Midterms Flashcards

1
Q

a tempo

A

return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation

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2
Q

accelerando

A

gradually accelerating or getting faster

abbrev. accel.

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3
Q

adagio

A
  1. a slow tempo marking b/w largo & Andante
  2. a composition written in a slow tempo, frequently the second movement of sonatas, symphonies, etc.
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4
Q

allegro

A
  1. a fast tempo marking b/w Allegretto & Vivace
  2. a composition in fast tempo, esp the 1st & last movements of a sonata, symphony, etc.
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5
Q

articulation

A

directions to a performer typically through symbols & icons on a musical score tht indicate characteristics of the attack, duration, & decay/envelope of a given note.

often interpreted by the conductor for the ensemble. conductor also provides direction where no articulation markings r provided by composer

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6
Q

bass clef

A

the F clef, the clef that locates f (below middle C on the fourth line)

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7
Q

cantabile

A

singing or performing in a melodious & graceful style, full of expression

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8
Q

caesura

A
  1. break/interruption in music, notated by 2 diagonal lines often referred to as railroad tracks. the break can be of any length @ the discretion of the conductor
  2. in prosody, a break in the flow of sound in the middle of a line/verse often caused by the ending of a word w/in a foot
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9
Q

chorale

A

a hymn of the Lutheran church, usually written for 4 voice harmony.

many written by J.S. Bach, which serve as a basis for the rules of partwriting

melody usually in the top voice, w/ supporting harmony in the lower voices

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10
Q

coda

A

the closing few measures of a composition, usually not a part of the main theme groups of the standard form of a composition, but a finishing theme added to the end to give the composition closure

in sonata form, anything that occurs after the recapitulation

sometimes indicated w/ symbol in pic. typically used in compositions tht emply a da capo(D.C.) or dal segon(D.S.). often the terms “D.S. al coda” or “D.C. al coda” r also used which indicate tht the performer is to perform the coda portion of the composition after repating to either the sign (D.S.) or to the beginning of the composition (D.C.)

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11
Q

con

A

with; as in “con amore” (with love)

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12
Q

con brio

A

w/ vivacity/spirit

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13
Q

crescendo

A

smoothly increase the volume of a particular phrase or passage

can be designated w/ the word crescendo @ the beginning of the passage/with the crescendo symbol

typically a dynamic mark @ either end of the symbol indicating the desired volume before @ after the crescendo

abbrev. cresc.

symbol often = hairpin/wedge

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14
Q

cut time

A

alla breve

a tempo marking indicating a quick duple meter w/ the half note rather than the quarter note getting the beat (2/2 rather than 4/4).

both the name & the sign r a vestige of mensural notation & of the proportions (tempus imperfectum diminutum)

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15
Q

da capo

A

go back to the beginning of the composition

abbrev. D.C.

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16
Q

decrescendo

A

smoothly decrease the volume of the specific passage.

can be designated w/ the word “decrescendo” @ the beginning of the passage/ w/ the decrescendo symbol

typically a dynamic mark @ either end of the symbol indicating the desired volume before & after the decrescendo.

abbrev. decresc.

hairpin/wedge

functionally the same as diminuendo & its abbrev. dim. & dimin.

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17
Q

diminuendo

A

smoothly decrease the volume of the specific passage of a composition

can be designated w/ the word diminuendo @ beginning of passage/ w/ “hair pin” symbol

typically a dynamic mark @ either end of the symbol indicating the desired volume before & after the diminuendo

abbrev. dim. or dimin.

functionally same as decrescendo & its abbrev. decresc.

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18
Q

dolce

A

sweetly, softly, or with tender emotion

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19
Q

fermata

A

sustain the note of a composition affecting all parts & lasting as long as the artistic interpretation of the conductor allows.

marked above the note or rest to be held

hold/bird’s eye

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20
Q

fortepiano

A

a dynamic marking (fp) directing the performer to attack the written note @ the dynamic level of forte followed by an immediate decrease in volume to piano.

almost always performed w/ an accent on the initial attack

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21
Q

fortissimo

A

perform a certain passage very loudly

symbolized by ff

louder than forte f

22
Q

fuoco

A

w/ energy, fire, & passion

23
Q

giocoso

A

in a happy, or merry manner

24
Q

grandioso

A
  1. in a majestic, grand, noble style
  2. a term often used to designate the last repeat of the trio in a march which r typically performed in a grandiose manner
25
Q

interval

A

the distance b/w 2 pitches

26
Q

intonation

A

refers to the Proper production of a tone so that it’s exactly in tune

the chanting of plainsong

27
Q

l’istesso tempo

A

the same tempo. an indication in a composition tht directs tht the beat remains constant when the mter changes.

in the case of 2/4 to 6/8, the meter is still counted w/ 2 beats per measure but the tempo or speed of the beat stays the same. all that has changed is the division of the beat (subdivision) from the duplets of the 2/4 to the triplets of the 6/8

28
Q

largo

A

a slow & solemn tempo marking

40-60 BPM

29
Q

lento

A

slow

30
Q

legato

A

in a smooth, graceful, connected style, as opposed to staccato

often indicated by a slur over the effected notes or as an accent mark with a line over the notes to be performed in this manner

31
Q

maestoso

A

in a stately, dignified, majestic fashion

32
Q

march

A

a processional/military air especialy suited to parades, processions, / martial affairs

generally written in 2/4, 6/8, or 4/4 time

usually is an ornamentation of a regular & repeated drum rhythm, & is performed on brass instruments, drums, pipes, & other martial instruments

many exceptions to the strict march style provide a wide range of acceptable derivations Ex: Italian march genre of 19th & 20th centuries tended to include very lyrical syections. Ex: several 20th century composers have gone outside the traditional march genre in their compositions using atonal techniques

33
Q

molto

A

an expression used to augment the directive to which it is applied

often used to modify tempo markings in a composition

Ex: allegro molto = the indicated passage should have very fast tempo, faster than allegro

34
Q

non troppo

A

“moderately” or combined w/ other directives to mean “not too much”

35
Q

pianissimo

A

very softly, even softer than piano(p), but not as soft as pianississimo (ppp)

abbrev. pp

36
Q

piu

A

Italian term for more

typically used to modify tempo markings as in “piu mosso”

37
Q

piu mosso

A

the music of the indicated passage should have more motion/move more quickly

38
Q

poco

A

Italian term for little

typically used to modify tempo markings as in “accelerando poco a poco” meanign “getting faster little by little”

39
Q

pomposo

A

in a pompous, stately, or ceremonious style

40
Q

rallentando

A

with a gradual slowing of the tempo

abbrev. rall

41
Q

repertoire

A

a list of compositions that an individual/ensemble is prepared to perform/ that r available for performance

42
Q

ritardando

A

perform a certain passage of a composition w/ a ritard the tempo,

to gradually delay the tempo

abbrev. rit

43
Q

rubato

A

a practice common in Romantic compositions of taking part of the duration from one note & giving it to another

involves the performer tastefully stretching, slowing, or hurrying the tempo as he/she sees fit, thus imparting flexibility & emotion to the performance

44
Q

sforzando

A

perform a specific note/chord of a composition w/ particular emphasis

the note/chord would be performed as if it had an accent as shown below & performed @ the dynamic level indicated

typically abbrev. sf, sff, or sfff

can be confused w/ sforzato which has a similar effect and is indicated by sfz, sffz, or sfffz. in fact, many music dictionaries show both sforzando & sforzato as having the same meaning

45
Q

staccato

A

a style of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner, as opposed to legato

46
Q

subito

A

suddenly

at once

immediately

47
Q

slur

A

consisting of a curved line drawn over/under a series of notes, indicating that those notes should be played legato

also indicates the grouping & phrasing of a passage in a composition

48
Q

tacet

A

an indication in the music that a performer is to be silent for some time

typically, for an entire section or movement of a composition

49
Q

tempo primo

A

in the original tempo of the composition, usually after a diversion from that original tempo

50
Q

tie

A

a curved line drawn over/under the head of 2 notes of the same pitch indicating that there should be no break b/w them but they should be played as a single note

51
Q

time signature

A

a symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition

Ex: 3/4 would indicate tht there r 3 quarter notes in each measure & the quarter notes receive the main pulse (or beat)

52
Q

vivace

A

in a lively/brisk manner