Terms And Definitions

Question 1

Motive

Answer 1

Short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melody or a theme

Question 2

Folk song

Answer 2

Music passed down through oral tradition rather than written down, composers usually unknown.

Question 3

Musical

Answer 3

A play featuring musical numbers, spectacular sets, songs, dances and choruses, costumes and lighting

Question 4

Arch form

Answer 4

A sectional structure, based on repetition in reverse order (like ABCBA)

Question 5

Impressionism in music

Answer 5

Suggests images rather than directly depicting, reflecting the French artistic movement. Features use of while note, modal, pentatonic scales and parallel chords, innovative orchestral colours, individual treatment of instruments, muted instruments and the obscuring of the metric pulse.

Question 6

The Affections

Answer 6

Refers to the emotional state of the soul. In Baroque music, a single “affection”, one clear emotion, is usually projected through an entire composition or movement.

Question 7

Classicism

Answer 7

Pertains to the highest level of excellence with timeless quality and an emphasis on symmetry, balance, and proportion.

Question 8

Sonata cycle

Answer 8

A three or four movement structure in Classical Era instrumental music, each movement is in a prescribed tempo and form.

Question 9

Da capo aria

Answer 9

Lyric song in ternary ABA form, commonly found in operas, cantatas, and oratorios

Question 10

Rounded binary

Answer 10

Compositional form with two sections in which the second ends with a return to material from the first; each section is usually repeated

Question 11

Theme and variations

Answer 11

A compositional procedure in which a theme is stated and then altered in successive statements; changes can be made to melody harmony, rhythm or orchestration

Question 12

Pedal point

Answer 12

Sustained tone over which harmonies change.

Question 13

Habanera

Answer 13

Moderate duple meter dance of Cuban origin, based on a characteristic rhythmic figure

Question 14

Through composed

Answer 14

Durchkomponiert
A song structure that is composed from beginning to end, without repetitions of large sections. The melody, harmony, and piano accompaniment are able to reflect the meaning of the text.

Question 15

Portamento

Answer 15

Italian for carrying, a technique of sliding smoothly from one note to the next originally a vocal technique, used by Nerlioz as an instrumental technique

Question 16

Ophicleide

Answer 16

Predecessor of the tuba, now obsolete

Question 17

Verismo

Answer 17

Operatic realism which tried to bring naturalism into the lyric theatre, often with a violent ending

Question 18

Col legno

Answer 18

Italian for “with the wood” unique string effect invented by Berlioz. Players tap the strings with the wooden parts of their bows.

Question 19

Cyclical structure

Answer 19

A structure in which musical material, such as a theme presented in one movement, returns in a later movement.

Question 20

Drone

Answer 20

Sustained sounding of one or several tones for harmonic support

Question 20

French overture

Answer 20

Baroque orchestral work in two parts, slow-fast, often used to introduce an opera or oratorio, also known as tutti.

Question 20

Stretto

Answer 20

Overlapping entries of the subject or answer in close succession

Question 20

Rocket theme

Answer 20

Quickly ascending rhythmic melody; used in Classical era instrumental music. Credited to composers in Mannheim, Germany

Question 20

Exposition

Answer 20

In sonata allegro form, in which the first section in which the major thematic material is used

Question 21

Rondo form

Answer 21

Musical form, in which the first section recurs, usually in the tonic. In Classical music multimovement style, it appears as the last movement in various forms including ABACA ABCABA

Question 22

Development

Answer 22

Structural reshaping of thematic material, the second section of sonata allegro form which moves through a series of foreign keys while themes from the expositions are manipulated

Question 23

Recapitulation

Answer 23

The third section of the sonata allegro form in which the thematic material of the exposition is restated, generally in the tonic.

Question 24

Ternary form, parts?

Answer 24

A, statement
B, contrast or departure
C, repetition

Question 25

Scherzo and trio

Answer 25

Italian for jest or joke. A compositional procedure in which the theme is stated and then altered in successive statements, changes can be made to melody, harmony rhythm, orchestration

Question 26

Countersubject

Answer 26

A recurring melody that accompanies entries of the subject and answer