Definitions Flashcards
Arch form
A sectional structure based on repetition in reverse order. Height of composition is in middle, ends and begins similarity
ABCBA , C is the climax
Ex. Distant memories - Louie
Atonality
Total absence of any key centre, characterized by unresolved dissonances
Ex. Petrushka– Stravinsky
Ballet
Highly stylized dance which often interprets a story
Ex. Petrushka– Stravinsky
Berceuse
French for lullaby
Ex. Distant memories– Louie
Cha-cha
Latin-American ballroom dance (originating from Cuba) from early 1950s derived from the mambo, with small steps
Ex. West side story– bernstein
Changing meter
Shift of metrical groupings through changes of time signature
Ex. Petrushka–Stravinsky
Choreography
The art of designing the dance steps or movements in a stage work (musical, opera, ballet)
Ex. West side story– choreographer Gerome Robbins
Flutter tongue
Roll of the tongue while playing a wind instrument as if sounding a letter r
Ex. Rite of spring– Stravinsky
Antique cymbals
Small brass disks, finger cymbals, produce a gentle ringing sound
Ex. Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune –Debussy
Absolute music
Music with no literary or pictorial associations
Ex. Quinten–Haydn
Binary form
A musical form With 2 sections, both are usually repeated
AB
Ex. 3rd movement of Eine Kleine- menuet=AB
Coda
Italian for tail. The ending of a piece
Ex. Beethoven symphony no 5, final movement
Cyclical structure
Material heard in one movement recurs in later movements, creates unity in a multi-movement work
Ex. symphony no 5 –Beethoven
Development
The second main edition of sonata form. Manipulation of the empathic material presented in exposition, may also present new material
Ex. Beethoven–symphony no 5, first movement
Exposition
The first main section of sonata form. Consists of the first theme, (in the tonic key) bridge, second theme (often in dominant or relative key)
Ex. Beethoven–sym no 5, first movement.
Menuet and trio
ABA form
Menuet - a French dance developed in baroque period, in 3/4 time, graceful and elegant
Trio-a contrasting middle form
Ex. Mozart-Eine kleine, 3rd movement
Recapitulation
The third main section of sonata form. First and second themes restated in tonic key. Ends with a coda
Ex. Beethoven –symp no 5, 1st movement
Rocket theme
Rapidly ascending melody outlining an arpeggio
Ex. Eine kleine nachtmusik– Mozart
Rondo form
A musical form with the a section recurring alternating sections creating contrast. (A section is heard 3 or more times in the tonic key)
ABACA or ABACABA
Ex. Eine kleine, second movement -Mozart
Rounded binary
ABA
A musical form with 2 sections where A section returns after the B
ex eine kleine 3rd movement
Folk Song
songs of unknown authorship passed down through oral tradition rather than written down
petrushka- stravinsky
Glissando
from French for “slide”. On the harp a quick strumming of all strings with a sweeping hand movement. creates a shimmering effect
Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune - Debussy
Hemiola
shift of metrical accents, notes grouped in 3 are momentarily grouped in 2 or vice-versa.
America-WSS–Bernstein
Impressionism
19th century style of painting led by manet, monet, degas
impressionism in music
suggests rather than directly depicting. Features innovative orchestral colours, no strong sense of beat, muted instruments
prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune- Debussy
Mambo
afro-Cuban dance from 1940/1950’s characterized by rhythmic ostinatos
Wss- Bernstein
musical
a uniquely American genre- a play with spoken dialogue but featuring musical numbers, song, dancing, staging
WSS- Bernstein
pentatonic scale
a scale consisting of 5 notes
Petrushka Chord
a dissonant polychord used as a signature theme for the character of Petrushka. Consists of a C major and F sharp major arpeggios played together
Polyrhythm
two or more rhthms going on simultaneously
petrushka-stravinsky
primitivism
an effect created through rhythm using strong accents, heavy syncopation, polyrhythms, and an expanded percussion section
rite of spring–stravinsky
senza misura
“without measure” played freely, without strict time
Distant Memories- Alexina Louie
Symbolism
French literary movement.
evokes, rather than depict. unorthodox grammar and syntax
led by Baudelaire….also Mallarme, remaud
Tritone
interval of aug 4 or dim 5. 3 whole steps
Maria-WSS -Leonard Bernstein
Verse-Chorus structure
common song structure in popular music. verse develops storyline, chorus repeats the same words.
America-WSS -Leonard Bernstein
Whole-tone scale
scale of 6 pitches all spaced by a whole tone
Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faune- Claude Debussy
Motive
a short melodic or rhythmic idea, used to form melody or theme
ex Symphony no. 5 -Beethoven
Scherzo and Trio
a form where the scherzo replaced the minuet in the third movement in the sonata cycle. the Scherzo ( meaning joke) is more dramatic than the minuet, more humorous or ironic
ex Sym No. 5, 3rd movement- Beethoven
Sonata form
consists of exposition, development, and recapitulation
ex. Beethoven- Sym no 5 first movement
sonata cycle
multi-movement structure demonstrated in symphony, and concerto that emerged in the classical era first movement=sonata form 2nd= a slow tempo 3rd=dance form like minuet and trio 4th= rondo, sonata, other form..
ternary form
a three part musical form, ABA
quinten- 3rd movement -Haydn
theme and variations
a melody is stated and then undergoes a series of transformations. changes can be made to the melody, harmony, rhythm, or orchestration
Sym no 5, 2nd movement- Beethoven
Subject
the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue - tonic key.
Bach- WTC
Answer
the second statement of the main theme in a fugue, usually dominant key
Bach- WTC
Real Answer
an exact transposition of the subject
tonal answer
a statement of the subject that begins the same, but one or more intervals are adjusted to accommodate the harmony
counter subject
a recurring counter melody (different melody) that accompanies entreis of the subject and answer
Fugue
a highly structured contrapuntal composition where a single theme or subject prevails
Bach- WTC
Inversion
thematic material presented upside down
augmentation
thematic material presented in longer time values
diminution
thematic material presented in shorter time values
stretto
Italian for ‘tighten’ -subject entries overlap in close succession
episode
a passage in a fugue where neither subject nor answer is present. often in sequence
terraced dynamics
changing dynamics abruptly, creates stark contrast rather than a gradual change. Common in baroque
Figured bass
a type of shorthand developed in baroque era where numbers are placed below the bass line showing the harmonic progression.
performed by the basso continue
provides structure for improvisation
Prelude
a short keyboard work in improvisatory style used to introduce a fugue
Bach- WTC
tierce de picardie
work in a minor key ends in the tonic major. common in baroque music
Aria
Italian for ‘air’ . A highly emotional or virtuosic solo in an opera, oratorio or cantata. may have lyrical or dramatic character
madama butterfly- puccini
chromaticism
extensive use of notes outside the key signature, creates heightened expression.
Polonaise in A flat major- Chopin
cloches
French for ‘bells’ - a pitched percussion instrument, emits a ringing sound when struck with a hammer or mallet.
Symphonie fantastique- Berlioz
col legno
Italian for ‘with the wood’ - a novel string effect invented by Berlioz, players tap on the strings with the wooden part of the bow
Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
dies Irae
latin for ‘day of wrath’ - drawn from the roman catholic requiem mass for the dead, a melody associated in 19th century with funeral
Symphonie fantastique- Berlioz
Exoticism in music
fascination with foreign lands and cultures influenced 19th music through melody, rhythm, harmony and orchestration
madama butterfly - puccini
habanera
a Spanish dance in slow duple time
Carmen- Bizet
idee fixe
French for ‘fixed idea’ coined by berlioz
a recurring theme which undergoes transformation but creates unity in multi-movment work. Represents the beloved in Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
Lied
german art song. - musical setting of a german poem.
for solo voice generally with piano accompaniment
Erlkonig- Schubert
nationalism in music
patriotism expressed through music in 19th century, through folk song and dance, myths and legends, landscapes and historical events
polonaise in a flat major - Chopin
Ophicleide
brass instrument, predecessor of the tuba
symphonie fantastique- berlioz
pentatonic scale
a scale consisting of 5 notes
madama butterfly -puccini
prelude (in opera)
an orchestral work serving as an introduction to an opera, took the place of a traditional overture, includes themes to be heard later in the opera
Madama Butterfly- Puccini
Polonaise
polish dance in triple meter. Chopin transformed into a virtuosic piano composition. Stately, proud, majestic. includes characteristic rhythmic figures
polonaise in a flat major - chopin
portamento
Italian for ‘carrying’- a technique of sliding smoothly from one note to the next, originally a vocal technique that berlioz adapted as a novel instrumental technique
Symphonie Fantastique- Berlioz
program music
instrumental music with pictoral or literary associations, a descriptive title identifies the connection.
some works include a text provided by the composer
Symphonie Fantastique - Berlioz
Romanticism
reaction against classicism, emphasized creative imagination, and expression of emotions
Rubato
Italian for ‘robbed’ time- with rhythmic flexibility, speeding up or slowing down. allows for more expression in interpreting music
symphonic poem
form of orchestral program music- with literary or pictoral associations. single movement work, generally free form.
Prelude a l’apres midi d’un faun- Debussy
verismo
Italian for ‘realism’- a style of opera where the story is based on gritty reality, often with a tragic or violent ending
Madama butterfly- puccini
through-composed
(durchkomponiert)
a song structure that avoids repetition of entire sections of music. the melody, harmony, and piano accompaniment reflects the meaning of the text
erlkonig- schubert
ritornello form
the opening passage (ritornello) is restated throughout the movement. Use in the 1st and 3rd movements of baroque concerto
spring-vivaldi
ripieno
Italian for “full” or “complete”. use of the full orchestra in the baroque concerto
ostinato
Italian for “obstinate”. a rhythmic or melodic pattern that is repeated
drone
a sustained ass note that provides a rudimentary harmonic foundation
programmatic writing
music with a descriptive element, inspired for example by a story or painting
spring- vivaldi
solo concerto
instrumental genre in baroque era for soloist and orchestra.
generally in 3 movements (fast, slow, fast).
Frequently used ritornello form.
Showcases the virtuosity of the soloist.
spring-vivaldi
