Unheard Listening Terminology

Question 1

Acapella

Answer 1

No instruments accompanying the song

Question 2

Anacrusis

Answer 2

An upbeat

Question 3

Ascending

Answer 3

Something that goes up

E.g. A scale

Question 4

Backing vocals

Answer 4

Vocals that are not singing the main melody

Question 5

Brass

Answer 5

Any instrument in the brass section

E.g. Trumpet

Question 6

Broken chords

Answer 6

A chord that’s is not played together

Question 7

Cadence

Answer 7

An end of a phrase (piece of music) -> perfect or imperfect

Question 8

Canon

Answer 8

A melody is repeated at different intervals

Polyphonic - two different melodies

Question 9

Chant

Answer 9

Unaccompanied singing

E.g religious Latin music

Question 10

Chromatic scale

Answer 10

A scale that goes up in semitones

Question 11

Counter melody

Answer 11

A melody that accompanies the main melody

Question 12

Musical

Answer 12

A play that contains acting and singing

Question 13

Off the beat

Answer 13

When the music is off the beat (syncopation)

Question 14

On the beat

Answer 14

Even music, played on the beat

Question 15

Ostinato

Answer 15

A repeated phrase of music

Question 16

Overture

Answer 16

A piece of music played at the beginning of an opera or musical to give the audience a taste of the music

Question 17

Pedal

Answer 17

A sustained note (Drone)

Question 18

Plucking

Answer 18

When you pluck a string with your finger instead of bowing it (pizzicato)

Question 19

Polyphony

Answer 19

When more than one melody is playing at once

Question 20

Reverb

Answer 20

An echo affect added to music

Question 21

Riff

Answer 21

A repeated musical phrase

Question 22

Rubato

Answer 22

Speed up and slow down

Question 23

Sprechgesang

Answer 23

Music that is half spoken and half sung

Question 24

Trill

Answer 24

When you play the note and the note above it in a quick succession

Question 25

Vibrato

Answer 25

To vibrate or shake your voice

Question 26

Word painting

Answer 26

When you use a tune or music that suits the words of the song

Question 27

ABA

Answer 27

The form- an A section followed by a contrasting B section followed by the A section again

Question 28

AB

Answer 28

The form- an A section followed by a contrasting B section

Question 29

Accelerando

Answer 29

To speed up

Question 30

Accented

Answer 30

Put an emphasis on certain notes

Question 31

Cadenza

Answer 31

A solo instrument piece within an orchestra (often improvised)

Question 32

Change of key

Answer 32

When the key changes

Question 33

Compound time

Answer 33

Any time signature with 8 on the bottom

E.g. 3 6 8 12
8 8 8 8

Question 34

Da capo aria

Answer 34

ABA- similar to ABA but the last A is shortened

Question 35

Descant

Answer 35

A high counter melody

Question 36

Diminuendo

Answer 36

Gradually gets softer

Question 37

Dotted rhythm

Answer 37

When you have dotted notes followed by short notes

Question 38

Fanfare

Answer 38

Music played on brass instruments based on triad movements

Question 39

Folk group

Answer 39

A group that sings folk songs usually accompanied by na acoustic guitar

Question 40

Glissando

Answer 40

A slide between notes

Question 41

Grace note

Answer 41

A small extra note added to a main note (ornamentation)

Question 42

Homophony

Answer 42

One melody with chords

Question 43

Imitation

Answer 43

When different instruments or voices imitate each other

Question 44

Improvisation

Answer 44

Where you make up a tune as you go along