Vocabulary Flashcards
answer
the 2nd statement of the main theme in a fugue
usually in the dominant key
art song
poem set to music
atonal
deliberately avoids establishing a tonal center
usually results in many unresolved dissonances
augmentation
thematic material presented in longer time values
ballet
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
Baroque
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
basso continuo
two performers - one playing the notated bass line, one realizing the harmonies, usu on harpsichord or organ
provides harmonic framework
bel canto
“beautiful singing”
choreography
the art of designing the dance steps and movements in a ballet or musical
chromatic harmony
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”
clavier
German for kybd instruments other than organ
concerto
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)
counterpoint
combination of two or more independent melodic lines
also referred to as “polyphonic texture”
countersubject
a recurring countermelody
accompanies entries of the subject, answer
episode
passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present
frequently sequential
equal temperament
method of tuning keyboard instruments
8ve divided into 12 equal half-steps
facilitated composition and performance of music in all keys
expanded tonality
chromatic harmonies are used to destabilize the sense of tonality, but the music still remains connected to its tonal center
Stravinsky - “Rite of Spring”
fanfare
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”
figured bass
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
fugue
highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition
single theme or subject prevails
hemiola
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)
idiomatic writing
highlights the unique technical capabilities of an instrument in the style of writing
developed in the Baroque era
Impressionism
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
jazz
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
lied
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
mazurka
region in Poland
Polish dance, more lively than polonaise
minimalism
characterized by the repetition of melodic, rhythmic, and harmonic patterns with little variation
Steve Reich, Philip Glass, John Adams
ex: Alexina Louie “Changes”
modal scales
pattern of whole/half steps are different from major/minor scales
ex: Dorian, Lydian, Mixolydian
musical
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
ornamentation
musical embellishment to decorate a melodic line
either represented with symbols or improvised
ostinato
Italian for “obstinate” or “persistent”
rhythmic or melodic pattern repeated for an extended period
pedal point
note or series of notes sustained through harmony changes in other parts
pentatonic scales
five different pitches (= black keys)
polytonal
two tonal centers are used simultaneously
prelude
short kybd work in improvisatory style
often paired with fugue
primitivism
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
programmatic writing
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)
real answer
an exact transposition of the subject
ripieno
Italian for “full” or “complete”
use to denote use of full orchestra in Baroque concerto
ritornello form
structure employed in 1st, 3rd movements of Baroque concerto
opening passage (ritornello) restated throughout the movement, serving as refrain
song cycle
a collection of art songs United by a central theme or narrative thread; intended to be performed together
sotto voce
“under the voice”
a subdued, gentle character
lowering the volume level as if to a whisper
stretto
from Italian “stringere” meaning ‘to tighten’
overlapping subject entries in close succession
subject
the initial statement of the main theme of a fugue
in the tonic key
Symbolism
French literary movement that began in the late 19th c.
Symbolist authors sought to suggest their subject matter rather than depict it outright.
symphonic poem
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)
terraced dynamics
Baroque practice of changing volume levels abruptly
realists in stark contrast rather than gradual changed
the Affections
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
through-composed
durchkomponiert
the song structure does not repeat entire sections of music
toccata
very fast keyboard work demonstrating a virtuosic, improvisatory character
“Prelude in B flat Major”
tonal answer
a statement of the subject in which one or more intervals is adjusted to accommodate the harmony
tonality
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
whole-tone scales
six pitches, all whole steps apart
oratorio
large-scale work for soloists, chorus, orchestra
serious subject, generally based on biblical texts
consists of recitatives, arias, ensembles, choruses
developed in Baroque era
French overture
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
libretto
text of an opera, oratorio, cantata
usually written by someone other than the composer
recitative
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
