Higher Music Definitions

Question 1

Accent

Answer 1

When a note or chord is given more force or emphasise.

Question 2

Accaccatura

Answer 2

A grace note. A type o ornament played as a crushed short note before the main note o the melody.

Question 3

Added 6th

Answer 3

A basic three note chord with an added 6th note above the root note.

Question 4

Augmentation

Answer 4

When the note value of a melody are lengthened, usually doubled.

Question 5

Basso Continuo

Answer 5

In baroque music, the continuo part consists of a bass line usually played by a cello. A cordial instrument such as a harpsichord, organ, and lute will fill in harmonies as the bass line. Sometimes figures are written in under the bass line indicating which chords are to be played.

Question 6

Cadence

Answer 6

A harmonic progression of at least 2 chords that come at the end of a phrase, section, or at the end of a piece of music.
Examples: Perfect, imperfect, plagal, interrupted.

Question 7

Chamber Music

Answer 7

Music composed in small groups, generally intended to played in a palace chamber or large room rather than large concert hall.

Question 8

Chords I, IV, V, VI

Answer 8

In major and minor keys in treble and bass clefs. These are chord that are the 1st, 4th, 5th, and 6th notes of a scale.

Question 9

Coloratura

Answer 9

A type of operatic voice that features flora ornamentation, elaborate, and melodic decoration and runs. This can be applied to any type of voice but is seen most often in sopranos.

Question 10

Concerto

Answer 10

The small group of solo instruments (concerto grosso)

Question 11

Concerto Grosso

Answer 11

A type of concerto, common in Baroque music, in which large groups of soloists is combined and contrasted with a large group of strings.

Question 12

Da Capo

Answer 12

Italian term indicating to the player that they should repeat form the beginning.

Question 13

Da Capo Aria

Answer 13

An aria in ternary form found in opera and oratorio in 17th and 18th century, in which third section is not written out but the instruction Da Capo is given instead. the singer would then vary or embellish the melody on the return to section A.

Question 14

Diminished Triad

Answer 14

A three note chord consisting to 2 intervals of a minor 3rd built on top of each other.

Question 15

Diminished 7th

Answer 15

A chord consisting of three intercals of a minor 3rd built on top of eachother, the intercal of the first and top note begin on a diminished 7th.

Question 16

Diminuation

Answer 16

When the note of a melody are shortened, usually in half.

Question 17

Exposition

Answer 17

The first section of a movement are shortened, usually be half.

Question 18

Harmonic Minor Scale

Answer 18

The minor scale which shares the same key signature as its relative major with an added 7th note.