Baroque Music

Question 1

Ornamentation

Answer 1

Notes that decorate a melody. They are shown by small notes (grace notes) immediately before the main note or symbols above it. Examples include the mordant, trill, turn.

Question 2

Diatonic

Answer 2

Notes belonging to the key of the piece

Question 3

Monophonic

Answer 3

Refers to a musical texture comprising a single line which can be sung or played by several people

Question 4

Homophonic

Answer 4

A texture comprising of a melody part and an accompaniment

Question 5

Polyphonic

Answer 5

Literally ‘many sounds’ more than one melody sounding at the same time or entering at slightly different times so that melodic lines overlap

Question 6

Sequence

Answer 6

The repetition of a musical phrase at a higher or lower pitch than the original

Question 7

Pedal

Answer 7

A sustained note, usually in the bass part. It may clash with harmonic changes above it. Pedals are usually in the tonic or the dominant, so would be called either tonic or dominant pedal

Question 8

Suspension

Answer 8

Prolonging a note to create a dissonance with the next chord

Question 9

Affection

Answer 9

The prevailing mood in a baroque movement

Question 10

Concerto grosso

Answer 10

A concerto for more than one soloist. The phrase literally means a large concerto. It is usually written in three movements in the order fast-slow-fast

Question 11

Patronage

Answer 11

A system whereby composers earned money from a wealthy individual for writing music. The person who commissioned the music was known as a patron

Question 12

Dialoguing

Answer 12

Instruments literally playing one after the other, swapping ideas

Question 13

Antiphonal

Answer 13

Swapping between different musical groups

Question 14

Concertino

Answer 14

The smaller group of soloists in a concerto grosso

Question 15

Ripieno

Answer 15

The larger group - here a string orchestra

Question 16

Basso continuo

Answer 16

Continuous bass parts are provided for harpsichord and stringed instruments such as bass voil and lute. Thepayers add chords and melody

Question 17

Figured bass

Answer 17

A type of musical shorthand for the keyboard player. T figures indicate the chord to be played above the bass note and whether this is in root position or first or second inversion.

Question 18

Fugue

Answer 18

A musical form comprising an exposition, middle section and final section. The music is contrapuntal

Question 19

Ternary form

Answer 19

A simple musical for, in three sections ABA

Question 20

Fugal exposition

Answer 20

The initial statements of the subject and answer

Question 21

Subject

Answer 21

The shirt main theme of the fugue

Question 22

Countersubject

Answer 22

The melody played after the subject or answer has been sounded. The melody is literally against the subject

Question 23

Stretto

Answer 23

Entries of the subject occur closer together than before, heightening the tension

Question 24

Contrapuntal

Answer 24

When two melodies are played against each other and interweave - almost the same as polyphonic written in counterpoint

Question 25

Counterpoint

Answer 25

Tune against tune

Question 26

Secondary dominant

Answer 26

Dominant of the dominant key

Question 27

Passing modulations

Answer 27

The new key only lasts for a few bars before moving on again

Question 28

Variant

Answer 28

A phrase whose shape resembles the original

Question 29

Passagework

Answer 29

A constantly moving passage, often un patterns of quick notes such as semiquavers. It often includes sequences.

Question 30

Cadential

Answer 30

This refers to a progression of chords forming a cadence.

Question 31

Solo concerto

Answer 31

A concerto for a single instrument accompanied by an orchestra