key words Flashcards
timbre
tone colour of a musical sound. e.g. a flute sounds different to a trumpet
pizzicato
plucking on a string instrument
double stopping
playing two notes at the same time on a string instrument
cul legno
using the wooden side of the bow
harmonics
touching a string very lightly when played - it produces a high, pure sound
tremelo
fast up and down bow movements on a string instrument
vibrato
small, rapid undulations in pitch used by string and woodwind players
mutes
can be used to change the timbre of brass and string instruments to be softer
glissando
sliding between notes
flutter tonguing
rolling the letter R while blowing a wind instrument
finger-picking
plucking strings individually as opposed to strumming a group of strings
syllabic
one note per syllable
melismatic
multiple notes per syllable
parlando
sing in a style that resembles speaking
sprechgesang
‘speech-song’ half spoken half sung
vocalising
singing vowel sounds not words, similar to scatting
monophony
a single unaccompanied melody, can be in octaves
heterophony
a melody and decorated melody played together
homophony
one part has the main melody while the others accompany
melody and accompniament
similar to homophony although the accompanying part has some independence, working with the melody and interweaving
counterpoint
two or more melodies with independent rhythms, having a contrapuntal texture
antiphony
groups of singers/instruments playing alternately, widely separated
dialogue
a musical idea passes from one part to another
counter melody
two tunes playing at the same time, working in counterpoint with the other melody
doubling
playing the same melody in unison or octaves
tutti
everyone plays
ostinato
melodic or rhythmic pattern that is repeated throughout a passage of music
pedal
a sustained or repeated note
canon
a melody fits with itself in a different part but starting a few beats later, e.g. pacabells canon
imitation
a melody idea is copied immediately by another part
fugue
a melody that is introduced by each part in turn, continuing on to a countersubject
