Key Concepts Flashcards
Lists of Key Terminology to describe a piece of music
Words to describe the Dynamics
Pianissimo (pp) piano (p) mezzopiano / mezzo forte (mp/ mf) forte (f) fortissimo dont forget crescendos + diminuendos
Words to describe the articulation
staccato- dotted played slighty shorter
legato- smooth
slurs
accents
what is a glissando
slide between notes
what is rubato
means robbed time
-expressive quickening or slackening, usually without altering the overall pace
when is note bending used
in Jazz- changes pitch slightly
describing ornamentation
acciaccatura- grace note played quickly before
trills
turns
mordents
what is a cadence
they emphasise the end of a phrase
perfect cadences sound resolved
imperfect dont
words to describe the tempo (in order of speed)
largo adagio- bit faster than largo) andante- walking pace moderato allegro vivace- lively presto- really fast
ways of describing the timbre
string- warm sound, tremelo
piano- hammer keys or softness with pedals
woodwind- soft, mellow, clarinets upwards to produce harsher sound
Whats a dotted rhythm
unequally divided
notes have dots on top increase by half their value
Whats a cross rhythm
two contrasting rhythms played together
Whats a polyrhythm
lots of rhythms played together
ways to describe the tonality
modulation- closely related to the key major minor dissonance perfect/imperfect cadence atonal- not based on any key
whats a concerto
solist with orchestra
Ways to describe the changes in tempo
accelerando- gradual speed rallentando- gradual low ritenuto- immediately slow allargando- getting slow and broadening rubarto- robbed time freely