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GCSE MUSIC > Musical Terms > Flashcards

Musical Terms Flashcards

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1
Q

Accent

A

An emphasis or ‘punch’ at the beginning of a musical sound

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2
Q

Adagio

A

Slow tempo, sometimes the name of a work like Mozart’s Adagio for Violin and Orchestra.

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3
Q

Andante

A

Walking tempo; a moderate speed

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4
Q

Bar/Measure

A

A specific number of musical sounds that are organised within a measure, and that are contained within two solid lines called bar lines

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5
Q

Beat/Pulse

A

Regular pattern within a bar or measure

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6
Q

Cadenza

A

An extended solo for the soloist in a concerto

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7
Q

Chord

A

When two or more notes or pitches are sounded simultaneously a chord is created

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8
Q

Concerto

A

A work for one performer or a group of performers with orchestral accompaniment

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9
Q

Crescendo

A

Meaning growing, swelling of sound, becoming louder

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10
Q

Decrescendo/Diminuendo

A

Getting softer; the opposite of a crescendo

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11
Q

Dolce

A

To be performed sweetly/delicately

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12
Q

Downbeat

A

The first bar in a measure as conducted by the leader of an ensemble is called the downbeat

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13
Q

Ensemble

A

1) a group of musicians playing together like an orchestra or a string quartet;
2) the actual act of playing as a unit, or performing together

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14
Q

Fanfare

A

A musical work used as an announcement, often played by the brass section of the orchestra or a single instrumentalist like a trumpet

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15
Q

Fermata

A

A symbol that tells the performer to hold the note as long as they would like, but certainly longer then the written note value

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16
Q

Flat

A

Lowers the note but a half-step

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17
Q

Form

A

The shape or organisation of a musical composition

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18
Q

Forte

A

Loud or strong

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19
Q

Fortissimo

A

Louder than forte

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20
Q

Half-step

A

A musical interval equivalent to 1/12 of an octave

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21
Q

Harmony

A

The simultaneous combination of pitches, especially when blended into chords that are pleasing to the ear

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22
Q

Instrumentation

A

Also called orchestration; it is the way the composer or arranger takes musical sounds and assigns them to specific instruments

23
Q

Key

A

A group of pitches based on a particular tonic, and comprising scale, regarded as forming the tonal basis of a piece or section of music

24
Q

Larghetto

A

Usually slightly faster then largo

25
Q

Largo

A

Meaning wide, broad; a tempo meaning to be performed quite slowly

26
Q

Major (when referring to a chord)

A

When the chord has three musical pitches with the space between the fist and the secon point he’s being 4 half-steps, and the distance between the second and the third being 3 half-steps.

27
Q

Major (when referring to a key)

A

The central tonality upon which a work or movement is constructed, and will usually use the same tonic chord as the ‘destination’ chord of the composition (happy)

28
Q

Measure

A

A measurement of time in music that contains a specific number of pulses defined by a time signature, and that is contained within bar lines

29
Q

Melody

A

An identifiable succession of musical sounds

30
Q

Minor (when referring to to a chord)

A

When the chord has three different pitches and the distance between the first and second pitch is 3 half-steps and the distance between the second and third pitch is 4 half-steps.

31
Q

Minor (when referring to a key)

A

When minor refers to key, it is the central tonality upon which a work or movement is constructed, and will usually use the same tonic chord as the central chord. (Sad)

32
Q

Molto vivace

A

Very lively, or at a very quick speed

33
Q

Motif

A

An identifiable succession of musical sounds, but shorter than a complete melody

34
Q

Movement

A

A large unit within a symphony or concerto. It usually is comprised of many themes or musical ideas

35
Q

Notes

A

Symbols to represent sounds or pitches and duration of those sounds

36
Q

Octave

A

The interval between two musical notes, the upper one of which has twice the pitch of the lower note. (Eg, from note middle c-c)

37
Q

Pianissimo

A

Softer than piano

38
Q

Piano

A

Gently, soft

39
Q

Pitch

A

The frequency of a note depending how high or low it sounds.

40
Q

Piu

A

More, (e.g, piu piano = more softly)

41
Q

Resolution

A

A group of chords can create harmonic tension. When this tension is released with a calm chord, or a chord without tension, it is ‘resolved’ and is thus called a resolution

42
Q

Scale

A

An ordered succession of adjacent pitches, arranged in a sequence of whole and half-steps, for example the major or minor scales

43
Q

Sempre

A

Always. (For example, sempre forte would mean always loud)

44
Q

Sempre piu

A

Always More.

45
Q

Sforzando

A

Forcefully, usually accented

46
Q

Sharp

A

When a sharp symbol is added to a note it raises it by a half-step.

47
Q

Solo

A

For one player (musician), or to be played alone.

48
Q

Step

A

A musical interval between pitches compromising two half-steps

49
Q

Symphonic form

A

The structure of a work for large ensemble

50
Q

Tempo

A

The rate of speed of a musical work

51
Q

Theme

A

The most important melody at any specific time in a musical work. There can be one main theme in a work, or many themes

52
Q

Tonality

A

The organisation of all the tones and harmonies of a piece of music in relation to a tonic

53
Q

Tonic

A

A pitch that is the first degree of a major or minor scale and the tonal center of a piece composed in a particular key

54
Q

Upbeat

A

The preparatory sign given prior to the first beat in a bar

GCSE MUSIC (1 decks)

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