reel
music term: - a fast, syncopated and suggestive afro-cuban dance in 2 / 4 time, divided into eight beats. became popular in the ballroom and jazz in the 1930s.*rumba
music term: - a final piece of a composition.*postlude
music term: - a five note scale, the commonest being without minor seconds (e.g. cdega-c...).*pentatonic
music term: - a french square dance popular in the 19th century. it was in five sections alternating between 6 / 8 and 2 / 4 time and performed by two or four couples.*quadrille
music term: - a fugue with four different subjects.*quadruple fugue
music term: - a greek word taken into latin and sometimes used in modern contexts to describe a work equivalent to a symphony.*symphonia
music term: - a group of five notes to be performed in the time of 4.*quintuplet
music term: - a group of four notes to be played in the time of 3.*quadruplet
music term: - a group of notes forming a unit of a melody. to phrase a melody is to observe and mark the divisions of a melody into units or phrases .*phrase
music term: - a group of notes or a theme forming a basic element or idea in a composition by repetition and development.*subject
music term: - a group of seven notes to be played in the time of 4 or 6.*septuplet
music term: - a group of six notes to be peformed in the time of 4.*sextolet
music term: - a group of three notes played in the time of 2.*triplet
music term: - a harmonic device in which a note in a chord is kept sounding while another chord is played to form a discord. this discord is resolved by the prolonged note usually falling or rising to a note forming part of the new chord.*suspension
music term: - a harmonic device in which the effect of a discord is softened by first employing the note which actually causes that chord to be discordant, in the previous note with which it is consonant.*preparation
music term: - a harmonic device in which the effect of a discord is softened by first employing the note which actually causes that chord to be discordant, in the previous note with which it is consonant.*preparation
music term: - a l9th century style expressed by writers, painters and by musicians like chopin, liszt, berlioz, rossini and paganini. characteristics are iyricism, chromatic harmony, an interest in literature, nationalism, programme music, miniature or character pieces and generally emotional aspects governing the traditional, formal musical structures.*romantic music
music term: - a large body of instrumentalists which has developed historically. the first orchestras were variable, but by the baroque period they consisted of strings, oboes and bassoons with other solo instruments. standardisation took place in the classical period when the orchestra was divided into four sections: strings, woodwind (two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons and clarinets), brass (two horns and two trumpets) and percussion consisting of two kettledrums. the orchestra was grea*orchestra
music term: - a large body of instrumentalists which has developed historically. the first orchestras were variable, but by the baroque period they consisted of strings, oboes and bassoons with other solo instruments. standardisation took place in the classical period when the orchestra was divided into four sections: strings, woodwind (two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons and clarinets), brass (two horns and two trumpets) and percussion consisting of two kettledrums. the orchestra was great*orchestra
music term: - a large body of instrumentalists which has developed historically. the first orchestras were variable, but by the baroque period they consisted of strings, oboes and bassoons with other solo instruments. standardisation took place in the classical period when the orchestra was divided into four sections: strings, woodwind (two flutes, two oboes, two bassoons and clarinets), brass (two horns and two trumpets) and percussion consisting of two kettledrums. the orchestra was greatly ex*orchestra
music term: - a literary term for a work of pastoral or peaceful nature and transferred to music (e.g. siegfried idyll by wagner).*idyll
music term: - a lively cossack dance in 2 / 4 time.*trepak
music term: - a lively dance usually in triple time often contrasted (although often thematically linked) with the slower pavan which it followed.*galliard
music term: - a lively english dance, in triple time in the early 16th century. from the mid 18th century onwards it was in 4 / 4 time, acquiring an association with sailors.*hornpipe
music term: - a lowering in pitch which may be a semitone, or a description of someone singing or playing below normal pitch unintentionally. a double flat indicates a lowering of the pitch by two semitones.*flat
music term: - a marching piece either slow (4 / 4 time) or quick (2 / 4 or 6 / 8 time).*march
music term: - a medieval type of part-writing based on plainsong and harmonised by either one, two or three parallel parts*organum
music term: - a medieval type of part-writing based on plainsong and harmonised by either one, two or three parallel parts.*organum
music term: - a medley of popular tunes.*musical switch
music term: - a melodic group of notes forming the basis or chief idea in a composition by repetition or development. in musical analysis it is equated with subject. the term theme and variations describes a long musical statement which is developed.*theme
music term: - a mode represented on the white keys of the piano from b to b.*locrian mode
music term: - a mode represented on the white notes of the piano from g to g.*mixolydian mode
music term: - a moderately fast dance in 2 / 4 time for couples, originating in bohemia in the 19th century and becoming popular in europe and the u.s.a.*polka
music term: - a moderately fast dance in 2 / 4 time for couples, originating in bohemia in the 19th century and becoming popular in europe and the u.s.a.*polka
music term: - a moderately fast spanish dance in 3 / 4 time accompanied by castanets .*jodel
music term: - a modern ballroom dance with quick steps.*quickstep
music term: - a modernistic principal since 1945 of leaving elements of performance to pure chance (see aleatoric music) or letting performers decide when to play certain passages. berio, cage and stockhausen used this concept in their compositions.*indeterminacy
music term: - a musical composition (originating around 1600) consisting of an extended setting of a religious or epic text for chorus, soloists and orchestra for performance in a church or concert hall, although originally oratorios involved scenery, costumes and action. an example is handel's messiah of 1742.*oratorio
music term: - a musical composition (originating around 1600) consisting of an extended setting of a religious or epic text for chorus, soloists and orchestra for performance in a church or concert hall, although originally oratorios involved scenery, costumes and action. an example is handel's messiah of 1742.*oratorio
music term: - a musical ornament consisting of rapid alternation starting with the written note and then the note above. in the 17th and 18th centuries the trill started with the note above and then the note below. also known as shake.*trill
music term: - a musical ornament turning around a note starting with the note bove.*turn
music term: - a name for the third degree of the scale (e.g. e is in the mediant in c major). the mediant is so-called because it stands between the tonic and dominant.*mediant
music term: - a name for the third degree of the scale (e.g. e is in the mediant in c major). the mediant is so-called because it stands between the tonic and dominant.*mediant
music term: - a neverending canon popularly known as a round (e.g. three blind mice).*infinite canon
music term: - a nickname for the sustaining (right) pedal on the piano.*loud pedal
music term: - a night piece with two main meanings: (1) in the 18th century this was a composition close to a serenade for several instruments and movements. (2) in the romantic period it was a short iyrical piece in one movement for piano (e.g. by chopin). noel (fr., 'christmas') - a christmas carol. non (fr. and it.) - not.*nocturne
music term: - a night piece with two main meanings: (1) in the 18th century this was a composition close to a serenade for several instruments and movements. (2) in the romantic period it was a short iyrical piece in one movement for piano (e.g. by chopin). noel (fr., 'christmas') - a christmas carol. non (fr. and it.) - not.*nocturne
music term: - a note which is not part of the chord with which it sounds. this could mean a passing note or an appoggiatura.*non-harmonic note
music term: - a note, usually in the bass, which is held below changing harmonies above, with which it may be discordant.*pedal point
music term: - a note, which may be accented or unaccented, forming a discord with the chord with which it is heard, but is melodically placed between two consonant notes.*passing note
music term: - a note, which may be accented or unaccented, forming a discord with the chord with which it is heard, but is melodically placed between two consonant notes.*passing note
music term: - a pair of notes occupying time usually taken by three (e.g. 6 / 8 or 3 / 8).*duplet
music term: - a performance by one or two performers.*recital
music term: - a performer with brilliant technique and exceptional skill.*virtuoso
music term: - a plainsong chant sung by a chorus alternating with solo verse(s).*respond
music term: - a polish folk dance in moderate to fast 3 / 4 or 3 / 8 time. adapted and stylised by chopin.*mazurka
music term: - a polish folk dance in moderate to fast 3 / 4 or 3 / 8 time. adapted and stylised by chopin*mazurka
music term: - a polish folk dance in moderate to fast 3 / 4 or 3 / 8 time. adapted and stylised by chopin.*mazurka
music term: - a prefix to a note indicating the pitch is to be lowered by two semitones.*double flat
music term: - a progression of single notes in ascending or descending order. a scale may be described as major, minor, chromatic, diatonic, pentatonic, twelve-note or a mode.*scale
music term: - a quick 19th century ballroom dance in 2 / 4 time.*galop
music term: - a quick, highly syncopated brazilian carnival song danced usually in 2 / 4 time in a circle with a standard call and response between lead singer and chorus. the ballroom version is danced in couples and is more sedate.*samba
music term: - a rapid but minute fluctuation in pitch to give an expressive quality to a note (e.g. by a violinist's oscillations of the left hand). the degree and style is related to the intensity of feeling in the music.*vibrato
music term: - a rapid succession of notes on a drum approximating to a continuous sound.*roll
music term: - a recurring section of a song (both words and music) at the end of each stanza.*refrain
music term: - a responding musical phrase (e.g. in a fugue) which exactly reproduces the subject or entry of a theme at the fifth.*real answer
music term: - a restatement of a section of a composition usually indicated by repeat marks which consist of a pair of dots and a double bar. when the performer reaches these repeat marks, he then plays from the previous pair of dots, or if there are none, from the beginning.*repeat
music term: - a restatement of a section of a composition usually indicated by repeat marks which consist of a pair of dots and a double bar. when the performer reaches these repeat marks, he then plays from the previous pair of dots, or if there are none, from the beginning.*repeat
music term: - a rhythmic figure consisting of a short note on the beat followed by a longer one held until the next beat. found in scottish music but also in other folk music.*scotch snap
music term: - a rise in pitch which may be a semitone, or a description of someone singing or playing sharp unintentionally. a double sharp indicates a rising of the pitch by two semitones.*sharp
music term: - a sailors' work song with solo verses (often of an extemporised nature) and chorus matching certain rhythmical movements (e.g. pulling a rope together).*shanty
music term: - a scottish dance related to the reel with a slower tempo and characteristic rhythms with four beats to the bar.*strathspey
music term: - a section of a composition, usually with no structural importance.*passage
music term: - a secular, polyphonic, unaccompanied vocal composition set to poems for several parts, mainly cultivated in the 16th and 17th centuries. italian writers of this time included gabrieli and palestrina (16th century). monteverdi and marenzio wrote in the later highly stylised manner of the 17th century. english writers included morley and yveelkes.*madrigal
music term: - a self-contained section of a large composition having its own time signature and title. in some works, movements are directly linked (without a break inbetween) and sound incomplete without performing them in sequence. in all works, movements form a cohesive whole, much like in a set of related literary short stories. movimento (it.) - motion. doppio mouvmento, at double the preceding speed.*movement
music term: - a self-contained section of a large composition having its own time signature and title. in some works, movements are directly linked (without a break inbetween) and sound incomplete without performing them in sequence. in all works, movements form a cohesive whole, much like in a set of related literary short stories. movimento (it.) - motion. doppio mouvmento, at double the preceding speed*movement
music term: - a self-contained section of a large composition having its own time signature and title. in some works, movements are directly linked (without a break inbetween) and sound incomplete without performing them in sequence. in all works, movements form a cohesive whole, much like in a set of related literary short stories. movimento (it.) - motion. doppio mouvmento, at double the preceding speed.*movement
music term: - a sense of pitch which enables a person to identify a note simply by hearing it.*perfect pitch
music term: - a set of notes produced by a vibrating string or air column, determining the difference of tone colours of instruments.*harmonic series
music term: - a set of songs performed in its entirety and set to words by a single poet. beethoven wrote the first example in 1816. in the romantic era, however, schumann and schubert used traditional german popular song combined with more imaginative accompaniment to illuminate and interpret words in a romantic way. an example is die winterreisce ('winter journey') composed in 1828 by schubert.*song cycle
music term: - a short composition of improvisatory nature usually for piano. schubert and chopin wrote in this style.*impromptu
music term: - a short musical phrase (not as long as a theme) which is recognisable through repetition in a composition.*figure
music term: - a short vocal perpetual canon in which voices enter in turn to sing a melody at the octave or at the same pitch (e.g. row, row, row your boat).*round
music term: - a silence in a performer's part indicated by symbols corresponding to certain beats.*rest
music term: - a simple and short part-song in several sections for male voices, flourishing in britain between 1650 and 1830.*glee
music term: - a slow and stately dance in 3 / 2 or 3 / 4 time, usually in binary form and one of the standard elements of the suite.*sarabande
music term: - a slow or fast dance in triple time with the characteristic one beat and one chord in the bar. the waltz became universally popular in the 19th century with viennese composers.*waltz
music term: - a spanish dance in fast, syncopated 3 / 4 time with song.*polo
music term: - a spanish dance in fast, syncopated 3 / 4 time with song.*polo
music term: - a stage work giving more or less equal importance to opera and ballet (e.g. the works of lully and rameau in france in the 17th and 18th centuries).*opera- ballet
music term: - a stage work giving more or less equal importance to opera and ballet (e.g. the works of lully and rameau in france in the 17th and 18th centuries)*opera- ballet
music term: - a stage work giving more or less equal importance to opera and ballet (e.g. the works of lully and rameau in france in the 17th and 18th centuries).*opera- ballet
music term: - a stage work involving elements of both opera and oratorio (e.g. stravinsky's oedipus rex).*opera oratorio
music term: - a stately polish dance in moderately fast 3 / 4 time dating from at least the 16th century. composers include bach, but the most famous examples are the 13 written by chopin.*polonaise
music term: - a stately polish dance in moderately fast 3 / 4 time dating from at least the 16th century. composers include bach, but the most famous examples are the 13 written by chopin*polonaise
music term: - a stately polish dance in moderately fast 3 / 4 time dating from at least the 16th century. composers include bach, but the most famous examples are the 13 written by chopin.*polonaise
music term: - a string group consisting of two violins, viola and 'cello.*string quartet
music term: - a style of music in two or more parts in which (as opposed to homophony) each part is independent and of equal importance. therefore, polyphonic music implies the use of counterpoint, and some of the most important forms are the motet, canon and fugue. composers include palestrina, byrd and bach.*polyphony
music term: - a style of music in two or more parts in which (as opposed to homophony) each part is independent and of equal importance. therefore, polyphonic music implies the use of counterpoint, and some of the most important forms are the motet, canon and fugue. composers include palestrina, byrd and bach.*polyphony
music term: - a term describing (from the 1960's) dramatic works simpler than opera and suitable for the concert platform.*music theatre
music term: - a term describing the course of a melody or melodies. conjunct motion is movement by step. disjunct motion is movement by leap. similar motion describes two melodies moving in the same direction and contrary motion describes two melodies moving in opposite directions. paralicl motion describes parts moving the same way and also keeping the same interval between them.*motion
music term: - a term describing the course of a melody or melodies. conjunct motion is movement by step. disjunct motion is movement by leap. similar motion describes two melodies moving in the same direction and contrary motion describes two melodies moving in opposite directions. paralicl motion describes parts moving the same way and also keeping the same interval between them.*motion
music term: - a term for music which recurs and develops in the form of a quotation.*motto theme
music term: - a theme which is played backwards. this device was prominent in the middle ages in fugues and in 20th century serial music. retrograde inversion describes a theme played backwards and upside-down.*retrograde motion
music term: - a theme which is played backwards. this device was prominent in the middle ages in fugues and in 20th century serial music. retrograde inversion describes a theme played backwards and upside-down.*retrograde motion
music term: - a three-note chord (e.g. c e g with e and g being a third and fifth above the lowest note c).*triad
music term: - a title given by l9th and 20th century composers to describe works generally in one continuous movement suggestive of neroic, national or other romantic inspiration.*rhapsody
music term: - a title given by l9th and 20th century composers to describe works generally in one continuous movement suggestive of neroic, national or other romantic inspiration.*rhapsody
music term: - a title given to the basic a b a form or ternary form as used in an instrumental slow movement. however, this is rather vague and is best avoided since not every song is in this form.*song form
music term: - a title used byj.s. bach for contrapuntal two-part compositions for clavier. bach called three-part compositions sinfonie but they are now also referred to as inventions.*invention
music term: - a triad in which the perfect fifth is reduced chromatically by a semitone (e.g. a c and e flat.*diminished triad
music term: - a type of 'augmented sixth' chord (e.g. a flat, c, e flat and f sharp whlch also may be treated as a dominant seventh chord.*german sixth
music term: - a type of american-influenced light stage entertainment which succeeded the musical comedy in the mid-20th century. now known simply as a musical. an example is phantom of the opera with music by andrew lloyd webber.*musical play
music term: - a type of american-influenced light stage entertainment which succeeded the musical comedy in the mid-20th century. now known simply as a musical. an example is phantom of the opera with music by andrew lloyd webber*musical play
music term: - a type of american-influenced light stage entertainment which succeeded the musical comedy in the mid-20th century. now known simply as a musical. an example is phantom of the opera with music by andrew lloyd webber.*musical play
music term: - a type of augmented sixth chord (e.g. a flat, c and f sharp) distinguished by having a major triad and no other note between the notes forming the sixth.*italian sixth
music term: - a type of metre where the beat units are divisible into three (e.g. 6 / 8, 9 / 8, 12 / 8. opposite of simple time*compound time
music term: - a type of plainsong associated with pope gregory i (590- 604) existing as a large collection of ancient monophonic melodies which were until quite recently used in the roman catholic church.*gregorian chant
music term: - a type of rcligious arnerican negro folksong with a call and response pattern.*spiritual
music term: - a vague term describing: (1) the serious, entirely sung operas as opposed to the lighter op ra-comique which had dialogue, (2) operas on a grand and lavish scale.*grand opera
music term: - a vague term with two main meanings: (1) a romantic love song, properly performed in the night air accompanied by mandolin or guitar in order to woo a girl; (2) evening entertainment (especially 18th century) comprising a set of instrumental movements for chamber orchestra or wind group similar to the divertimento. the german equivalent is nachtmusik.*serenade
music term: - a wagnerian term for opera, which he felt to be inadequate. this term describes wagner's new concept of the leitmotif and the fusing of scenery, costume, libretti, music and drama into a new art.*music drama
music term: - a wagnerian term for opera, which he felt to be inadequate. this term describes wagner's new concept of the leitmotif and the fusing of scenery, costume, libretti, music and drama into a new art.*music drama
music term: - a wait of indefinite length on a note or rest*pause
music term: - a wait of indefinite length on a note or rest.*pause
music term: - a work in which a theme connects more than one movement. beethoven introduced it into symphonic music (e.g. in his fifth symphony) and romantic composers developed it further.*cyclic form
music term: - abbreviaion for piano (it.), soft. varying degrees of increasing softness are abbreviated as pp, ppp, etc.*p
music term: - abbreviation for cello.*vc
music term: - abbreviation for pianissimo, very soft.*pp
music term: - abbreviation for right hand.*rh
music term: - abbreviation for viola.*vla
music term: - abbreviation of fortissimo meaning very loud*ff
music term: - abbreviation of general pause.*gp
music term: - abbreviation of german kontrabass, double-bass.*kb
music term: - abbreviation of latin opus, work. used as a publishers' catalogue system to indicate the order in which a composer's works have been published. the higher the opus number, the later the music was published in a composer's lifetime.*op
music term: - abbreviation of latin opus, work. used as a publishers' catalogue system to indicate the order in which a composer's works have been published. the higher the opus number, the later the music was published in a composer's lifetime.*op
music term: - abbreviation of mezzo soprano.*m sop
music term: - abbreviation of pizzicato.*pizz
music term: - abbreviation of rallentando.*rall
music term: - abbreviation of recitative.*recit
music term: - abbreviation of rinforzando.*rin
music term: - abbreviation of ritardando.*rit
music term: - abbreviation of the major scale.*maj
music term: - abbreviation of the minor scale.*mi
music term: - abbreviation of(l) ray in the tonic sol-fa; (2) respond.*r
music term: - abbreviations of rinforzando.*rf
music term: - adjective describing major and minor scales and also modes. the opposite of chromatic music which introduces notes not in the prevailing key. diatonic harmonies, intervals, passages, etc. are made up of notes of the current key.*diatonic
music term: - adjective from counterpoint.*contrapuntal
music term: - also called graccs or embellishments, these are notes considered to be an extra embellishment of a melody which are either added spontaneously by the performer or indicated by the composer on the score by signs or notation. in the 17th and 18th centuries, omaments were mostly indicated by signs and they included the trill, mordent, turn, arpeggio and appoggiatura. composers wrote out ornaments in full in later periods.*ornaments
music term: - also called graccs or embellishments, these are notes considered to be an extra embellishment of a melody which are either added spontaneously by the performer or indicated by the composer on the score by signs or notation. in the 17th and 18th centuries, omaments were mostly indicated by signs and they included the trill, mordent, turn, arpeggio and appoggiatura. composers wrote out ornaments in full in later periods.*ornaments
music term: - also known as programme music or tone poem, this is a mid-19th century term introduced by liszt to describe an orchestral piece influenced by a non-musical theme (e.g. iiterature, art or emotions).*symphonic poem
music term: - also known as twelve-tone music, twelve-note music and dodecaphonic music. this is a 20th century concept mostly developed by schonberg. a twelve-note theme is fixed upon, with each note being used once. this is known as the tone row or series. thereafter it can appear in four main ways: forwards, backwards (retrograde), upside down (inversion), and upside down and backwards (retrograde inversion). the series can appear and begin on any one of the twelve pitches and more than*serial music
music term: - alternate notes played an octave apart, frequently used in piano music*broken octaves
music term: - alternative name for perfect cadence.*full close
music term: - alternative name for trill.*shake
music term: - american term for serial music*twelve tone
music term: - an alternative name for sonata form.*first movement form
music term: - an argentinian dance in moderately slow time with syncopated rhythms, appearing in european and american ballrooms around world war i.*tango
music term: - an english system of notation and sight reading mainly devised by j.s. curwen in the 1840s. the notes of the major scale are named in ascending order: doh, ray, me, fah, soh, lah, te, doh. doh is the tonic, or keynote, but is not at any fixed pitch.*sol-fa
music term: - an imperfect cadence.*half close
music term: - an interval smaller than a semitone, evident in some modern compositions.*microtone
music term: - an introductory piece or movement before a fugue, an act of an opera etc. chopin and other later composers wrote preludes as short, independent piano pieces in one movement.*prelude
music term: - an opera in which the principal character undergoes a test or a difficult journey, or experiences hardships before reaching his goal (e.g . mozart's magic flute)*quest opera
music term: - an opera in which the principal character undergoes a test or a difficult journey, or experiences hardships before reaching his goal (e.g . mozart's magic flute).*quest opera
music term: - an orchestral work revealing a literary or pictorial element in three movements, quick-slow-quick, from which the symphony evolved. the french overture has slow-quick-slow movements.*italian overture
music term: - an ordered melodic theme in serial or 12-tone music.*tone row
music term: - an ornament which has two forms: (1) upper mordent (or inverted mordent); (2) lower mordent or simply, mordent*mordent
music term: - an ornament which has two forms: (1) upper mordent (or inverted mordent); (2) lower mordent or simply, mordent.*mordent
music term: - another name for bass clef.*f clef
music term: - any notes of the harmonic series are given this name except for the first fundamental.*overtone
music term: - aristocratic, elaborate english stage entertainment chiefly cultivated in the 17th century and involving poetry, dancing, scenery, costumes, instrumental and vocal music. the masque was related to opera and ballet.*masque
music term: - aristocratic, elaborate english stage entertainment chiefly cultivated in the 17th century and involving poetry, dancing, scenery, costumes, instrumental and vocal music. the masque was related to opera and ballet.*masque
music term: - at double the speed of the preceding sectlon .*doppio movimento
music term: - complete silence. a rest of at least one bar for the whole orchestra. abbreviation is gp.*general pause
music term: - composing music for particular instruments. this term is used with reference to the composer's skill and knowledge of selecting instruments which sound well or are unusual, etc.*instrumentation
music term: - consecutive fifths implied, but not actually present in harmony and nevertheless frowned upon by academics.*hidden fifths
music term: - counterpoint in which four melodies can exchange position.*quadruple counterpoint
music term: - describes a section of a composition in fugal style which is not actually a fugue.*fugato
music term: - describes a trend, especially in the 1920's, characterised by its use of the concerto grosso technique, contrapuntal writing and avoidance of emotion. neo-classical composers included stravinsky and hindemith.*neo-classical
music term: - describes a trend, especially in the 1920's, characterised by its use of the concerto grosso technique, contrapuntal writing and avoidance of emotion. neo-classical composers included stravinsky and hindemith.*neo-classical
music term: - describes a wide range of 17th century english dances.*rant
music term: - describes the harmonic relationships of keys (e.g. g major is closely related to d major (its dominant) since there is only the difference of one sharp. see also relative.*related
music term: - describes the harmonic relationships of keys (e.g. g major is closely related to d major (its dominant) since there is only the difference of one sharp. see also relative.*related
music term: - describes the movement of parts or melodies when one remains on the same note and the other moves in some direction.*oblique motion
music term: - descriptive music evoking a poem, novel, play, painting emotion or other non-musical source. more common term is programme music.*illustrative music
music term: - device on some brass instruments, used principally on the trombone, for altering the length of the tube, and therefore the notes produced.*slide
music term: - dominant triad with the addition of the seventh note from its root.*dominant seventh
music term: - easily or fluently.*facilmente
music term: - emphasis on the off-beat and a characteristic of jazz styles.*syncopation
music term: - equivalent of four quarter notes (in 4 / 4 time, 4 beats).*whole note
music term: - equivalent of four quarter notes (in 4 / 4 time, 4 beats).*whole note
music term: - evident in the mid-16th and early 17th century, this was a harmonic bass line used for variations.*romanesca
music term: - extremely fast articulation of sound on a wind instrument by the tongue, like trilling.*flutter-tongue
music term: - fifth degree of the major or minor scale, or a triad built on it.*dominant
music term: - first or lowest note of the harmonic series.*fundamental
music term: - generally a four movement, serious and large scale sonata-like orchestral work involving a first movement, second movement, minuet and trio and finale. the first movement is often in sonata form, and this structure may also be evident in the slow movement and finale. this four-movement form became standard around 1760 with mozart and haydn but the number of movements may vary.*symphony
music term: - generally a strophic song for several male, female or mixed voices in which there are many singers to a part, with the top part usually having the principal part. composers include elgar, parry and stanford.*part-song
music term: - generally a strophic song for several male, female or mixed voices in which there are many singers to a part, with the top part usually having the principal part. composers include elgar, parry and stanford.*part-song
music term: - generally this means to improvise a song accompaniment.*vamp
music term: - generally, this is a phrase repeated at a higher or lower interval. a real sequence is one in which the repeated phrase intervals are unaltered. a tonal sequcnce is one in which the repeated phrase is modified to prevent a key change.*sequence
music term: - generally, this is a style of singing used in opera and oratorio for dialogue and some narrative which is more closely related to dramatic speech in pitch and rhythm than to song. two main types exist: (1) recitative accompagnato or stromentato which is expressive and accompanied by the orchestra and (2) recitative secco which has only an occasional broken chord from the harpsichord or 'cellos (sometimes with the bass line reinforced by the double bass) and this was the accep*recitative
music term: - generally, this is a style of singing used in opera and oratorio for dialogue and some narrative which is more closely related to dramatic speech in pitch and rhythm than to song. two main types exist: (1) recitative accompagnato or stromentato which is expressive and accompanied by the orchestra and (2) recitative secco which has only an occasional broken chord from the harpsichord or 'cellos (sometimes with the bass line reinforced by the double bass) and this was the accept*recitative
music term: - generally, this is a style of singing used in opera and oratorio for dialogue and some narrative which is more closely related to dramatic speech in pitch and rhythm than to song. two main types exist: (1) recitative accompagnato or stromentato which is expressive and accompanied by the orchestra and (2) recitative secco which has only an occasional broken chord from the harpsichord or 'cellos (sometimes with the bass line reinforced by the double bass) and this was the accepted st*recitative
music term: - harmonic intervals of the same kind (e.g. thirds succeeding one another in the same parts.*consecutive intervals
music term: - high mass.*missa solemnis
music term: - highest female voice with range approximately extending from middle c to two octaves above that. boy trebles can also achieve this range. the term is also applied to some instruments (e.g. soprano saxophone).*soprano
music term: - in 4 / 4 time, the equivalent of one beat.*quarter note
music term: - in 4 / 4 time, the equivalent of one beat.*quarter note
music term: - in a fugue, for example, after the first entry has been stated there is an answer (or second statement at a different pitch). if this answer is slightly modified to keep the music within a certain key, then this is a tonal answer and the fugue a tonal fugue. this is the opposite of real answer.*tonal answer
music term: - in a fugue, this term describes an extra voice in the initial entries or exposition.*redundant entry
music term: - in harmony this is a suspension which resolves upwards not downwards.*retardation
music term: - in harmony this is the progression from a discord to a concord.*resolution
music term: - in medieval church music, the insertion of rests into vocal parts for expressive purposes.*hocket
music term: - in medieval music, this was triple time.*perfect time
music term: - in musical contexts, this term refers to the dramatic use of the spoken word against a musical background. this style may be used throughout an entire work or just as part of a work.*melodrama
music term: - in musical contexts, this term refers to the dramatic use of the spoken word against a musical background. this style may be used throughout an entire work or just as part of a work.*melodrama
music term: - in musical notation this is a line joining two adjacent notes of the same pitch together, indicating that the first note only should be played but should be prolonged until the second note's time value is up.*tie
music term: - indications on the score provided by the composer to aid accurate performance of a work and consisting of dynamics (e.g. degrees of loudness and softness), tempo and mood.*expression marks
music term: - instruction to a singer or instrumentalist to perform in the normal way (e.g. singing tenor instead of falsetto or playing without mutes).*naturale
music term: - instruction to play with the left hand in piano playing. abbreviation of main gauche (fr.).*mg
music term: - instruction to play with the right hand in piano playing. abbreviations of main droite (fr.) and mano destra (it.).*md
music term: - instruments that produce different notes than those written in concert pitch.*transposing instruments
music term: - invertible counterpoint in two parts occurring frequently in fugues.*double counterpoint
music term: - invertible counterpoint in which three parts can be interchanged, each making a suitable bass for the other.*triple counterpoint
music term: - lightly.*legerement
music term: - liszt's term for leitmotif, the recurring and development of themes symbolising a character, emotion, object, idea, etc.*metamorphosis of themes
music term: - midway between loud and soft and abbreviated mf.*mezzo forte
music term: - music signifying grief but especially describing bagpipe music played at scottish clan funerals.*lament
music term: - music which interprets or describes a story, painting, poem, landscape or emotional experience. opposite of absolute music.*programme music
music term: - music with national characteristics (e.g. use of folk music. the term is particularly applied to 19th century composers (e.g. smetena and grieg. bartok and kodaly were also famous as nationalist composers).*nationalism
music term: - music with national characteristics (e.g. use of folk music. the term is particularly applied to 19th century composers (e.g. smetena and grieg. bartok and kodaly were also famous as nationalist composers).*nationalism
music term: - music with only one theme.*monothematic
music term: - musical term to indicate the tonality of a piece based on the major or minor scales and their relationship between the notes of the scale and chords built around them. there are two traditional types of keys (major or minor) depending upon whether they are based on the notes of the major or minor scale.*key
music term: - notated music of all performers' parts combined in an ordered form in which each part appears vertically above another. a piano score is one in which all orchestral or even vocal parts are reduced to a piano part. a miniaturce or pocket score reproduces all parts and details of the full score but is of a size more suitable for study.*score
music term: - observance of a single key. atonality, lack of key. polytonality, the simultaneous use of several keys.*tonality
music term: - one of the three types of minor scale.*melodic minor
music term: - opposite of major. applied to scales, keys, chords and intervals.*minor
music term: - organ device of producing a vibrato effect by alternately increasing and decreasing the wind pressure.*tremulant
music term: - originally a slow and stately dance appearing in keyboard music of the 17th century. later the passacaglia was a piece with a theme continually repeated, but not necessarily in the bass, like the chaconne.*passacaglia
music term: - originally a slow and stately dance appearing in keyboard music of the 17th century. later the passacaglia was a piece with a theme continually repeated, but not necessarily in the bass, like the chaconne.*passacaglia
music term: - originally an american dance in duple time of which there are two main types<65>fast and slow. it first became popular in 1912.*foxtrot
music term: - particularly used in sonata form, this term describes a section of a composition which repeats or approximates themes originally presented in a previous section, which have since been developed.*recapitulation
music term: - particularly used in sonata form, this term describes a section of a composition which repeats or approximates themes originally presented in a previous section, which have since been developed.*recapitulation
music term: - piano soft (left) pedal.*damping pedal
music term: - pleasing to the ear and sounding harmonically resolved. however, interpretations of this term vary considerably. the opposite is discord.*concord
music term: - popular in opera, this is a comic song in which words, sung as fast as possible, are often tongue-twisters. often found in the works of gilbert and sullivan.*patter song
music term: - popular in opera, this is a comic song in which words, sung as fast as possible, are often tongue-twisters. often found in the works of gilbert and sullivan.*patter song
music term: - popularly known as a round, this is a never-ending canon which is also known as an infinite canon.*perpetual canon
music term: - position of note in scale (e.g. d is the second degree of c major scale).*degree
music term: - prefix attached to note indicating pitch to be raised by two semitones.*double sharp
music term: - properly, music to be performed during the action of a play. however, the term also includes overtures and interludes.*incidental music
music term: - refers to alternate naming or spelling of the same musical note (e.g. a flat is the same as g sharp)*enharmonic
music term: - repeat from the beginning.*da capo
music term: - repeat from the sign.*dal segno
music term: - repeat to the sign.*da capo al segno
music term: - repeat up to the word fine (the end).*da capo al fine
music term: - same as absolute music*abstract music
music term: - same as common time consisting of four quarter notes to the bar, written 4 / 4 or c.*quadruple time
music term: - same as concord.*consonance
music term: - same as continuo.*thorough bass
music term: - same as discord (see concord).*dissonance
music term: - same as duet but mainly an instrumental composition for two performers. a piano duo is for two pianists on separate pianos.*duo
music term: - same as improvisation.*extemporisation
music term: - same as ornament, used to embellish a melody line and normally printed in smaller type.*grace note
music term: - same as ornaments.*embellishments
music term: - same as rondo form.*episodical form
music term: - same as serial music.*dodecaphonic music
music term: - same as symphonic poem.*tone poem
music term: - schonberg preferred this term to atonality (e.g. music not written in any definite key)*pantonality
music term: - schonberg preferred this term to atonality (e.g. music not written in any definite key).*pantonality
music term: - see cadence.*imperfect cadence
music term: - see concord.*discord
music term: - see serial music.*twelve note
music term: - set the temperament of an instrument.*tuning
music term: - sets of eight-note scales inherited from ancient greece via the middle ages in which they were most prevalent, although they still survive today in plainsong and folk music. at the end of the 17th century the modes had been reduced to two scales, major and minor, which we know today. here are the modes which may be represented by scales of white notes on the piano with the names derived from the greek system. the 'final' of a mode is the note of a cadence, or resting point, i*modes
music term: - sets of eight-note scales inherited from ancient greece via the middle ages in which they were most prevalent, although they still survive today in plainsong and folk music. at the end of the 17th century the modes had been reduced to two scales, major and minor, which we know today. here are the modes which may be represented by scales of white notes on the piano with the names derived from the greek system. the 'final' of a mode is the note of a cadence, or resting point, in*modes
music term: - sets of eight-note scales inherited from ancient greece via the middle ages in which they were most prevalent, although they still survive today in plainsong and folk music. at the end of the 17th century the modes had been reduced to two scales, major and minor, which we know today. here are the modes which may be represented by scales of white notes on the piano with the names derived from the greek system. the 'final' of a mode is the note of a cadence, or resting point, in a me*modes
music term: - slow austrian dance in waltz time popular in the late 18th and early l9th centuries.*landler
music term: - slower*mosso
music term: - slower.*meno
music term: - small orchestras currently perform under this name. originally the title described an instrumental piece in the baroque era such as the prelude, overture to an opera, cantata or suite.*sinfonia
music term: - solely a string band as opposed to a wind or brass brand, normally consisting of first and second violins, violas, 'cellos and double basses.*string orchestra
music term: - song or instrumental composition for the dead.*elegy
music term: - spanish stage entertainment involving a few singers.*tonadilla
music term: - string(s) - in piano playing, una corda (one string) indicates the use of the soft (left) pedal. the term tre corde (three strings) cancels this, indicating the release of the soft pedal.*corda
music term: - term borrowed from painting, describing the works of monet, degas, etc. and transferred to music referring to the atmospheric music of debussy and ravel. a famous example is prelude a l'apres-midi d'un faune by debussy evoking the imagery of mallarme's symbolist poem.*impresslonlsm
music term: - term describes a song which uses the same music for each verse.*strophic
music term: - term describes the use of several choirs performing both separately and jointly in a composition.*polychoral
music term: - term describing music before haydn and mozart and also (more vaguely) describing music before bach.*preclassical
music term: - term taken from painting (referring to pictures using separate dots of colour) and applied to the music of some 20th century composers (e.g. webern). this described music of a spare and pointed style emplying use of pizzicato.*pointillism
music term: - term taken from painting (referring to pictures using separate dots of colour) and applied to the music of some 20th century composers (e.g. webern). this described music of a spare and pointed style emplying use of pizzicato.*pointillism
music term: - term used by german composers who believed it to be italian for minuet. the italian for minuet is minuetto.*menuetto
music term: - the art of spontaneous composition of music in performance. this may take the form of ornamentaion, variation of a song or theme, or completely new material. improvisation is great]y used in jazz.*improvisation
music term: - the c clef on the fourth line.*tenor clef
music term: - the chord containing the sixth and third intervals from the bass note. same as first inversion of a triad.*six-three chord
music term: - the combining of different metres simultaneously (e.g. 2 / 4 against 3 / 4 or 6 / 8).*polymetry
music term: - the combining of different metres simultaneously (e.g. 2 / 4 against 3 / 4 or 6 / 8).*polymetry
music term: - the completion of 17th and 18th century harmony by adding a keyboard accompaniment indicated by figured bass*realisation
music term: - the completion of 17th and 18th century harmony by adding a keyboard accompaniment indicated by figured bass.*realisation
music term: - the composing of polyphonic music and the writing of equally good melodic parts.*part-writing
music term: - the degrees of softness or loudness in music indicated by signs or words on the score.*dynamics
music term: - the downward movement of the conductor' s baton or hand indicating the first beat of the bar. the term can also mean the first beat of the bar.*downbeat
music term: - the equivalent of two quarter notes or half of a whole note (two beats in 4 / 4 time).*half note
music term: - the first degree of the scale or a triad built on that degree.*tonic
music term: - the fudamental or lowest note of the harmonic series especially applied to the playing of brass instruments.*pedal
music term: - the initial statement of a musical theme or idea upon which a rnovement or piece is based. in a fugue, the exposition is the initial statement of the subject by each voice in turn. the exposition is completed when each voice has been heard for the first time. in sonata form, it is a repeated section in which the main themes are first stated before moving on to the development section.*exposition
music term: - the interval of eight steps (e.g. c to c on the white notes of the piano)*octave
music term: - the interval of eight steps (e.g. c to c on the white notes of the piano).*octave
music term: - the interval of three tones (e.g. f to b).*tritone
music term: - the left foot pedal on a piano lessening the volume.*soft pedal
music term: - the lower type of female voice having a range from f below middle c to g above the treble clef.*contralto
music term: - the lowest or fundamental note of a chord. in the chord c e g, c is the root and the chord is said to be in root position. if the notes are arranged e g c, c is still the root, but the chord would be described as being in first inversion .*root
music term: - the mode which, on the white keys of the piano, is represented by e to e.*phrygian mode
music term: - the mode which, on the white keys of the piano, is represented from c to c (same as c major scale).*ionian mode
music term: - the modification or development of a theme, passage or figure with the theme always remaining recognizable.*variation
music term: - the movement from one note or chord to another in music.*progression
music term: - the movement of two or more parts in the same direction while also keeping the same interval between them.*parallel motion
music term: - the music is to be performed in three bar groupings, implying that the music is so fast there is only one beat to the bar.*ritmo di tre battute
music term: - the music of a particular voice or instrument in an ensemble.*part
music term: - the name for the fourth degree of the scale (e.g. f in the scale of c major) or the triad built on that degree.*sub-dominant
music term: - the notation in diagrams of guitar chords in pop music. previously, it represented a method of notation involving symbols denoting the positions of the performer's fingers (e.g. for the lute.*tablature
music term: - the note on which the melody ends in church modes. in authentic modes, the final is on the tonic. in plagal modes, it falls on the fourth degree of the scale.*final
music term: - the performance of a group of adjacent notes simultaneously on the piano, e. g. with the forearm or a piece of wood. pioneered by cowell in 1912 and used by ives. also known as tone cluster.*note cluster
music term: - the performance of a group of adjacent notes simultaneously on the piano, e. g. with the forearm or a piece of wood. pioneered by cowell in 1912 and used by ives. also known as tone cluster.*note cluster
music term: - the playing of three notes simultaneously on a stringed instrument by the placing of the left hand fingers on the strings and shortening the vibrating length.*triple stop
music term: - the rapid articulation of t-k-t on a wind instrument. this is difficult to do on reed instruments.*triple tonguing
music term: - the right pedal on the piano which raises the felt dampers allowing the strings to vibrate freely.*sustaining pedal
music term: - the scale of seven notes (e.g. the modern major or minor scale).*heptachord
music term: - the second degree of the scale (e.g. d in the scale of c major) or the triad built on that degree.*supertonic
music term: - the section of a movement when initial statements of themes are expanded, developed, modified and broken up.*development
music term: - the set of five horizontal lines and spaces on which music is written. leger lines are used for notes above and below the staff.*staff
music term: - the setting of a poem entitled 'ode' to music.*ode
music term: - the seventh degree of the major scale. this is so called because it seems naturally to rise to the tonic a semitone above. in the minor scale this note is used only when ascending, not descending.*leading note
music term: - the shift from one key to another in composition.*modulate
music term: - the sign of figures at the beginning of a composition or section or movement indicating the number and kind of beats to the bar (e.g. 3 / 4 indicates 3 beats to the bar, with the number 4 signifying that the basic beat is a quarter note).*time signature
music term: - the sixth degree of the scale (e.g. a in the scale of c major) or a triad built on that degree.*sub-mediant
music term: - the sliding up or down a scale, often abbreviated by gliss. or a wavy or straight stroke between the highest and lowest note.*glissando
music term: - the smallest interval commonly used in european music. on the piano this is represented by the interval between any note and the next note which may be higher or lower.*semitone
music term: - the sounding together of notes in a musically significant manner. the main unit of harmony is the chord. the chords are built around the degrees of the scale. the primary chords in most popular compositions are based on the first, fourth and fifth degree of a scale. many different theories have evolved over the past few centuries about the construction and interpolation of chords to create various senses of musical movement or intellectual or emotional responses.*harmony
music term: - the sounding together of two or more separate parts of rhythmic and melodic independence, in harmony. invertible counterpoint occurs when any one melody strand can exchange its position for another (e.g. the bass becomes treble). between two parts, this is called double counterpoint.*counterpoint
music term: - the symbol to determine the relative position of notes on the musical staff, placed normally at the beginning of each line, or whenever a different clef temporarily replaces the starting clef (to make notes fit more easily on the staff). there are many possible clefs (e.g. treble, bass, alto and tenor) chosen to accomodate the range of various instruments or voices. in piano music, the double staff (a staff for each hand) uses treble or bass clefs*clef
music term: - the system of tuning intervals in order to fit them for practicable performance. the piano, organ and other fixed instruments are tuned to equal temperament which means that each semitone is made an equal interval so that (e.g. g sharp and a flat are the same).*temperament
music term: - the systematic plan of beginning in one key and ending in another in a movement.*progressive tonality
music term: - the systematic use of quite different rhythms sounding simultaneously. polyrhythmic devices are especially used in the 20th century*polyrhythm
music term: - the systematic use of quite different rhythms sounding simultaneously. polyrhythmic devices are especially used in the 20th century.*polyrhythm
music term: - the tones of the harmonic series, the lowest being thefirst partial and the others the upper partials or overtones.*partials
music term: - the treatment of a melody by shortening the time values of notes, usually by half (e.g. in fugues and canons).*diminution
music term: - the turning upside-down of a chord or single melody (by applying intervals in opposite directions) or two melodies in counterpoint by the upper melody becoming the lower and vice-versa. this last method is called invertible counterpoint.*inversion
music term: - the upward movement of a conductor's hand or baton, especially indicating the beat before the main accent in a bar of music.*upbeat
music term: - the use of two or more keys performed simultaneously and employed by stravinsky, holst and milhaud. when only two keys are used, this is referred to as bitonality.*polytonality
music term: - the use of two or more keys performed simultaneously and employed by stravinsky, holst and milhaud. when only two keys are used, this is referred to as bitonality.*polytonality
music term: - the writing down or performing of music in a different key from the original.*transposition
music term: - these are the intervals of the octave, fourth and fifth.*perfect intervals
music term: - these are the two main scales of the western tonal system. the major key is based on the major scale and the minor key is based on the minor scale. the minor scale breaks into three variations: harmonic, melodic and natural. these terms also refer to chords and intervals being built out of the major or minor scale.*major minor
music term: - this describes the basic rhythmical patterns in music (e.g. 6 / 8 time or 4 / 4 time). also march time, waltz time, etc.*time
music term: - this describes the dominant of the dominant .*secondary dominant
music term: - this indicates the precise key of the piece. sharps or flats are placed at the beginning of a composition after the clef. any other alteration (e.g. a brief modulation to another key, is indicated by accidentals. if there is an extended passage in a new key, however, then a new key signature may appear. the key signature must be represented at the beginning of every new stave in a composition (although not always in popular music).*key signature
music term: - this is indicated by a time signature dividing up the music into regularly occurring accents (e.g. 3 / 4 time means that the basic note values are quarter notes and that every third one is accented).*metre
music term: - this is indicated by a time signature dividing up the music into regularly occurring accents (e.g. 3 / 4 time means that the basic note values are quarter notes and that every third one is accented).*metre
music term: - this is the main service of the roman catholic church which has been set to music by composers including bach, mozart and haydn.*mass
music term: - this is the passion of christ, as accounted by matthew, mark, luke and john, set to music and properly performed during holy week.*passion music
music term: - this is the passion of christ, as accounted by matthew, mark, luke and john, set to music and properly performed during holy week.*passion music
music term: - this occurs in 20th century serial music, also called dodecaphonic music or twelve-note music. it is the order in which the composer chooses to arrange the twelve notes, which serves as the foundation of the composition. novelette (eng.) or novellette (ger.) - a short, instrumental, romantic piece. the term was first used by schumann for a piano work in 1848.*note row
music term: - this occurs in 20th century serial music, also called dodecaphonic music or twelve-note music. it is the order in which the composer chooses to arrange the twelve notes, which serves as the foundation of the composition. novelette (eng.) or novellette (ger.) - a short, instrumental, romantic piece. the term was first used by schumann for a piano work in 1848.*note row
music term: - this term described a short, keyboard piece or a set of short pieces in the 17th and 18th centuries.*lesson
music term: - this term is sometimes attached to a fugue or canon to describe two or more parts appearing simultaneously, with one the correct way up and the other upside down, as if a mirror had been placed between them.*mirror
music term: - this term is sometimes attached to a fugue or canon to describe two or more parts appearing simultaneously, with one the correct way up and the other upside down, as if a mirror had been placed between them.*mirror
music term: - this term refers to each key signature being shared by two keys (e.g. a minor is the 'relative' minor of c major since they both have no sharps or flats in the key signature. d major is the relative major of b minor since both keys have two sharps in the key signature.*relative
music term: - this term refers to each key signature being shared by two keys (e.g. a minor is the 'relative' minor of c major since they both have no sharps or flats in the key signature. d major is the relative major of b minor since both keys have two sharps in the key signature.*relative
music term: - this term was taken from french culture in the early 18th century, but musically the title for rococo is the style galant used by composers throughout europe until the late 18th century.*rococo
music term: - this word is associated with recitative.*secco
music term: - time consisting of three beats to the bar (e.g. 3 / 4, 3 / 2, 3 / 8).*triple time
music term: - time in which each beat is divisible by two (e.g. 2 / 4, 4 / 4, 3 / 4 and in which each beat is a quarter note).*simple time
music term: - time in which the number of beats in the bar is divisible by two or four (e.g. 2 / 4, 4 / 4, 2 / 2).*duple time
music term: - time with five beats, usually quarter notes, to the bar (e.g. 5 / 4 time). not common before the 20th century.*quintuple time
music term: - time with five beats, usually quarter notes, to the bar (e.g. 5 / 4 time). not common before the 20th century.*quintuple time
music term: - to direct a performance of either singers, players or both with a baton or hands in order to give precise indications of dynamics, phrasing and speed.*conduct
music term: - to slide up to a note in singing instead of hitting it accurately.*scoop
music term: - two bar lines placed closely together to signify the end of a composition or section.*double bar
music term: - two melodies moving together in the same direction.*similar motion
music term: - upper register of voice.*head voice
music term: - used of deviations from the strict tempo and rhythm necessary for the subtle performance of a musical phrase*agogic
music term: - very sweetly.*dolcissimo
music term: - with a moderate tone.*mezza voce
music term: - written music, by ordinary staff notation symbols or graphic representation or simply by letter-names (e.g. the tonic sol-fa.*notation
music term: . - abbreviation of (1) tenor and (2) tenuto.*ten
music term: sixteenth note - one fourth of a quarter note.*six-four chord