Terms Flashcards
A Cappella
Nat 5
Unaccompanied choral singing.
A Tempo
Nat 4
An instruction to return to the speed that was played before before the tempo changed.
AB
Nat 5
Two-part form - music in two sections. A then B. These sections may be repeated.
ABA
Nat 4
Three-part form - Music in three sections: section A, then B, then back to A.
Accelerando
Nat 4
The tempo (speed) of the music gradually becomes faster.
Accented
Nat 3
Accented notes are notes which sound louder than others. They are marked with a > sign above or above the note.
Accidental
Nat 5
A sign added to a note to change the pitch.
Accompanied
Nat 3
Other instrument(s) or voice(s) supports the main melody.
Accordion
Nat 3
An instrument with a key keyboard played with the right hand and buttons (which play chords) pressed by the left hand. The player pushes and pulls the two sides to operate the bellows. It is also known as a squeeze box.
Acoustic Guitar
Nat 3
The acoustic guitar is a string instrument that is played by plucked or strumming the strings with fingers, or using a plectrum. It has six strings and the hallow body amplifies the sound of the vibrating strings. An acoustic guitar does not need electricity to produce the sound.
Adagio
Nat 3
A slow tempo (sound), approximately 66-76 beats per minute.
African Music
Nat 4
Music from Africa.
Much African music features voices and/or African drums.
Alberti Bass
Nat 5
Broken chords played by the left hand outlining harmonies whilst the right hand plays the melody. Classical composers such as Haydn and Mozart used this technique extensively in their piano music. The chord is played in the order: low - high - middle - high.
Allegro
Nat 3
A fast tempo (speed), approximately 120-168 beats per minute.
Alto
Nat 4
The lowest female voice.
Anacrusis
Nat 4
The notes which appear before the first strong beat of a musical phrase, particularly at the the start of a piece. An anacrusis sounds upbeat.
Andante
Nat 4
A tempo at a walking speed, approximately 76-108 beats per minute.
Answer
Nat 3
A short musical phrase that follows on from a ‘question’ phrase. The phrases are usually the same length and often have similar note values.
Arch
Nat 5
Instruction given to string players to use a bow. This term might be given to players after a passage using pizzicato.
Aria
Nat 5
A solo song sung in an operatic style, in an opera, oratorio or cantata, with orchestral accompaniment.
Arpeggio
Nat 4
Notes of a chord played one after the other.
Ascending
Nat 3
Ascending notes rise in pitch. Notes can ascend by LEAP or STEPWISE.
Atonal
Nat 5
Atonal music has no feeling of key, major or minor. It is very dissonant, and it will a ‘nice’ melody and accompaniment. Atonal music is a feature of some 20th-century music.
