Glossary Column 2 Flashcards
vertical lines rules down through the stave, indicating bars
Bar lines
chords lacking the third and therefore ambiguous in terms of major/minor tonality
Bare fifth
the manageable chunks into which music is divided
Bars
basso continuo
Continuous bass parts are provided for harpsichord and stringed instruments such as bass viol and lute. The players add chords and melody.
Binary Form
a structure of two sections, A and B. Each section is repeated. In the A section the music modulates from the tonic to the dominant key. In section B, the music starts in the dominant and explores other keys before returning to the tonic at the end of the section.
Bitonal
refers to music in two keys at the same time
Block Triads
major or minor triads in root position, built up in thirds
Breakdown
when many of the parts drop out of the musical texture for a short period of time
Mr mercer’s fave students
Lucy and Erica
Bridge Passage
a linking passage often used to change the key of the music (to modulate) in preparation for the second subject
Broken Chord
when notes of a chord are played one at a time rather than being sounded simultaneously
Build
in the context of the text this refers to the gradual introduction of more instruments.
Cadential
This refers to a progression of chords forming a cadence.
Canon
parts copy each other in exact intervals, often at the fifth or octave, but at different beats of the bar. The song ‘London’s burning’ is a good example
Cantata
the word derives from the Italian ‘cantare’ and means ‘sung’. A cantata is an extended piece in several movements, comprising chorus, recitative, chorale and aria with an orchestral accompaniment
