Music Terms Flashcards
What is the term for a very quiet piece of music?
Pianissimo (pp)
What is the term for a quiet piece of music?
Piano (p)
What is the term for a moderately quiet piece of music?
Mezzo-piano (mp)
What is the term for a medium-loud piece of music?
Mezzo-forte (mf)
What is the term for a loud piece of music?
Forte (f)
What is the term for a very loud piece of music?
Fortissimo (ff)
What is the Italian term for slow pace?
Adagio
What is the Italian term for medium pace?
Andante
What is the Italian term for fast pace?
Allegro
What is the term for a piece of music getting slower?
Rallentando
What is the term for a piece of music getting faster?
Accelerando
What is the term for a piece of music getting quieter?
Diminuendo
What is the term for a piece of music getting louder?
Crescendo
What is the term for something being played suddenly?
Sforzando
What are the two tonalities of a piece?
Major and Minor
What is Ragtime?
Often played on piano. Features a strongly syncopated melody (meaning the notes don’t always fall on the beat)
What is Rondo?
A B A C A … A form where the first section (A) keeps returning, in between different sections
What is Con sordino?
Mute
What is a Coda?
A passage at the end of a piece of music which rounds it off effectively
What is a Modulation?
A complete change in key
What is a Strophic?
A song which has the same music repeated for verses/choruses
What is Contrary Motion?
Going up and down in pitch at the same time
What is a Descant?
Tune above the singer
What is an Ornament?
An ornament decorates a melody by adding extra notes
What is a Discord?
A chord in which certain notes clash. Sounds unpleasant
What is Syncopation?
Strongly accented notes playing off or against the beat. Notes coming in when unexpected
What is Minimalist?
Simple rhythmic and melodic figures which are constantly repeated with very slight changes each time
What is a Cluster?
A group of notes, which clash, played together
What is Atonal?
No feeling of key. It is not major or minor
What is an Aria?
A solo sung in an operatic style
What is a Chromatic?
12 half-steps
What is Arco?
String players using a bow
What is Canon?
Like repetition. Once one part begins to play, an
