Music terms Flashcards
a cappella
Style of singing without any instruments accompanying the voice(s)
accelerando
gradually speeding up
accent
Marking placed on a note to indicate significance
adgio
slow speed for a song
allegretto
moderately fast speed for a song
allegro
fast speed for a song
altissimo
very high range of notes
alto
Lowest boy’s/woman’s vocal range
adante
Relaxed speed for a song, like walking
appoggiatura
Grace notes that take some of the following note’s duration
arpeggio
notes of chord played individually
a tempo
indicates to return to the original speed of the song
bass
Lowest male vocal range (or) tones of low frequency. Opposite of treble
beat
continued rhythm of a song
bend
Sliding a note up or down a little in jazz
brass
Instruments like trumpets, tubas, and trombones
bridge
Section of a song that differs from the refrain or verse
cadenza
solo section of a song
canon
Musical theme that is repeated and layered
carol
a festive, usually religiouss song
chord
groups of notes played simultaneously
clef
Symbol on the staff to define note range (for example, G clef, bass clef)
coda
final section of a song
coloratura
ornamentation of a vocal part
contralto
lowest female vocal range
countertenor
highest male vocal range
crescendo
gradually increasing the volume
decelerando
gradually slowing down
decrescendo
gradually decreasing the volume
dirge
A song expressing grief; commonly heard at funerals
dynamics
indications of volume in a song
encore
Another song played at the end of a concert by request
falsetto
Vocal range above the normal, especially in men
fermata
Marking to indicate holding a note longer than usual