|
|
| Word | Definition |
| Absolute | Does not tell a story |
| Alberti Bass | Bass line on piano, repeated in the left hand. |
| Allemande | German: Part of a suite, in 4/4 time, with a moderate tempo |
| Antiphonal | 'Questions and Answers', a stereo effect |
| Aria | Song |
| Atonal | Total absence of key |
| Basso continuo | Bass line that runs through a piece |
| Binary | Musical Structure: AB |
| Bourrée | Part of a Suite |
| Cadenza | End of music which shows off the brilliance of the player |
| Camera | Italian for chamber |
| Cantata | To be sung |
| Chiesa | Italian for church |
| Chord-streams | Moving a chord shape in parallel motion |
| Chroma | Greek for 'colour' |
| Concertino | In a concerto: The small group of soloists |
| Concerto | Means 'get together' |
| Conjunct | Moving in small steps |
| Contrapuntal | More than one melody line |
| Corrente | Italian: Part of a Suite, in 3/2 time, with a moderately fast tempo |
| Counterpoint | More than one melody line |
| Courante | French: Part of a Suite, in 3/2 time, with a moderately fast tempo |
| Da capo | Musical structure: ABA |
| Disjunct | Moving in leaps |
| Dissonance | Clashing notes that do not fit |
| Dominant | Chord/Note V |
| Dynamics | The louds and softs of a piece |
| Figured bass | Numbers below the bass line, indicating which chords to play |
| French Overture | An overture which has three sections, the first and the last being slow, and the middle being quick |
| Gavotte | Part of a Suite |
| Gigue | Part of a Suite, usually in compound time |
| Harmony | The way the music fits together |
| Homophonic | Moving in chords |
| ldee fixe | Recurring theme |
| Imitation | Lines of melody are repeated |
| Impressionism | 'Blurred' music |
| Italian Overture | An overture which has three sections, the first and the last being quick, and the middle being slow |
| Leading Note | Chord/Note VII |
| Mediant | Chord/Note III |
| Melody | The tune |
| Metre | Time signature |
| Minuet | Part of a Suite, in 3 titne, and a slow and stately waltz |
| Monody | Single voice line supported by an insumental bass line, upon which chords are constructed |
| Monophonic | One melody line |
| Opera buffa | Comic opera |
| Orchestration | How the parts are arranged |
| Ornaments | Musical enhancements (e.g. trill, mordent) |
| Passepied | Part of a Suite |
| Polychoral | More than one choir |
| Polyphonic | More than one melody line |
| Polyphony | More than one melody line |
| Polytonal | More than one key at a time |
| Prelude | An opening piece |
| Programmatic | Tells a story |
| Recitative | A style which is a cross between singing and reciting |
| Rhythm | Refers to the beat either in a percussion line, or any other line |
| Ripieno | In a concerto: The rest of the orchestra |
| Ritornello | Italian for return, used to mean where a section returns |
| Rondo | Musical Structure: ABACADA etc. |
| Sacred | Religious |
| Sarrabande | Spanish: Part of a Suite, in slow triple time |
| Secular | Not religious |
| Singspiel | An opera in which singing is mixed up with the dialogue |
| Sonata | To be sounded (played) A work of several movements, for one or two instruments. |
| Sonata form | See 'Classical Music' |
| Strophic | Two or more verses set to the same music |
| Subdominant | Chord/Note IV |
| Submediant | Chord/Note VI |
| Supertonic | Chord/Note II |
| Symphony | Similar to a sonata, but for an orchestra. |
| Syncopation | An off-beat rhythm |
| Tempo | Speed |
| Ternary | Musical Structure: ABA |
| Texture | How 'thick' or 'thin' the music is |
| Through-Composed | Different all of the way through |
| Timbre | Type of sound given by an instrument |
| Tonic | Chord/Note I |
| Tutti | Means 'everyone' |