Italian Theory / Terminology

Question 1

Allegro

Answer 1

Fast/lively

Question 2

Andante

Answer 2

Walking pace

Question 3

Lento

Answer 3

Slow

Question 4

Diminuendo

Answer 4

Gradually getting softer

Question 5

Ritardando

Answer 5

Gradually getting slower

Question 6

Cantabile

Answer 6

Song-like

Question 7

Staccato

Answer 7

To hop off the note

Question 8

Dolce

Answer 8

Sweetly/gently

Question 9

Pianissimo

Answer 9

Very soft

Question 10

Mezzo piano

Answer 10

Moderately soft

Question 11

Cantata

Answer 11

A piece of music for voices with instrumental accompaniment, normally containing solos, chorus and orchestra.

Question 12

Chorale

Answer 12

Hymn tune associated with the German Lutheran church.

Question 13

A capella

Answer 13

Vocal without accompaniment

Question 14

Allargando

Answer 14

To slow down gradually

Question 15

Anacrusis

Answer 15

An upbeat before the first whole bar - steals time

Question 16

Cadence

Answer 16

A chord progression to give a sense of ending to a line or verse.

Question 17

Coda

Answer 17

A concluding section to a piece of music

Question 18

Articulation

Answer 18

The use of different techniques to create variety and tone in a piece of music e.g. trills, staccato, legato

Question 19

Legto

Answer 19

To play smoothly

Question 20

Monophonic

Answer 20

A single line of melody

Question 21

Polyphonic

Answer 21

Two or more melodies

Question 22

Homophonic

Answer 22

Melody and harmony

Question 23

Sequence

Answer 23

A bar of music repeated up or down a step

Question 24

Dynamics

Answer 24

The range of louds and softs in a piece of music

Question 25

Contapuntal

Answer 25

Another word for Polyphonic