Music concepts Flashcards
Sonata Form (What are the three sections?)
A form used for the first movement of a sonata or symphony.
It consists of three sections:
Exposition – 2 contrasting subject groups in related keys
Development
Recapitulation – 2 contrasting subject groups return but in the same key as the opening
Sonata
A work for solo piano, or solo instrument and piano, often in three or four movements.
Here is in example of a violin sonata, that is, violin and piano.
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large scale work without acting or stage design. It is usually based on a story from the Bible set to music for solo singers, chorus and orchestra. Oratorios often include recitatives, arias and choruses.
Music Concrete
20th century style of composition using pre-recorded live sounds, for example, a creaking door. These sounds are then edited by simple editing techniques such as cutting and re-assembling, playing backwards, slowing down and speeding up.
Mass (What are the five main sections / words)
A large scale, sacred work sung in Latin for solo singers, chorus and orchestra. The five main sections are Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei.
String Quartets (What 3 instruments?)
Two violins, a viola and a cello
Recitative
A type of vocal writing where the music follows the rhythm of speech. A recitative is often followed by an aria.
Jazz funk
A combination of jazz improvisation and the amplified instruments and character of rock.
Soul Music
A style of Afro-American popular music including elements of blues and gospel and conveying strong emotions.
Dominant 7th (what does it sound like?)
C E G Bb (sounds like first chord from petite overture)
Diminished 7th (What does it sound like?)
Spooky C Eb F# A
Added 6th (What does it sound like?)
C E G A Bohemium Rabsody sounds like first chord for “is this the real life”
4 different endings
-Plagal cadence
-Interrupted cadence
-perfect cadence
-imperfect cadence
Mode/modal
Usually this refers to any of the early scales e.g Dorian mode (white nots D to D on a keyboard.)
relative major/minor
Relative Minor: The minor key with the same key signature as one major key.
Relative Major: The Major key with the same key signature as one minor key.
Scales what 2 scales
Melodic minor scale
– for example,
C D Eb F G A B C
C Bb Ab G F Eb D C
Harmonic minor scale
For example
C D Eb F G Ab B C
Sounds middle eastern.
Acciaccatura, Mordent
Acciaccatura:
an ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it.
Mordent: An ornament consisting of the main note, the note above, the main note.
Interval
The distance between 2 notes
Obbligato
A prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music.
Three against two
The effect of three notes played against two.
Augmentation
An increase in the length of notes.
Diminuation
A decrease in the length of notes.
Basso continuo
In the Baroque period, the basso continuo consists of a single bass line (for example, a cello) with a keyboard part (for example, a harpsichord) filling in the harmonies The basso continuo supports one or more melody lines.
This example features a solo flute and basso continuo (cello and harpsichord).
Through composed
A vocal piece in which there is little or no repetition of the music.
Concerto Grosso
A small group of soloists (concertino) contrasts with a larger group of instrumentalists (ripieno.)
The concerto grosso developed in the baroque period.
Ritornello
Ritornello means a theme which returns frequently throughout a piece.
In a concerto grosso, the ritornello is the main, recurring theme played by the ripieno. The ritornello may return frequently throughout the movement.
Passacaglia
Variations over a ground bass.
Lied
A German song from the romantic period for voice and piano in which both parts are important.
Da capo Aria
An Aria in ternary form used in opera and oratorio. The 3rd section was not written out and was often ornamented.
Harmonics
A high eerie sound produced on a string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain points.
Harmonics can be played on any instrument with strings for example
violin, guitar and harp.
Tremolando
Literally “trembling.” Rapid repetition of a note (string instrument) or rapid alteration of two notes (any instrument.)
Coloratura
High, florid singing involving elaborate ornamentation of a melody.
Ripieno, Concertino
Ripieno: The main group of ensemble instruments in a concerto grosso.
Concertino: The small group of solo instrumentalists in a concerto grosso.
Sting Quartet
Two violins, a viola and a cello
Sonata
A work for solo piano, or solo instrument and piano, often in three movements.
Exposition
The first section of a movement in sonata form.
