Musical Terms Flashcards
Allegro
Fast tempo; not as fast as presto
Alto
The singing range between tenor and soprano
Andante
Moderate tempo
Aria
A solo in an opera
Baroque
Predominantly 17th century movement characterized by flourish and ornamentation
Bass
Lowest make vocal range
Buffo
A comic operatic bass vocalist
Chord
Two or more notes played simultaneously
Coda
The conclusion of a piece
Concerto
A classical piece written for an orchestra; most often in three movements
Consonance
Comfort brought about in tone or playing
Contralto
Lowest female vocal range
Crescendo
To gradually become louder
Diminuendo
To gradually become softer in tone
Dissonance
Discord brought about in tone or playing
Étude
A musical piece written to display a specific talent or technique
Forte
Loud volume
Fortissimo
Extremely loud in volume
Grave
Extremely slow and moody
Largo
Extremely slow tempo
Lento
Slower tempo
Libretto
The text of an opera
Madrigal
Musical piece utilizing poetry and stanzas
Mezzo forte
Moderately loud volume
Mezzo piano
Moderately soft volume
Nocturne
A composition, especially for a piano, of slow or dreamy natures.
Oratorio
Religious music composed for orchestras, choruses, and soloists.
Pianissimo
Exceptionally soft in volume
Piano
Soft in volume
Polyphony
With two or more lines of melody
Presto
A very fast tempo
Rondo
A musical piece of alternating and contrasting themes
Soprano
Highest female vocal range
Sonata
A piece of music written for more than one soloist; has three or more movements
Staccato
The playing or singing of tones and chords marked by short, clear-cut sounds.
Symphony
A musical composition for a full orchestra
Tempo
The speed of the music
Tenor
Highest adult male vocal range
Timbre
The quality that allows tones to be discerned from each other.
Vivace
Up-tempo and upbeat
Adagio
Slow tempo; a slow movement
