Keywords Flashcards
Minor
The tonality of the sequence – depressing
Major
The tonality of the sequence – uplifting
Modal
How octave is divided
Atonal
Without a key or scale
Bitonal
Two tonalities
Chromatic
The scale including all white and black notes or all sharps and all flats
Pentatonic
A five note scale
Blues scale
The third fifth and seventh is lowered
Modulation
To change from one key to another
Ornamentation
Decorative notes
Unison
At the same pitch
Octaves
Eight notes distance
Homophonic
One melody
Polyphonic
A texture of multiple sounds
Melody and accompaniment
The main sung line with backing
Imitative
To copy
Antifonal
To chant
Discords
Unstable
Sevenths
The seventh note in a scale
Powerchords
Distorted chords
Inversion
The order of the notes change
Note clusters
A group of notes
Perfect cadence
From V to I
Imperfect cadence
Half way through it ends V
Plagal cadence
IV to I
Interrupted cadence
Any chord to IV
Pulse
The beat
Syncopation
Offbeat
Cross rhythms
Conflicting rhythms
Tempo
The speed of music
Retardando
To slow or speed up the music
Simple time
4/4
Compound time
2/4
Accentuation
Give emphasis
Phrasing
Group of notes
Articulation
The transition between notes
F
Forte or to be loud
p
Piano or to be soft
mf
Mezzo forte or to be quite loud
Mp
Mezzo piano or to be quite soft
ff
Fortissimo or to be very loud
pp
Pianissimo or to be very soft
Crescendo
Louder gradually
Diminuendo
Quieter gradually
Sequence
Repeat with a pitch change
Ostinato
A repeated phrase or melody
Riff
A repeated rhythm
Drone
A continuous consistent note
Imitation
To repeat in a different voice or Timbre
Fugue
Two voices
Cannon
To repeat every time
Leitmotif
Continual recurring phrase
Pedal
To keep notes overlap
Inverted pedal
Keeps notes quieter
Binary
A B
Ternary
A B A
Rondo
A B A C A D
Theme and variation
Variation of the main structure
Call and response
A B
Strophic
Verse chorus verse
Standard form
Verse chorus Bridge
Concerto
Solo and Orchestra
Symphony
Orchestra
Sonata
Two contrasting theme
Countermelody
Melody against the original
Glissando
To guide
Mute
No sound
Pizzicato
To pluck
The chalumeau register clarinet
The range on clarinet which matches its predecessor chalumeau
Synthesised
Technology changed
Synthesiser
Special Fx keyboard
Sampler
Excerpt from someone else
MIDI
Programmed notes
Looping
Repeating
Remix
Differencing the song
Sequence
To repeat but with a change
Vocoder
Vocal recorder
Reverb
To echo
Vivace
Lively or vivid
Allegro
Fast quick and bright
Allegretto
Moderately fast
Andante
A walking pace
Largo
Broadly
Grave
Slow and Solemn
Presto
Extremely fast
A cappella
To sing without instruments
Vibrato
To wobble up and down in pitch. A more expressive style
Falsetto
Men make their voices go high-pitched
Portamento (vocals)
Sliding from one note to another
Melisma (vocals)
Decorating and adding notes to the tune e.g. Mariah Carey, Celine Dion
Descant (vocals)
A higher part in time with the main tune
Alap (indian)
Sitar introduces chosen Raga, improvises freely, no beat or pulse
Jhor (indian)
Music speeds up and has steadier beat
Jhala (indian)
Much faster and exciting
Gat or Bandish (indian)
Tabla enters, pre composed piece
Ragas (indian)
A scale of 5 to 8 notes that create a mood of the time of day
Slendro
Two scales of five notes
Pelog
Seven note scale