Vocabulary Flashcards

1
Q

answer

A

the 2nd statement of the main theme in a fugue

usually in the dominant key

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2
Q

art song

A

poem set to music

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3
Q

atonal

A

deliberately avoids establishing a tonal center

usually results in many unresolved dissonances

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4
Q

augmentation

A

thematic material presented in longer time values

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5
Q

ballet

A

highly stylized type of dance that often interprets a story

first developed in the 17th c. at the court of Louis XIV

flourished in the 19th c. Russian court

many significant composers: Tchaikovsky, Stravinsky, Debussy, Prokofiev

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6
Q

Baroque

A

from Portuguese “barroco” meaning “irregularly shaped or misshapen pearl”

first used as a derogatory term in reference to the overly ornate art of the era

now applied to art, architecture, music of 17th-early 18thc

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7
Q

basso continuo

A

two performers - one playing the notated bass line, one realizing the harmonies, usu on harpsichord or organ

provides harmonic framework

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8
Q

bel canto

A

“beautiful singing”

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9
Q

choreography

A

the art of designing the dance steps and movements in a ballet or musical

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10
Q

chromatic harmony

A

from Greek word khroma, meaning “color”

Chromatic harmonies represent a group of chords or sounds based on notes from outside of the key in which a work is written

ex: half-diminished 7th chord of “Tristan und Isolde: Prelude”

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11
Q

clavier

A

German for kybd instruments other than organ

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12
Q

concerto

A

popular instrumental genre of Baroque era for soloist(s) and orchestra

generally in three movements: fast - slow - fast

frequently employed ritornello form

intended to showcase virtuosity of the soloist(s)

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13
Q

counterpoint

A

combination of two or more independent melodic lines

also referred to as “polyphonic texture”

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14
Q

countersubject

A

a recurring countermelody

accompanies entries of the subject, answer

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15
Q

episode

A

passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present

frequently sequential

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16
Q

equal temperament

A

method of tuning keyboard instruments

8ve divided into 12 equal half-steps

facilitated composition and performance of music in all keys

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17
Q

expanded tonality

A

chromatic harmonies are used to destabilize the sense of tonality, but the music still remains connected to its tonal center

Stravinsky - “Rite of Spring”

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18
Q

fanfare

A

a loud ceremonial tune or flourish that features brass instruments

“Short Ride in a Fast Machine”, aka “Fanfare for Great Woods”

compare Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man”

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19
Q

figured bass

A

musical shorthand developed in the Baroque era

numbers below the bass line to show harmonic progression

performed or realized by basso continuo

provides structure for guided improvisation

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20
Q

fugue

A

highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition

single theme or subject prevails

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21
Q

hemiola

A

a temporary shift of the metric accents
e.g. - notes grouped in 3’s are momentarily grouped in 2’s, or vice versa

“America” from ‘West Side Story’ (Bernstein)

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22
Q

idiomatic writing

A

highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing

developed in the Baroque era

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23
Q

Impressionism

A

new way of painting

conscious reaction to earlier, more formal, “learned” styles

explored the interplay of light and color…in order to create impressions of their subjects rather than literal depictions of them

24
Q

jazz

A

uniquely American idiom, originated at the beginning of the 20th c.

based on improvisation, combining elements of African, popular, and European music

ex:
Benny Goodman - “Sing, Sing, Sing”
Dizzy Gillespie - “Salt Peanuts”
Thelonious Monk - “‘Round About Midnight”

“West Side Story”, Bernstein

25
Q

lied

A

German art song (musical setting of a German poem)

for solo voice, generally w/pno accompaniment

flourished in 19th c.

ex: “Erlkonig”, “Der Wanderer” (Schubert)

Schubert wrote >600

26
Q

mazurka

A

region in Poland

Polish dance, more lively than polonaise

27
Q

minimalism

A

characterized by the repetition of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns with little variation

Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams

ex: Alexina Louie “Changes”

28
Q

modal scales

A

pattern of whole/half steps are different from major/minor scales

ex: Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian

29
Q

musical

A

play with spoken dialogue that also features musical numbers such as songs, dances, and choruses

uniquely American

similar to operettas

often feature staging that includes grand sets, elaborate costumes, and spectacular lighting

30
Q

ornamentation

A

musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line

either represented with symbols or improvised

31
Q

ostinato

A

Italian for “obstinate” or “persistent”

rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period

32
Q

pedal point

A

note or series of notes sustained through harmony changes in other parts

33
Q

pentatonic scales

A

five different pitches (= black keys)

34
Q

polytonal

A

two tonal centers are used simultaneously

35
Q

prelude

A

short kybd work in improvisatory style

often paired with fugue

36
Q

primitivism

A

effect created largely through rhythm - particularly polyrhythms - and use of strong accents and heavy syncopation, all supported by an expanded percussion section

“Rite of Spring” - Stravinsky

37
Q

programmatic writing

A

music with a descriptive element, inspired by extramusical association, like a story or painting

evolved into a significant feature of 19th-c. instrumental writing (program music)

38
Q

real answer

A

an exact transposition of the subject

39
Q

ripieno

A

Italian for “full” or “complete”

use to denote use of full orchestra in Baroque concerto

40
Q

ritornello form

A

structure employed in 1st, 3rd movements of Baroque concerto

opening passage (ritornello) restated throughout the movement, serving as refrain

41
Q

song cycle

A

a collection of art songs United by a central theme or narrative thread; intended to be performed together

42
Q

sotto voce

A

“under the voice”

a subdued, gentle character

lowering the volume level as if to a whisper

43
Q

stretto

A

from Italian “stringere” meaning ‘to tighten’

overlapping subject entries in close succession

44
Q

subject

A

the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue

in the tonic key

45
Q

Symbolism

A

French literary movement that began in the late 19th c.

Symbolist authors sought to suggest their subject matter rather than depict it outright.

46
Q

symphonic poem

A

invented by Franz Liszt

single-movement work, generally in free form, with literary or pictorial associations drawn from an extra-musical source (poem, short story, novel, historical event, scene from nature, paint, any non-musical work of art)

47
Q

terraced dynamics

A

Baroque practice of changing volume levels abruptly

realists in stark contrast rather than gradual changed

48
Q

the Affections

A

Baroque philosophy inspired by Ancient Greek, Roman writers & orators

refers to emotional states of the soul

in Baroque music, a single “affection” or “affect” is usually projected through an entire composition or movement

49
Q

through-composed

A

durchkomponiert

the song structure does not repeat entire sections of music

50
Q

toccata

A

very fast keyboard work demonstrating a virtuosic, improvisatory character

“Prelude in B flat Major”

51
Q

tonal answer

A

a statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony

52
Q

tonality

A

key in which a composition is written, which informs characteristic sound and structure

helps create moments of tension and repose, and a sense of movement, and stability

53
Q

whole-tone scales

A

six pitches, all whole steps apart

54
Q

oratorio

A

large-scale work for soloists, chorus, orchestra

serious subject, generally based on biblical texts

consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, choruses

developed in Baroque era

55
Q

French overture

A

Baroque orchestral genre, often orch intro to opera or oratorio

developed by Jean-Baptiste Lully

generally in 2 parts:

  • 1st part – slow tempo, homophonic texture, features dotted figures
  • 2nd part – fast tempo, imitative texture
56
Q

libretto

A

text of an opera, oratorio, cantata

usually written by someone other than the composer

57
Q

recitative

A

speech-like style of singing used in operas, oratorios, cantatas

follows inflections of text, resulting in rhythmic flexibility

usually used to advance plot, storyline; moves through text quickly