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