Sonority/ Timbre

Question 1

Basso continuo

Answer 1

Form of accompaniment used in the Baroque period. “Continuous Bass” played by a keyboard instrument(such as a harpsichord) and another bass instrument (such as a Cello, violone* or bassoon).

*violone was an old form of the double bass.

Question 2

Pizzicato

Answer 2

Plucked

Question 3

Arco

Answer 3

Bowed

Question 4

Col legno

Answer 4

Stringed instruments. “Col legno battuto” is Italian. For “hit with the wood”.

Hit the string with the bow rather than drawing the hair of the bow across the strings.

Question 5

Con sordino

Answer 5

With use of a mute.

Abbreviated as con sord, sord or sordino.

Question 6

Sul ponticello

Answer 6

Play near the bridge ( strings) to produce a mysterious ‘glassy’ sound.

Question 7

Sul tasto

Answer 7

With the bow kept over the fingerboard so as to produce a soft thin tone.

Question 8

Double stopping

Answer 8

2 notes played at the same time

Question 9

Sotto voce

Answer 9

“Under the voice” dramatic lowering of the the volume of the instrument - not pianissimo but definitely hushed tonal quality.

Question 10

Vibrato

Answer 10

Regular pulsating change of pitch.

Question 11

Portamento

Answer 11

A pitch sliding from one note to another.