Terms Flashcards
Baroque Era
From the Portuguese barroco;
a musical era from around 1600-1750.
figured bass
A musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era, where instead of notes, numbers are placed below the bass line to tell the basso continuo what chords(harmonies) to play.
basso continuo
Baroque performance practice;
Generally involves 2 performers: one plays the bass line, one plays the harmonies indicated by the figured bass.
Instruments generally used are the cello and harpsichord or organ(keyboard).
the Affections
In Baroque music, a single emotion is projected through an entire composition or movement.
homophonic texture
Baroque
polyphonic texture
A combination of two or more independent melodic lines played together.
Baroque
ornamentation
Musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line.
terraced dynamics
Baroque practice of changing dynamics abruptly.
concerto
Popular instrumental genre in the Baroque era for soloist and orchestra, and is used to show the virtuosity of the soloists. Frequently employs ritornello form.
In 3 movements: fast-slow-fast
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
ritornello form
A recurring theme re-stated throughout the first and third movement of the baroque concerto. Ripieno plays.
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
ripieno
Use of the full orchestra in a Baroque concerto.
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
ostinato
A rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period.
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
pedal point
A note or a series of notes are sustained through harmony changes in other parts.
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
idiomatic writing
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
programmatic writing
Music with a descriptive element inspired by a story or painting.
Ex. Spring (La Primavera)
equal temperament
A method of tuning keyboard instruments where the octave is divided into 12 equal half-steps.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
clavier
The German word for keyboard instruments other than the organ.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
prelude
A short keyboard work that is often paired with a Fugue(before the Fugue).
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
fugue
A highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition where a single theme or subject prevails.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
counterpoint
A combination of two or more independent melodic lines played together. Also known as polyphonic texture.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
subject
The first statement of the main theme of a fugue.
Usually in the tonic key.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
answer
The second statement of the main theme of a fugue.
Usually in the dominant key.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
real answer
An exact transposition of the subject.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
tonal answer
A statement of the subject, but one or more interval is adjusted to accommodate the harmony.
Ex. Prelude and Fugue in B flat Major
