Dictionary Flashcards
Ornamented/ornamentation
-notes that decorate a melody. They are shown by small notes (grace notes) immediately before the main note or above it. Eg. Mordent, trill, turn
Diatonic
-‘of the key’ notes belonging to the key of the piece
Monophonic
-‘one line of music’ refers to a musical texture consisting of a single line which can be sung or played by several people
Homophonic
- a texture that consists of a melody part and an accompaniment
Polyphonic
-‘many sounds’ more than one melody sounding at the same time or entering at different times so they overlap.
Sequence
-the repetition of a musical phrase at a higher/lower pitch than the original
Pedal
-a sustained (held on) note, usually in the bass part. Usually they are on the tonic or dominant
Suspension
-holding a note to create a dissonance with the next chord
Affection
-the mood in a baroque movement
Concerto grosso
-‘large concerto’ or more than one soloist
Patronage
-a system whereby composers earned money by writing music for a wealthy individual
Dialoguing
-instruments in ‘dialogue’ playing one after another, swapping ideas
Antiphonal
-swapping between different musical groups (eg. concertino and ripieno)
Contertino
-the smaller group of soloists in a concerto grosso – here flute, violin and harpsichord
Ripieno
-the larger group – here the full orchestra
Basso continuo
-‘continuous bass’ – played by the cello and the harpsichord. The players add chords and melody
Figured bass
-the harpsichord player ‘realises’ the figured bass. The bass part is annotated with musical shorthand indicating the chord to be played above the note
Fugue
-a musical form consisting of an exposition, middle section and final section. The music is contrapuntal
Ternary
-A B A a simple musical form in three sections with an ABA structure
Fugal exposition
-the initial statements of the subject and answer
Dominant
-the fifth note of the scale – the second strongest note after the tonic
Secondary dominant
-this refers to the key that is the dominant key of the dominant
Subject
-the short main theme of the fugue
Answer
-the subject in a response to its initial appearance
Counter-subject
-the melody played after the subject or answer has been sounded
Stretto
-entries of the subject occur closer together, this heightens the tension of the music
Contrapuntal
-when two melodies are played ‘against’ each other and interweave. Written in counterpoint
Counter-point
-‘tune against tune’ simultaneous combination of two or more melodies with independent rhythms (two tunes played at the same time)
Passing modulations
-modulations where the new key only lasts for a few bars before modulating to another key
Relative minor
-the minor key based on the sixth note of the major scale
Variant
-a phrase whose shape resembles the original
Unison
-more than one part playing the same melody at the same pitch
Passagework
-a constantly moving passage, often in patterns or quick notes notes such as semiquavers. Often includes sequences
Scalic
-music that is based on ascending/descending scales
Canon
-parts copy each other in exact intervals, often 5th or 8th(octave) eg. London’s burning
Cadential
-this refers to a progression of chords forming a cadence
Chromatic
- notes that are not diatonic
- Melody ascending/descending in semitones
Solo concerto
-a concerto for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra
Romanticism
-an artistic and creative movement that began in Europe in the early 1800s and lasted for roughly 100 years. Romanticism is characterized by an emphasis of emotions and their freedom of imagination, as well as a love for the natural world
Sforzando
-an accent showing than a note or chord should be played with greater force than the others surrounding it usually shown as sf or sfz
Classical era
-the musical period extending from c.1750 to c.1820
Romantic era
-the musical period extending from c.1810 to c.1900
Sonata form
-Sonata form- a large-scale form in the classical era consisting of three sections:
EXPOSTION
DEVELOPMENT
RECAPITULATION
Exposition
-Exposes the first tune
Development
-develops the tune
Recapitulation
-recaps the tune
First subject
-the first theme or melody
Second subject
-the second theme or melody
Bride passage
-a linking passage often used to change the key of the piece in preparation for the second subject
Coda
-a section sometimes added at the end of a piece of movement
Homophony
-a texture consisting of a melody and an accompaniment
Diminished seventh
-a four-note chord made up fully from minor-third intervals
Codetta
-a short coda concluding a section
Pedal
-a sustained (held on) note, usually in the bass part. Usually they are on the tonic or dominant
Murky bass
-the fast octave repetitions in the bass
Interrupted cadence
-most commonly consists of chord V(5) followed by chord VI(6). So-called because it interrupts an expected perfect cadence V-I(5-1)
Imperfect cadence
-a cadence ending on chord V(5) and sounding incomplete. Usually guided by chord I, II or IV (1, 2, 4)
Perfect cadence
-a cadence of two chords that has chord V(5) followed by chord I(1)
Transition
-a section used to take the music from one key to another by modulation (also called a bridge section)
Lyrical
-song-like, flowing
Articulation
-the manner in which a note or sequence is played- eg. staccato, legato
Staccato
-played in a detached fashion (opposite to legato)
Legato
-played in a smooth fashion (opposite to staccato)
Mordent
- two types- ‘upper’ and ‘lower’ mordent. -UPPER- main note, note above the main note, main note
- LOWER- main note, note below the main note, main note
Alberti bass
-a figuration made up from broken chords used as an accompaniment
Enharmonic
-two identically sounding pitches with different names eg. Fb and E
Augmented
-doubling (or more) of the original notes’ duration
Dominant preparation
-a passage focused on the dominant chord to create expectation for a return to the tonic
Cadential 6 4
-this refers to a progression of chords forming a cadence. eg. Ic–V7–I is known as cadential 6 4. The 6 4 refers to the first chord being in second inversion (a fourth and sixth above the bass eg. G–C–E)
