Midterm Terms & Definitions

Question 1

Aria

Answer 1

a song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio. ex: Uno Voce Poco Fa, Rossini

Question 2

Cadenza

Answer 2

a virtuoso solo passage inserted into a movement in a concerto or other work, typically near the end. Ex: The harpsichord cadenza in Brandenburg 5.

Question 3

Coda

Answer 3

the concluding passage of a piece or movement, typically forming an addition to the basic structure. Ex: Beethoven Symphony n. 9, mov 4.

Question 4

Concerto

Answer 4

a musical composition for a solo instrument or instruments accompanied by an orchestra, especially one conceived on a relatively large scale Ex: Beethoven Piano Concerto n. 4

Question 5

Counterpoint

Answer 5

the art or technique of setting, writing, or playing a melody or melodies in conjunction with another, according to fixed rules Ex: Schubert’s Lieders

Question 6

Da capo

Answer 6

“Da capo” is an Italian musical term that means “from the beginning” and is used as a direction to repeat a section of music. Ex: Handel’s Messiah

Question 7

Enlightenment

Answer 7

an European intellectual movement of the late 17th and 18th centuries emphasizing reason and individualism rather than tradition. Ex: The program of Berlioz’s Symphony Fantastique

Question 8

Heiligenstadt Testament

Answer 8

The Heiligenstadt Testament is a letter written by Ludwig van Beethoven to his brothers Carl and Johann at Heiligenstadt on 6 October 1802 where he complains about his health and gives instructions as to how his wealth should be distributed.

Question 9

Fugue

Answer 9

a contrapuntal composition in which a short melody or phrase (the subject) is introduced by one part and successively taken up by others and developed by interweaving the parts. Ex: Beethoven’s Grosse Fugue

Question 10

Libretto

Answer 10

the text of a work (such as an opera) for the musical theater. Ex: The libretto for Rossini’s The Barber of Seville

Question 11

Lied, Lieder

Answer 11

a type of German song, especially of the romantic period, typically for solo voice with piano accompaniment Ex: Schubert’s An Die Musik

Question 12

Minuet and Trio

Answer 12

An A-B-A form (A = minuet; B = trio) in a moderate triple meter that is often the third movement of the Classical sonata cycle. Ex: Beethoven’s Piano Sonata N. 14

Question 13

Opera buffa and opera seria

Answer 13

Opera seria is characterized by serious, historical dramas, a high vocal male lead, and a noble audience. Opera buffa, on the other hand, are comedic operas with a low vocal male lead that feature subjects of daily life. Opera buffa: The Italian Girl in Algiers. Opera seria: Fidelio

Question 14

Oratorio

Answer 14

a large-scale musical work for orchestra and voices, typically a narrative on a religious theme, performed without the use of costumes, scenery, or action. Ex: Handel’s Messiah

Question 15

Organicism

Answer 15

Organicism might broadly be described to be the view that music ought properly to be modelled on the paradigm of the living entity.

Question 16

Overture

Answer 16

an orchestral piece at the beginning of an opera, suite, play, oratorio, or other extended composition.

Question 17

Program music

Answer 17

music that is intended to evoke images or convey the impression of events

Question 18

Recitative

Answer 18

musical declamation of the kind usual in the narrative and dialogue parts of opera and oratorio, sung in the rhythm of ordinary speech with many words on the same note.

Question 19

Ritornello

Answer 19

a short instrumental refrain or interlude in a composition and/or a recurring tutti section in a concerto.

Question 20

Romanticism

Answer 20

a movement in the arts and literature that originated in the late 18th century, emphasizing inspiration, subjectivity, and the primacy of the individual.

Question 21

Scherzo

Answer 21

a vigorous, light, or playful composition, typically comprising a movement in a symphony or sonata.

Question 22

Schubertiade

Answer 22

A social gathering whose primary purpose is the performance of the music of Schubert

Question 23

Singspiel

Answer 23

a form of German light opera, typically with spoken dialogue, popular especially in the late 18th century.

Question 24

Sonata

Answer 24

a composition for an instrumental soloist, often with a piano accompaniment, typically in several movements with one or more in sonata form.

Question 25

Sonata form: exposition, development, recapitulation

Answer 25

In sonata form the exposition corresponds to the first part of binary form, the development and recapitulation to the second. The exposition moves from the original key to a new key; the development passes through several keys and the recapitulation returns to the original key.

Question 26

Song Cycle

Answer 26

a set of related songs, often on a romantic theme, intended to form a single musical entity.

Question 27

String quartet

Answer 27

a chamber music ensemble consisting of first and second violins, viola, and cello. or a composition for string quartet

Question 28

Strophic and modified strophic

Answer 28

Simple-strophic setting consists of a single piece of music to be repeated for all stanzas. Modified-strophic setting retains the same musical framework for each stanza but with changing details in the voice and accompaniment to suit the progressing text.

Question 29

Sublime

Answer 29

of such excellence, grandeur, or beauty as to inspire great admiration or awe. Beethoven’s Eroica

Question 30

Symphony

Answer 30

an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, typically in four movements, at least one of which is traditionally in sonata form.

Question 31

Theme and variations

Answer 31

a standard form of musical composition consisting of a simple usually harmonized melody presented first in its original unadorned form then repeated several or many times with varied treatment so based on the theme that at least some semblance of its general melodic or harmonic form is evident

Question 32

Through-composed

Answer 32

(of a composition, especially a song) not based on repeated sections or verses, especially having different music for each verse.

Question 33

Virtuoso

Answer 33

a person highly skilled in music or another artistic pursuit.