(Glossary) Terms Flashcards
Define:
Measure
A metrical unit containing a fixed number of beats; separated on the staff by bar lines
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Meter
Fixed patterns of strong and weak beats
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Simple Time
Time signatures where each beat contains two subdivisions
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Compound Time
Time signatures where each beat contains three subdivisions
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Syncopation
A deliberate shifting of the musical accent to a weak beat
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Anacrusis (2)
An upbeat into a phrase
The last portion of a measure anticipating the downbeat
What is an anacrusis also called?
A pickup
What is rhythm?
The rhythmic pulse
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Pitch
The highness or lowness of a particular sound
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Range
The distance between the highest and lowest notes in a melody
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Interval
The distance between any two pitches
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Conjunct
Melodies that contain mostly stepwise direction
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Disjunct
Melodies that contain many leaps and changes in direction
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Motive
A short melodic or rhythmic fragment used to build a melody
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Phrase
A unit of melody that comprises a complete musical thought, much like a sentence
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Period
A basic building block that is used to create larger forms
How many measures long is a period, generally?
Eight measures long
How many phrases is a period comprised of, generally?
Two phrases
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Sequence
Repetition of a short musical phrase at another pitch
What is a melody?
The main musical composition
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Chord
A combination of three or more pitches that create a unit of harmony
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Triad
A three-note chord that consists of a root, third, and fifth
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Diatonic
Melodies/harmonies built from the notes of a major or minor scale
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Chromatic
Melodies/harmonies that include notes outside the key or mode
What word does “chromatic” come from?
“Khroma”, Greek for “colour”
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Consonance
An agreeable combination of tones that provides a sense of relaxation and stability
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Dissonance
A combination of tones that sounds discordant, thus creating restlessness and a sense of instability
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Harmonic Rhythm
The rate (frequency) or chord changes
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Cadence
A specific combination of chords that provide moments of rest at the ends of phrases
What represents a cadence in grammar?
Punctuation
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Modulation
The process of changing from one tonal centre to another, with or without a change of key signature
What is harmony?
The musical content that supports the melody and provides context
Define:
Binary Form
A two-part form: A || B ||
True or False:
Both parts do not repeat in binary form
False, both parts repeat in binary form
In binary form:
Section A generally ends with an ____ cadence in the ________ or relative _____ key
Open
Dominant
Major
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Rounded Binary Form
A two-part form: A || B + A1 ||
What is the key difference between rounded binary form and binary form?
Rounded binary form: Opening material from section A returns after B material
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Ternary Form
A three-part form: A || B || A ||
In ternary form:
Section A generally ends with a ______ cadence in the _____ key
Closed
Tonic
In ternary form:
Section B generally creates contrast in ___ and/or ________
Key
Material
How does Section A generally end in ternary form?
With a closed cadence in the tonic key
How does Section A generally end in binary form?
With an open cadence in the dominant or relative major key
Where is ternary form often used? (3)
Baroque arias
Classical menuet and trio movements
What is form?
The overall shape and design of a musical composition
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Monophonic Texture
A single line of unaccompanied melody
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Polyphonic Texture
A combination of two or more melodic lines
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Homophonic Texture
A single line of melody supported by a harmonic accompaniment
What is texture?
The way melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic elements are woven together within a musical composition
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Dynamics
The levels of volume in music
What are dynamics indicated by?
Traditionally indicated by Italian terms or symbols
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Timbre
Tone colour, the quality of sound specific to a voice or instrument
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Idiomatic Writing
Highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing
What is the opposite of idiomatic writing?
Generic
When was idiomatic writing developed?
In the Baroque Era
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Tempo
The speed at which music is performed
How is tempo indicated?
Traditionally with Italian terms
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Genre
The classification of a composition type
Sonatas, symphonies, and operas are all examples of what classification?
Genre
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Opus
Indicates the order in which a composer’s works are organized
What does opus mean?
Latin for “work”, usually abbreviated op.
What word does “Fugue” come from?
“Fugere”, Italian for “to flee”
What is a Fugue? (2)
A form favoured by composers in the Baroque era
A complex contrapuntal work dominated by a single theme called the subject
Define:
Baroque
A term now applied to art, architecture, and music of the 17th and early 18th century
What word does “Baroque” come from?
“Barroco”, Portuguese for “irregularly shaped or misshapen pearl”
How was the term “Baroque” first used?
First used as a derogatory term in reference to the overly ornate art of the era
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Major-Minor Tonal System
Music based on major and minor scales
What language did the major-minor tonal system gradually replace? During what era?
Modal Language
Baroque Era
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Terraced Dynamics
Baroque practice of changing volume levels abruptly
Terraced dynamics was a practice during what era?
Baroque Era
Define: Figured Bass (2)
A musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era
Numbers are placed below the bass line to show harmonic progression
Figured bass was performed or realized by who?
Basso Continuo
What did figured bass provide the structure for?
Guided improvisation
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Basso Continuo
Baroque performance practice
How many performers does Basso Continuo generally involve? Explain
2
One playing the notated bass line
One realizing the harmonies as indicated by the figured bass
What were harmonies often played on in Basso Continuo? (2)
Harpsichord or Organ
Basso Continuo provides ________ _________
Harmonic framework
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“the Affections” (2)
A Baroque philosophy inspired by ancient Greek and Roman writers and orators
Refers to emotional states of the soul
In Baroque music, a single “_________” or “______” (one clear emotion) is usually projected through an entire __________ or ________
Affection
Affect
Composition
Movement
What was “the Affections” also referred to as? (2)
“Doctrine of Affections”
“the affects”
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Ornamentation
Musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line
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Concerto
A popular instrumental genre of the Baroque era for soloist(s) and orchestra
Define: Ritornello form (2)
A structure employed in the first and third movements of the Baroque concerto
The opening passage (ritornello) is restated throughout the movement, serving as a refrain
How is ornamentation notated?
Either represented with symbols or improvised
What is the general structure of a concerto? What is frequently used in it? What is it intended to showcase?
Generally in three movements: fast-slow-fast
Frequently employed ritornello form
Intended to showcase the virtuosity of the soloist(s)
What is the opening passage known as in ritornello form?
Ritornello
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Ripieno
A term used to denote the use of the full orchestra in the Baroque concerto
What does ripieno mean?
Italian for “full” or “complete”
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Ostinato
A rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period
What does ostinato mean?
Italian for “obstinate” or “persistent”
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Pedal Point
A note, or a series of notes, sustained through harmony changes in other parts
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Programmatic writing
Music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical associations, like a story or painting
What did programmatic writing evolve into?
Program music, a significant feature of 19th-century instrumental writing
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Equal Temperament
A method of tuning keyboard instruments
How is the octave divided? Why?
The octave is divided into twelve equal half steps
Facilitated the composition and performance of music in all keys
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Clavier
A German word for keyboard instruments other than the organ
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Prelude
A short keyboard work in improvisatory style
What is a prelude often paired with?
A fugue
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Fugue
A highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition
In a fugue, a ______ _____ or _______ prevails
Single theme
Subject
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Counterpoint
Combination of two or more independent melodic lines
What is counterpoint also known as?
Polyphonic texture
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Subject
The initial statement of the main theme of a fugue
What key is the subject in?
Tonic
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Answer
The second statement of the main theme in a fugue
What key is the answer usually in?
Dominant
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Real Answer
An exact transposition of the subject
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Tonal Answer
A statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony
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Countersubject
A recurring countermelody
What does the countersubject accompany?
Accompanies entries of the subject and answer
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Episode
A passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present
What is a frequent detail of an episode?
Frequently sequential
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Augmentation
Thematic material presented in longer time values
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Stretto
Overlapping subject entries in close succession
Where does stretto come from? What does it mean?
Comes from Italian “stringere”, means “to tighten”
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Oratorio
A large-scale work for soloists, chorus, and orchestra
What is an oratorio based on? What does an oratorio consists of?
Serious subject, generally based on biblical texts
Consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, and choruses
When was oratorios developed?
Developed in the Baroque Era
Define:
French overture
A Baroque orchestral genre, often the orchestral introduction to an opera or oratorio
Where were French overtures first developed?
First developed at the court of Louis XIV by Jean-Baptiste Lully
How many parts are generally in a French overture? Describe the parts
Generally in two parts
First part: Slow tempo, homophonic texture, features dotted figures
Second part: Fast tempo, imitative texture
Describe the first part of a French overture (3)
Slow tempo
Homophonic texture
Features dotted figures
Describe the second part of a French overture (2)
Fast tempo
Imitative texture
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Libretto (2)
The text of an opera, oratorio, or cantata
Usually written by someone other than the composer
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Recitative (2)
A speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, and cantatas
Follows inflections of the text, resulting in rhythmic flexibility
What is the purpose of recitatives?
Usually used to advance the plot or storyline; moves through text quickly
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Recitativo secco
A speech-like, declamatory style of singing
Supported only by continuo
What instruments can be part of the continuo? (2)
Keyboard
Cello
Where is recitativo secco employed? (3)
Opera
Oratorio
Cantata
Where does recitativo secco come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means “dry recitative”
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Recitativo accompagnato
A speech-like, declamatory style of singing
Allows for greater connection with the text
What instruments support the recitativo accompagnato?
Instrumental ensemble or orchestra
Where is recitativo accompagnato employed? (3)
Opera
Oratorio
Cantata
Where does recitativo accompagnato come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means “accompanied recitative”
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Aria (3)
A solo song with accompaniment, head in an opera, oratorio, or cantata
Highly emotional and often virtuosic
May have lyrical or dramatic qualities; often serves to reveal the characters’ most intimate emotions
Where does aria come from? What does it mean?
Italian, means “air”
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Da capo aria
An aria (solo song) employing a ternary (ABA) structure
What is the return of Section A like in performance of da capo aria?
Generally ornamented
What is the most common type of aria in Baroque opera and oratorio?
Da capo aria
Define: Word painting (3)
Musical pictorialization
The music mirrors the literal meaning of the words
Achieved through melody, harmony, or rhythm
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Melisma (2)
A group of notes sung on a single syllable/vowel
Demonstrates vocal virtuosity and often serves to highlight key words
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Homorhythmic texture
All voices sing or play the same rhythm
Results in a blocked chordal texture (homophonic)
Delivers the text with clarity and emphasis
