Advanced Higher Concepts Flashcards
Style
Ayre/Air
Song or simple melody, sometimes the title of a movement of a suite
Style
Anthem
Short sacred choral piece sung in English. Sometimes sung by a choir unaccompanied and sometimes accompanied by organ, featuring solo parts.
Style
Ballett
A type of madrigal in strophic form which was originally danced to. There is a fa-la-la refrain.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/ballett
Style
Chorale
A German hymn tune, written in four parts for soprano, alto, tenor and bass.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/chorale
Style
Contemporary Jazz
An umbrella term for all kinds of jazz music being played now. Includes
highly chromatic harmonies (verging on impressionist or atonal), rhythmic experimentation (cross rhythms, changing time signatures), development of a groove based on just two or three chords, instruments used in experimental ways (melodic instruments used in percussive roles, harmonics and other virtuoso performing techniques) and inclusion of instruments never used seriously in jazz before (flugelhorn, flute or oboe)
Style
Electronic dance music
A style in which a DJ combines tracks electronically into one smooth mix. It can encompass music of different genres including house music, dubstep, drum and bass.
Style
Galliard
A Renaissance court dance with 3 beats in the bar. It often follows a pavan.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/galliard
Style
Madrigal
A Renaissance, non-religious work, polyphonic in style, using imitation.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/madrigal
Style
Motet
A sacred choral work with Latin text and polyphonic texture, usually sung a cappella.
Style
Nationalist
Music which incorporates elements of folk music of the composer’s country.
Style
Neo-Classical
Made in 1929 by composters reacting against Romanticism, using structures and styles of earlier periods, combined with dissonant, tonal and even atonal harmonies.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/neo-classical
Style
Pavan
A Renaissance court dance with 2 beats in the bar. It is often followed by a galliard.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/pavan
Style
Serial
A piece in which the 12 notes of the chromatic scale are organised into a series or tone row/note row.
Melody/Harmony
Appoggiatura
An ornament which sounds like a leaning note, takes half the value of the main note which follows it or two-thirds if the main note is dotted.
Melody/Harmony
Augmented triad
This chord is formed by a major triad in which the 5th degree is raised by a semitone.
Melody/Harmony
Chords I, IV, V and VI in major and minor keys
In a major key, it is normal for chords I, IV and V to be major chords. Chord VI is normally a minor chord.
Melody/Harmony
Chord II and 1st inversion (major key only)
In a major key, chord II tends to be a minor chord.
Melody/Harmony
Polytonality/bitonality
The use of two (bitonality) or more keys (polytonality) played or sung at the same time.
Melody/Harmony
Suspension
This effect occurs when a note from one chord is held over to the next chord creating a discord, and is then resolved by moving one step to make a concord.
Melody/Harmony
Tone row/note row
An arrangement of the 12 notes of the octave which forms the basis of a serial composition.
Melody/Harmony
Tritone
Interval of an augmented 4th, eg C–F sharp or F–B. It is made up of three whole tones.
Melody/Harmony
Turn
Four notes which turn round the main note with the note above, the main note, the note below, and the main note again.
Texture/Structure/Form
Answer
In a fugue, after the subject is played, the same tune appears in another voice or part in the dominant (a 5th higher or a 4th lower). This is called the answer.
Texture/Structure/Form
Bridge
A link between two themes.
Texture/Structure/Form
Antiphonal
Dialogue between voices or instruments – one group of voices or instruments answers the other.
Texture/Structure/Form
Countersubject
In a fugue, after the subject or answer is played, the continuation of that same instrument or voice.
Texture/Structure/Form
Fugue
A contrapuntal piece based on a theme (subject) announced in one voice part alone, then imitated by other voices in close succession.
Texture/Structure/Form
Inversion
When a musical shape is mirrored; an inverted chord is formed when a note other than the root is in the bass.
Texture/Structure/Form
Leitmotiv
A theme occurring throughout a work which represents a person, an event or an idea, etc.
Texture/Structure/Form
Retrograde
To go backwards; a melody or a section of music can be written or performed from the end to the beginning.
Texture/Structure/Form
Song cycle
A group of songs linked by a common theme or with a text written by the same author, usually accompanied by piano but sometimes by small ensembles or full orchestra.
Texture/Structure/Form
Stretto
Where voices or instruments enter very quickly one after the other, as in fugue.
Texture/Structure/Form
Subject
The main theme in a composition, the main themes in sonata form, or the main theme on which a fugue is based.
Timbre
Consort
A group of instruments of the same family playing together.
Timbre
Countertenor
A male adult voice whose range is higher than a tenor’s.
Timbre
Piano trio
A piano trio is a chamber music ensemble comprising of three instruments; the most common form comprises of a piano, violin and cello.
Timbre
Sprechgesang
A 20th century technique used in vocal music where the singer is required to use the voice in an expressive manner half-way between singing and speaking.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/sprechgesang
Rhythm/Tempo
Hemiola
A rhythmic device giving the impression of a piece of music changing from duple (2) to triple (3) time, or vice versa.
https://mymusiconline.co.uk/hemiola
