All-State Music Vocabulary 2019-2020

Question 1

Medium loud

Answer 1

Mezzo forte

Question 2

Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece

Answer 2

Allargando

Question 3

Performers singing the same part are divided to sing different parts

Answer 3

Divisi

Question 4

Lively; briskly

Answer 4

Vivace

Question 5

A short musical idea or melodic theme, usually shorter than a musical phrase

Answer 5

Motif

Question 6

“beautiful singing”; an Italian Opera term

Answer 6

Bel canto

Question 7

Motion by half steps; also describes harmony or melody that employs some of the sequential 12 pitches (semi-tones) in an octave

Answer 7

Chromatic

Question 8

To perform in a relaxed tempo

Answer 8

Tranquillo

Question 9

Becoming gradually faster

Answer 9

Accelerando

Question 10

A high obligato part above the melody

Answer 10

Descant

Question 11

A rapid fluctuation of pitch slightly higher or lower than the main pitch

Answer 11

Vibrato

Question 12

Grand, majestic

Answer 12

Grandioso

Question 13

A pause or hold

Answer 13

Fermata

Question 14

AB-form of a composition that has two distinct sections

Answer 14

Binary form

Question 15

Making the established pulse flexible by accelerating and slowing down the tempo; an expressive device

Answer 15

Rubato

Question 16

A system used for teaching sight-singing (Do-Re-Mi)

Answer 16

Solfege

Question 17

Without

Answer 17

Senza

Question 18

Rather slow, at a moderate walking speed

Answer 18

Andante

Question 19

The notes of the chord played in succession to one another, rather than simultaneously; a broken chord

Answer 19

Arpeggio

Question 20

To change key within a composition

Answer 20

Modulation

Question 21

Return to the original tempo after some deviation

Answer 21

A tempo

Question 22

Short horizontal lines used to extend a staff either higher or lower

Answer 22

Ledger lines

Question 23

Suddenly; quickly

Answer 23

Subito

Question 24

Very slow and broad

Answer 24

Largo

Question 25

Strongly accented; forced

Answer 25

Sforzano

Question 26

An unaccompanied homophonic choral composition for three or more voices

Answer 26

Part song

Question 27

Dying away to nothing

Answer 27

Niente

Question 28

Softly; with subdued sound; performed in an undertone

Answer 28

Sotto voce

Question 29

A major vocal work that involves theatrical elements

Answer 29

Opera

Question 30

Very fast; faster than allegro

Answer 30

Presto

Question 31

In a singing style; singable

Answer 31

Cantabile

Question 32

The relationship between two pitches, the distance between an upper and a lower pitch

Answer 32

Interval

Question 33

Large scale musical composition on a sacred subject

Answer 33

Oratorio

Question 34

Indicated by a time signature, can be simple or compound

Answer 34

Meter

Question 35

Type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the normal vocal range

Answer 35

Falsetto

Question 36

To play or sing in a smooth, connected manner

Answer 36

Legato

Question 37

To play or sing with expression

Answer 37

Espressivo

Question 38

The organization and structure of a composition

Answer 38

Form

Question 39

Gradually slowing down

Answer 39

Rallentando

Question 40

Sweetly, usually also softly

Answer 40

Dolce

Question 41

Describes a song where the stanzas are all sung to the same music

Answer 41

Strophic

Question 42

Music that is created spontaneously

Answer 42

Improvisation

Question 43

Upbeat of pickup

Answer 43

Anacrusis

Question 44

Three note chord consisting of the root, third, and fifth

Answer 44

Triad

Question 45

Most widely used range of pitches in a piece of music

Answer 45

Tessitura

Question 46

The beat remains constant when the meter changes

Answer 46

L'istesso

Question 47

Repeat from the beginning of the composition

Answer 47

D. C. or Da Capo

Question 48

Less motion

Answer 48

Meno mosso

Question 49

A little more motion

Answer 49

Poco pio mosso

Question 50

Fast tempo with spirit

Answer 50

Allegro con spirito