N5/4/3 Revision Concepts Flashcards
A Cappella
Unaccompanied choral singing
A Tempo
The music returns to the main tempo (speed) after there has been a change
AB
Two-part form - music in two sections: A then B. These sections may be repeated
ABA
Three-part form - music in three sections: ABA. The B section is ‘sandwiched’ in the middle
Accelerando
The music gradually becomes faster
Accordian
An instrument often called a “squeeze box” - see Scottish dance band
Acoustic Guitar
A 6 stringed guitar sometimes called a Spanish guitar which does not been an electric amplifier to produce the sound
African Music
Much African music features voices and/or African drums
Alberti Bass
Broken chords played by the left hand outlining the harmonies whilst the right hand plays the melody. Classical composers like Haydn & Mozart used this extensively in their piano music
Alberti Bass
Broken chords played by the left hand outlining the harmonies whilst the right hand plays the melody. Classical composers like Haydn & Mozart used this extensively in their piano music
Alto
The lowest female voice
Anacrusis
The note which appears before the first complete bar of the music - sounds like an up beat
Answer
A reply to a musical question - see question
Arco
Instruction given to string players to use a bow. Often follows a pizzicato section
Aria
A solo song sung in an operatic style, in an opera, oratorio or cantata, with orchestral accompaniment
Aroeggio
Notes of a chord played one after the other - spread out
Ascending
Notes which ride (go up) in pitch
Atonal
No feeling of key, major or minor. Very dissonant - a feature of 20th Century music
Backing Vocals
Singers who support the lead singer/s usually in harmony
Bagpipes
A musical instrument having a flexible bag inflated either by a tube with valves or by bellows, a double-reed melody pipe, and from one to four drone pipes
Baritone
A male voice which lies between that of a tenor and a bass
Baroque
Music from 1650 to 1070 like Bach and Handel
Bass Guitar
The bass guitar is pitched lower than a guitar. It is an electric string instrument and has only four strings, two fewer than an electric guitar
Bass Voice
The lowest male voice
Beat
The basic pulse you hear in music. The pulse may be in groups 2, 3, or 4 with a stress on the first in each group. See 2, 3, 4 beats in the bar
Binary
A B - it is a form in which the music is made up of two different sections where each section may be repeated
Blowing
How sound is produced by blowing across or into a mouthpiece eg. Brass, Woodwind and recorders
Blues
Started as a Black American Folk music. Often in 4/4 time with a 12 bar chord structure
Bodhran
An Irish wooden drum, held in one hand and played with a wooden beater
Bothy Ballad
A folk song, usually with many verses, from north-east Scotland
Bowing
How sound is produced by drawing a bow across the strigns of a stringed instrument
Brass Orchestra
A band of Brass instruments and percussion`
Brass Instruments (ORCHESTRAL)
Trumpet, Trombone, French Horn and Tuba
Broken Chord
The notes of a chord played seperately
Cadence
The end of a musical phrase
Cadenza
A passage of music which allows a soloist to display their technical ability. Cadenza is usually found in a Concerto
Canon
Strict imitation. After one part starts the play/sing, another part enters with exactly the same melody
Celtic Rock
A style of music that mixes Celtic Folk and Rock together
Change of Key
The music moves from one key to another
Choir
An organised group of singers
Chord
Two or more notes sounding together
Chord Progression (I, IV, V (Major Keys)
A series of related chords based on the 1st, 4th and 5th notes of the major scale
Chord Progression I, IV, V, VI (Major Keys)
A series of related chords based on the 1st, 4th, 5th and 6th notes of the major scale
Chorus
1) A group of singers with more than one voice to a part
2) The music written for these voices
3) The refrain between the verses of a song
Chromatic
Ascending or descending by half step at a time
E.g. C C# ~ D D# ~ E F ~ F# G
Clarsach
A small Scottish harp, used in folk music. Clarsach is Gaelic for harp
