Romantic Terms Flashcards
Exoticism in Music
Fascination with foreign lands and culture, through melody, harmony, rhythm and orchestration
Nationalism in Music
Patriotism expressed through music influenced by historical events, folk songs, dance, myths, rhythms and landscapes
Program Music
Descriptive titles identifying the connection with instrumental music
Romanticism
TBD
Lied
Musical setting of a German poem, for solo voice generally with piano accompaniment
Through Composed / Durchkomponiert
TBD
Chromaticism
Extensive use of notes outside the prevailing key signature
Polonaise
Polish dance in triple meter
Rubato
Rhythmic flexibility speeding up or slowing down
Cloches
Pitched percussion instrument rings when struck with a hammer or mallet
Col Legno
Players tap on the strings with the wooden parts of their bows
Dies Irae
Monophonic chant melody associated with funeral services
Idee Fixe
Recurring theme that unifies music in a multi movement composition in symphony fantastique - it represents the beloved
Ophicleide
Obsolute brass instrument preceding the tuba
Portamento
A technique of sliding smoothly from one note to the next; originally a vocal technique
Aria
Solo song heard in an opera, oratorio or cantata
Habanera
Cuban dance song in 2/4, with a rhythmic motive often used as an obstinato
Prelude in Opera
Orchestral work serving as an introduction to an opera
Recitative
Vocal passage of narrative text that is sung with natural rhythms of speech
Pentatonic Scale
Scale consisting of five different pitches common in European and Asian cultures
Verismo
Opera style that became popular in Italy. Story lines project a gritty realism which usually culminates in a violent ending. Puccini mastered this style.
Whole Tone Scale
Non-traditional scale with six different pitches all spaced a whole tone apart
