Midterms Flashcards
a tempo
return to the original tempo after a deliberate deviation
accelerando
gradually accelerating or getting faster
abbrev. accel.
adagio
- a slow tempo marking b/w largo & Andante
- a composition written in a slow tempo, frequently the second movement of sonatas, symphonies, etc.
allegro
- a fast tempo marking b/w Allegretto & Vivace
- a composition in fast tempo, esp the 1st & last movements of a sonata, symphony, etc.
articulation
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
bass clef
the F clef, the clef that locates f (below middle C on the fourth line)
cantabile
singing or performing in a melodious & graceful style, full of expression
caesura
- 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
- 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
chorale
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
coda
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.)
con
with; as in “con amore” (with love)
con brio
w/ vivacity/spirit
crescendo
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
cut time
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)
da capo
go back to the beginning of the composition
abbrev. D.C.
decrescendo
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.
diminuendo
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.
dolce
sweetly, softly, or with tender emotion
fermata
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
fortepiano
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