Musical forms Flashcards
lively Bohemian or Polish dance in 2/4, with the first 3 eighth notes accented, and the 4th unaccented
polka(similar form is Schottische)
type of suite written for various small instrumental combinations and intended for outdoor performance
divertimento(also cassation, serenade)
a short fugue
fughetta
German art-song. Characterized by effective union of the music with the words
lied
a piece of music for singing. Now the term usually refers to a sacred or secular work for soloists, chorus and orchestra
cantata
usually, a piece written to display rapidity of execution on a keyboard instrument. It is written in rhapsodic style, and resembles the fantasia
toccata
large form used as the first movement of sonatas, symphonies, quartets, and the like, and separately as an overture
sonata-allegro
widely popular dance from Argentina. Main characteristic is the heavy accent on the fourth beat or after-beat of four
tango
1) in fugal works, first section of the work in which the subject is stated by each voices in turn
2) first large section of a sonata-allegro
exposition
name applied by Mozart and others to some serenades, or suites, for various instrumentations, probably intended for outdoor performance
cassation(also divertimento, serenade)
Italian for joke. Movement in sonatas, symphonies, quartets, and the like, which replaces the minuet.
scherzo
romantic variant of the symphony, breaking down the separation into movements, and incorporating elements of descriptive or program music
symphonic poem, tone poem
characteristic Brazilian dance form with rolling rhythm and a strong feeling of two to the bar
samba
in a fugue, statement of the subject by all voices in a different order of appearance from that of the exposition
repercussion
recent addition to the Latin American dance group. An outstanding characteristic is the strong accent on 2 and 4 in a 2 bar pattern.
mambo
1) sonata for three instruments
2) second large division of a minuet, scherzo, or march
trio
pieces of music constructed by presenting the same musical idea in several successive treatments, preserving the outlines of the original idea
variation form
rapid dance in 3/4 with an upbeat of one beat. occasionally used as an optional movement in a suite
passepied
1) any kind of polyphony
2) modern usage, countermelody superimposed above the principal melody of a chorale
descant
rapid Italian dance in 6/8
tarantelle, tarantella
Note: called either because it originated in Taranto, or because the dance was regarded as a specific remedy for the bite of the tarantula
originated in Cuba. fundamental rhythmic pattern is played by the piano, bass and bass drum
rhumba. Guaracha is variety of rhumba which receives two eighth note accents on beat 4
musical composition designed to produce orderliness and spirit in the movement of troops, or to provide music for the accompaniment of processions
march
classic dance in 6/8 or 12/8 in rapid tempo. The second part usually begins with the inversion of the main theme
gigue
additional Latin American Dance forms
conga, son, calypso
music usually written in 4/4 or cut time played by a modern dance band for ballroom dancing
fox trot
in opera, oratorio, and other extended dramatic works a style of writing which imitates the effects of spoken language, without much regard to melody or to rhythmic regularity
recitative
composition for 2 or more voice-parts, in which each of the parts in turn presents the identical melody(called the subject) in a way dictated by the first voice
canon - strictest form of contrapuntal forms
an old english name for a group of instruments playing together. early stage in the development of the orchestra and chamber music
consort
same instruments=whole consort
wind and strings=broken consort
classic dance of spanish origin in slow 3/4 with the second beat accented or lengthened
sarabande
resembles the motive to the extent that it is a short group of notes. It differs from the motive, however, in that it serves only a subsidiary purpose, as an accompaniment.
figure
1) a set of dances: allemande, courante, sarabande, gigue, but frequently having an introductory movement and interpolating other dances
2) a set of pieces for open air performance
3) a set of pieces made up of theatrical music
suite
a solo song, occurring in an opera, oratorio or cantata which develops a dramatic, lyric, or emotional high point in the work. This does not advance the action of the plot
aria
secular polyphonic vocal composition which flourished in Italy and England during the last part of the 16th and into the 17th century.
madrigal
characterized by the use of a host of unusual percussion instruments
Latin American dance forms
old dance in duple meter originating in southern France and occasionally used in the suite, or as an independent number
rigaudon
polyphonic choral composition setting Latin religious words other than those of the mass
motet
name given to various kinds of composition which agree in being free in style
fantasia
literally, a trifle. the name was applied by beethoven and others to short piano pieces, usually in song form
bagatelle
in the sonata allegro, the section between the exposition and the recapitulation
development
piece in free style, as though improvised
impromptu. likely to be a song form or a small rondo in spite of its name
German hymn developed by Martin Luther
chorale
Cuban 4/4 entirely different from the original Spanish 3/4. Cuban variety is used in modern ballrooms
bolero
classic dance in 4/4, moderately fast, usually with an eighth note upbeat. means “german dance”
allemande
1) in fugues, the section which prepares for the close of the work
2) in the sonata form, the section which follows the development and brings the movement to the close
recapitulation
large work for soloist with orchestra
concerto
piece of sacred choral music used in the service of Protestant churches, sung by the choir, rather than by the congregation
anthem
in a fugal work, an interlude between statements of the subject
episode
lively Polish dance in 3/4 or 3/8 with emphasis on the 2nd or 3rd beat
mazurka
interruption to the movement of music, usually at the end of a phrase
cadence
fanciful or irregular sort of composition written in free style, resembling the fantasia
caprice, capriccio
small sonata, with less elaborate treatment of thematic material than in the sonata
sonatina
piece of sacred music, resembling an oratorio, based on the last events in the life of Christ, and derived from the custom in some churches of devoting four days of Holy Week to the reading of the story of Christ’s life form the various gospels
passion
literally, an obstinate bass. variation form in which a bass-line repeats with changing harmonies and melodies above
basso ostinato
set of variations derived from a ground bass 4 or 8 measures long, usually in triple meter. Originally dances of Spanish origin
chaconne or passacaglia
in a fugue, statements in the dominant
answers
large form in several movements, each of which is also likely to be a large form
sonata
an interlude; a piece of instrumental music between the acts of an opera
intermezzo
small group of solo instruments is set against a larger body of accompanying instruments
concerto grosso
name used by Bach to describe a set of 15 keyboard pieces in two parts, written for the training of his sons in composition as well as performance
invention
a transition, bridge passage, or extension which occurs as the final event in a development setion
retransition
lively dance in 2/4
galop
dance in triple meter which developed from a German peasant dance, the Landler
waltz
1) a simple song
2) a narrative poem set to music
3) a piano piece, orchestral or choral work which is patterned after the above definition
ballad, ballade
another name for suite, but usually referring to a rather elaborate suite, introduced by a movement not in dance rhythm
partita
two different variation forms
1) ground-bass variations
2) theme with variations
1) a piece played as an introduction to another
2) any short piece in rather free style
prelude
passage in fugal style appearing in a non-fugal composition
fugato
one of the most important of musical forms, uniting the poet, actor, staege-crafter and costume with the composer
opera
type of imitation, frequent in fugues, in which the follower begins the imitation while the first statement is in progress. Serves to produce increased tension or excitement.
stretto
a composition usually for a fixed number of voices, either vocal or instrumental, in which a melodic idea, or subject, is treated by imitation in all the voices, and in which the imitative sections are separated by episodes
fugue
observance of the Eucharist in certain churches
mass
vocal music, uniting words with melody
song
classic dance in rapid tempo(3/4 or 6/4) with an upbeat of one quarter note or 3 eighth notes
courante
extended sonata for full orchestra
symphony
Synonym for cassation, divertimento
serenade
dramatic work for soloists, chorus and orchestra, the libretto of which concerns a sacred subject
oratorio - not meant to be acted on stage
large form made by the contrast of a main theme with one or more contrasting subordinate themes
rondo
name the 6 parts of mass(in order)
Kyrie eleison - Gloria - Credo - Sanctus - Benedictus - Agnus Dei
dance consisting of two lively strains in 4/4, usually with an upbeat of 2 quarter notes
gavotte
musette: gavotte over a drone bass(bagpipes)
dance popular in Europe from 1650 to the 19th century. 3/4 in moderate tempo
minuet
elaboration of a chorale melody for organ, used in the Lutheran service as a prelude to the singing of the chorale by the congregation
chorale prelude
style of solo song in opera or oratorio, resembling recitative and aria
arioso
piece written for the practice of some particular technical difficulty
etude
1) orchestral introduction to an opera, oratorio or cantata
2) piece of keyboard or orchestral music patterned after the first definition, but intended for independent performance
overture
stately Polish dance in 3/4, with each of the beast normally divided into two eighth notes, but with the last half of the first beat divided into 2 sixteenth notes. There is an important secondary stress on the second beat
polonaise
fugue with two subjects
double fugue
when a motive is used sequentially in a florid manner, or dissolves into a scale or arpeggio figure for the sake of brilliance
passage
