All State Music Vocabulary List 2021-2022 Flashcards
Return to the original tempo after some deviation
A tempo
Becoming gradually faster
Acclerando
Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece
Allargando
Fast tempo with spirit
Allegro con spirito
Upbeat or pickup
Anacrusis
Rather slow, at a moderate walking speed
Andante
the notes of the chord played in succession to one another, rather than simultaneously; a broken chord
Arpeggio
“Beautiful singing”, an Italian Opera term
Bel canto
AB - form of a composition that has two distinct sections
Binary form
In a singing style; singable
Cantabile
Motion by half steps; also describes harmony or melody that employs some of the sequential 12 pitches (semi-tones) in an octave
Chromatic
Repeat from the beginning of the composition
D. C or Da Capo
A high obligato part above the melody
Descant
Performers singing the same part are divided to sing different parts.
Divisi
Sweetly, usually also softly
Dolce
To play or sing with expression
Espressivo
Type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the normal vocal range
Falsetto
A pause or hold
Fermata
The organization and structure of a composition
Form
Grand, majestic
Grandioso
Music that is created spontaneously
Improvisation
The relationship between two pitches, the distance between an upper and a lower pitch
Interval
Very slow and broad
Largo
Short horizontal lines used to extend a staff either higher or lower
Ledger lines
