Music Terms Flashcards
A Cappella:
Singing without any form of instrumental accompaniment.
Absolute Pitch:
Ability to determine the exact pitch of a note as played on a musical instrument just by listening to it
Accelerando:
A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo.
Accent:
Giving a particular note or phrase more stress than the ones before or after it. Italics do it in print, accents do it in singing. To be effective in solo singing, accents must usually be subtle.
Accidentals:
Any of various signs that indicate the alteration of a note by one or two semitones or the cancellation of a previous sign.
Accompaniment:
Music that is played as background to a solo singer or lead instrumentalist
Accompanist:
A pianist who plays music beneath the singing.
Adagio:
A tempo having slow movement; restful at ease.
Allegro:
Lively and quick tempo
Alto:
Lowest female voice part in a choir group
Andante:
Meaning a walking tempo or walking pace; a moderate speed.
Art Song:
In classical music, a song not from an opera, but sung in classical style. Art songs
were created primarily for concerts.
Articulation:
The formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech.
Atonal:
Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.
Ballad:
A slow tempo, sentimental or romantic song.
Attack:
Describes the process of a singer first hitting a note, as in “his attack on that high C was too harsh,” or “her attack at the beginning of the song was very gentle.”
Bar:
A specific number of musical sounds that are organized within a measure, and that are contained within two solid lines called bar lines.
Baritone:
The male mid-range singing voice between bass and tenor, with a range that extends from the second G below middle C to the first G above middle C.
Bass:
The lowest of the male singing voice, with a range of the second E below middle C to the first E above middle. In serious or dramatic opera, low voices usually suggest age and wisdom; in comic opera, they are generally used for old characters.
Bass Clef:
A symbol placed on the fourth line of a staff to indicate that the fourth line of the staff corresponds to the F next below middle C; F clef.
Baton:
A short stick that the conductor uses to lead the orchestra or choir.
Beat:
Regular pattern of musical rhythm within a bar or measure.
Belting:
Originally a term applied to female voices only: “This is a loud, driving sound that is produced by pushing the natural chest register beyond its normal limits. Although the original terminology didn’t include men, male singers can also belt.
Blend:
In solo singing, the smooth transition between the head and chest voice.
