Music Terms Flashcards
Song that is written to capture the essence of a scene, paint a picture by sound, and help the listener create a visual image
Art song
A choral setting of the mass that contains 5 sections: kyrie, Gloria, credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei
Mass
Composition in several movements for orchestra and chorus often with a sacred text and utilizing recitatives, arias, and choruses
Cantata
A polyphonic composition for choir based on a sacred Latin text and typically sung without accompaniment
Motet
A theatrical presentation with drama set to music
Opera
Grand in scale and tragic in tone. Highly stylized treatment of heroic subjects such as gods and heros
Grand opera
Comic opera that usually does not have spoken dialogue and typically uses satire to treat a serious topic with humor
Opera buffa
A slime-dramatic work, without acting, scenery or costumes, often on a religious theme, for orchestra, choir and soloist
Oratorio
An independent composition foe orchestra in one movement typically in a sonata form and from the romantic period
Concert overture
An extended composition foe orchestra and one or more soloist typically in three movements s fast-slow-fast
Concerto
Music written for one musician with or without accompaniment
Solo
Music written for two musicians with or without accompaniment
Duet
Music written for three musicians with or without accompaniment
Trio
Music written for 4 musicians with or without accompaniment
Quartet
Music written for 5 musicians with or without accompaniment
Quintet
Music written for 6 musicians with or without accompaniment
Sextet
Music written for 7 musicians with or without accompaniment
Septet
Music written for 8 musicians with or without accompaniment
Octet
Any arrangement of musicians usually more than 4
Ensemble
A large instrumental ensemble divided into sections such as strings wood winds brass and percussion. The section of seats on the ground floor of the auditorium directly in front of the stage
Orchestra
An instrumental piece usually in three or four movements and usually for one or two players
Sonata
An instrumental composition typically in two parts arising form the Baroque period and comprising a set of dance-inspired movements written in the same key but differing in tempo meter and chapter
Suite
An extended musical composition for orchestra usually consisting of three of four movements
Symphony
A polyphonic composition in which a theme or themes are stated successfully in all voices
Fugue
The dominant ide of a work of art, music, dance, and literature. In music a principle melodic phrase in a composition
Theme
Vibrations that travel through the atmosphere and cause the eardrum to vibrat
Sound