music term

(types of)

music registers: alto, baritone, bass, countertenor, falsetto, mezzo-soprano, soprano, tenor music terms: a cappella, adagio, allegro, andante, appassionato, arpeggio, capriccioso, con brio, crescendo, decrescendo, diminuendo, forte, fortissimo, grave, larghetto, largo, legato, lentissimo, lento, moderato, pianissimo, piano, pizzicato, staccato, counterpoint instrumental music: capriccio, concerto, fantasia, fugue, intermezzo, nocturne, overture, prelude, rondo, scherzo, sinfonia, sonata, suite, symphony, requiem vocal music: spiritual, requiem, yodel, anthem, aria, ballad, cantata, canticle, chorale, coloratura, folk song, hymn, madrigal, mass, oratorio, pop song, song, round popular music: bebop, bhangra, blues, calypso, country, drum and bass, dub, folk, funk, garage, gospel, jazz, mambo, pop, punk, rap, reggae, rhythm and blues, rock, rock and roll, salsa, samba, ska, soul, swing, heavy metal, acid rock classical music: baroque, operetta, early music, chamber music, comic opera, minimalist, opera, romantic, twelvetone

MUSIC REGISTERS ALTO 1. ig est man!s voice: the highest singing voice for a man, achieved by using falsetto ". alto singer: a singer with an alto or contralto voice #. instrument $et%een soprano an& tenor: in a family of instruments, the instrument whose size and pitch fall between the soprano and tenor instruments 'ARITO(E 1. man singer or voice: a man's singing voice with a range lower than a tenor and higher than a bass, or a singer with this voice ". %in& instrument: a wind instrument with the second lowest range in its family COU(TERTE(OR 1. ig male singing voice: an adult male singing voice that is higher than tenor and covers the alto range, produced by singing in falsetto ". man %it ig singing voice: a man whose singing voice is a countertenor )ALSETTO 1. ig singing met o&: a method used by male singers to sing at a very high pitch by using more air and a combination of vocal chord vibration and head resonance !t is used by countertenors in classical music ". *alsetto singer: a male singer who sings in a very high voice #. *alsetto voice: a very high voice used by a male singer ME++O,SO-RA(O singer %it mo&eratel. ig range: a woman whose singing voice is between a soprano and a contralto in range

SO-RA(O 1. ig est singing voice: the highest register of singing voice a woman, girl, or boy can have ". singing part *or soprano voice: a singing part written for somebody with the highest register of voice #. musical instrument %it ig pitc : a musical instrument, especially a wind instrument, with the highest or second-highest pitch of instruments in its family TE(OR 1. ig male voice: the highest natural male singing voice, or a man whose voice is in this register ". upper range instrument: an instrument with a range similar to a tenor voice MUSIC TERMS A CA-ELLA $. voices onl.: unaccompanied by musical instruments A/AGIO slo%l.: slowly, but faster than lento (used as a musical direction) musical piece: a movement or piece of music played or marked adagio ALLEGRO 0uic1l.: at a quick and lively tempo (used as a musical direction) piece o* music pla.e& allegro: a piece of music, or a section of a piece, played allegro A(/A(TE slo%l.: at a moderate musical tempo but slower than moderato (used as a musical direction) music pla.e& an&ante: a title given to musical pieces or movements that are to be played andante A--ASIO(ATO

to $e pla.e& %it

passion: to be performed in an impassioned way (used as a musical direction)

CA-RICCIOSO in *anci*ul %a.: in a lively and fanciful manner (used as a musical direction) CO( 'RIO in livel. manner: with spirit or vigor (used as a musical direction) CRESCE(/O "#$!% increase in lou&ness: a gradual increase in the volume of a passage of music "#$!% music pla.e& increasingl. lou&l.: a passage of music in which there is a gradual increase in volume intensi*ication: an increase in volume or intensity similar to a crescendo in music /ECRESCE(/O 1. increasingl. so*tl.: with decreasing loudness (used as a musical direction ". piece o* music gro%ing 0uieter: a piece of music, or a section of a piece, played decrescendo /IMI(UE(/O Same as decrescendo )ORTE lou&l.: to be played or sung loudly (used as a musical direction) )ORTISSIMO ver. lou&l.: e&tremely loudly (used as a musical direction) GRA2E %it solemnit.: to be played seriously or solemnly (used as a musical direction) LARG3ETTO mo&eratel. slo%l.: at a fairly slow tempo, but slightly faster than largo (used as a musical direction) piece o* larg etto music: a larghetto movement or musical piece LARGO *airl. slo%l.: at a fairly slow and broad tempo, more slowly than lento but faster than grave ( used as a musical direction) piece o* largo music: a largo movement or musical piece LEGATO smoot l.: in a smooth even manner, often indicated in a musical score by a curved line slur connecting the notes to be so played (used as a musical direction) legato piece o* music: a piece of music, or a section of a piece, played legato LE(TISSIMO slo%l.: very slowly (used as a musical direction) LE(TO slo%l.: at a slow tempo (used as a musical direction) lento piece o* music: a piece of music, or a section of a piece, to be played lento MO/ERATO at mo&erate tempo: at a moderate tempo (used as a musical direction) -IA(ISSIMO ver. so*tl.: very softly and quietly (used as a musical direction) so*tl. pla.e& musical part: a part of a musical composition that is played very softly -IA(O so*tl.: softly and quietly (used as a musical direction) so*tl. pla.e& musical part: a part of a musical composition that is played softly -I++ICATO $. pluc1ing strings: by using the fingers to pluck the strings of an instrument that is normally played with a bow, especially a violin (used as a musical direction) pi44icato piece o* music: a piece of music, or a section of a piece, played pizzicato STACCATO in 0uic1 separate notes: as rapid short detached notes (used as a musical direction) COU(TER-OI(T soun&ing toget er o* melo&ies: in a piece of music, the sounding together of two or more melodic lines each of which displays an individual and differentiated melodic contour and rhythmic profile melo&. com$ine& %it anot er: in a piece of music, a melodic line or part that is sung or played at the same time as another arrange music in counterpoint: to add one or more melodic lines in counterpoint in a piece of music

I(STRUME(TAL MUSIC CA-RICCIO livel. instrumental %or1: a piece of instrumental music with a free form, an improvisatory style, and usually a lively tempo

CO(CERTO musical composition *or soloist an& orc estra: an instrumental work for orchestra that highlights a soloist or group of soloists )A(TASIA *anci*ul composition: an instrumental composition in a free and improvisatory style, sometimes based on well-known melodies )UGUE musical *orm: a musical form in which a theme is first stated, then repeated and varied with accompanying contrapuntal lines I(TERME++O s ort movement in a longer musical %or1: a short piece of music that is performed between longer movements of an e&tended musical composition s ort piece o* music: a short musical composition, usually for solo piano (OCTUR(E &ream. music: a musical composition, especially for the piano, that suggests a tranquil dreamy mood !t evolved during the early '(th century, and %hopin was the most famous composer of nocturnes O2ERTURE concert overture: *reestan&ing orc estral %or1 resem$ling overture: a short orchestral composition similar to an opera overture but intended for concert performance on its own musical intro&uction: a single orchestral movement that introduces an opera, play, ballet, or longer musical work, often including the work's themes -RELU/E "#$!% intro&uctor. piece o* music: a piece of music that introduces or precedes another one "#$!% *ree,stan&ing piece o* music: a short musical composition, often one for piano, and often forming part of a set of such works RO(/O musical piece %it repeate& t eme: a piece of instrumental music or movement in which the principal theme is repeated between at least two sections that contrast with it, often forming the last movement of a sonata SC3ER+O lig t earte& musical piece: an independent musical work in a lively and often playful or humorous style SI()O(IA overture or interlu&e: a piece of orchestral music used as an overture or interlude in an opera s.mp on. or s.mp onic %or1: a comple& instrumental composition, usually for a group of stringed instruments or an orchestra SO(ATA classical composition *or solo instrument: a piece of classical music for a solo instrument or a small ensemble !t consists of several movements, at least one of which is in sonata form SUITE "#$!% set o* instrumental %or1s per*orme& toget er: a set of instrumental pieces, especially dances, intended to be performed together S5M-3O(5 comple6 musical composition: a major work for an orchestra, including wind, string, and percussion instruments, usually composed in four movements, at least one of which is in sonata form RE7UIEM commemorative music: a piece of music written to commemorate somebody who has died music *or re0uiem 8Roman Cat olic service *or &ea&9: a piece of music written to accompany a requiem mass 2OCAL MUSIC S-IRITUAL spiritual music *ol1 .mn: a religious song, especially one arising from )frican )merican culture RE7UIEM commemorative music: a piece of music written to commemorate somebody who has died music *or re0uiem 8Roman Cat olic service *or &ea&9: a piece of music written to accompany a requiem mass 5O/EL sing ig : to sing, changing rapidly between a normal and falsetto voice !t is a feature of )lpine folk music and of some # $ country and western music .o&eling song: a song or passage that features yodeling A(T3EM song o* allegiance: a song praising and declaring loyalty to something, e g a country, school, or organization a national anthem s ort .mn *or c oir: a short hymn with words from the *ible, sung by a choir as part of a %hristian church service religious song %it parts: a religious song with parts for different singers or groups, especially a hymn sung in a %hristian church with parts sung by different members of the congregation

rousing popular song: a stirring, often commercially popular, song that has become associated with a group, period, or cause and celebrates a sense of solidarity with it rock anthems ARIA opera song: a melody sung solo or as a duet in an opera, oratorio, or cantata 'ALLA/ narrative song: a song or poem, especially a traditional one or one in a traditional style, telling a story in a number of short regular stanzas, often with a refrain The Ballad of Bonnie and Clyde slo% romantic song: a slow romantic popular song two up-tempo numbers followed by a ballad CA(TATA vocal musical %or1: a musical composition for voices and instruments, usually on a religious theme, containing arias, choruses, and recitatives CA(TICLE C ristian .mn or c ant: a song or chant, especially a hymn containing words derived from the *ible, used in the %hristian liturgy C3ORALE Lut eran .mn tune: a hymn tune, especially a slow and stately one, originally intended for congregational singing in the +utheran %hurch piece o* music $ase& on c orale: a piece of music, especially a choral work, based on a chorale tune or in a style reminiscent of traditional +utheran church music COLORATURA ornamente& vocal music: a passage or piece of vocal music characterized by florid and demanding ornamentation, usually consisting of a rapid succession of notes %oloratura passages are frequent in ',th- and '(th-century arias )OL: SO(G tra&itional song: a traditional song that has been passed down orally mo&ern song in tra&itional st.le: a modern song composed in the style of traditional folk music, often performed by a solo singer 35M( religious song: a song of praise to -od, a god, or a saint song o* praise: a song of praise to somebody or something other than a deity MA/RIGAL Englis part song: a song with parts for several usually unaccompanied voices that was popular in .ngland in the '/th and '0th centuries me&ieval Italian song: a secular !talian song of the '1th and '2th centuries, written for two or three unaccompanied voices singing in harmony l.ric poem: a short pastoral or love poem suitable for singing as a madrigal MASS ORATORIO piece o* religious classical music: a musical composition for voices and instruments that has a religious theme, often telling a sacred story but not using costumes, scenery, or dramatic staging 3andel's Messiah is an e&ample of this genre -O- SO(G commercial music: modern commercial music, usually tuneful, up-tempo and repetitive, that is aimed at the general public and the youth market in particular ROU(/ part song: a song sung by several voices in which each voice sings the same tune at the same pitch, but the voices enter one after the other so that they end up singing different parts of the song at the same time -O-ULAR MUSIC 'E'O*ast comple6 ;a44: fast jazz music with comple& harmonies and melodies %harlie 4arker was the most famous e&ponent of the style '3A(GRA U.K. 'ritis ,Asian pop music: a style of popular music that mi&es 4unjabi folk music with western pop music !t originated in $outh )sia and was popularized by the $outh )sian community in *ritain South sia *ol1 &ance: an energetic form of folk dance from the 4unjab 'LUES st.le o* music: a type of popular music that developed from )frican )merican folk songs in the early 56th century, consisting mainly of slow sad songs often performed over a repeating harmonic pattern "#$!% piece o* music: a song or instrumental piece of music in the style of the blues CAL5-SO

Cari$$ean song: a %aribbean, especially 7rinidadian, ballad with a lively dance rhythm, that deals satirically with social and political topics Cari$$ean &ance music: %aribbean dance music that has syncopated rhythms, is usually improvised, and is often played by a steel band COU(TR5 *ol1,$ase& popular music: popular music, based on the traditional music of the rural $outh and the cowboy music of the 8est, whose songs e&press strong personal emotions %ountry musicians typically play such instruments as the guitar and fiddle /RUM A(/ 'ASS *ast percussive popular music: popular music originating in the #nited 9ingdom in the '((6s that has a fast rhythm, comple& percussion, and very low bass lines /U' st.le o* music: a style of popular music, originating in reggae in the '(06s, involving remi&ing records to bring some instruments into the foreground and causing others to echo )OL: tra&itional songs an& music: traditional songs and music, passed from one generation to the ne&t mo&ern music in tra&itional st.le: modern music composed in imitation of traditional music )U(: musical st.le: popular music that derives from jazz, blues, and soul and is characterized by a heavy rhythmic bass and backbeat GARAGE soul*ul &ance music: a style of dance music inspired by disco and combining 2:2 rhythms with vocals, associated with soul music of the '((6s GOS-EL religious music: highly emotional evangelical vocal music that originated among )frican )merican %hristians in the southern #nited $tates and was a strong influence in the development of soul music <A++ s.ncopate& popular music: popular music that originated among black people in ;ew <rleans in the late '(th century and is characterized by syncopated rhythms and improvisation =azz originally drew on ragtime, gospel, black spiritual songs, 8est )frican rhythms, and .uropean harmonies MAM'O &ance resem$ling rum$a: a modern +atin )merican dance in 2:2 time that is similar to the rumba !t originated in %uba music: the music for a mambo -Ocommercial music: modern commercial music, usually tuneful, up-tempo and repetitive, that is aimed at the general public and the youth market in particular -U(: t.pe o* roc1 music: fast loud rock music often with confrontational lyrics that characterized the punk movement (a youth movement of the late '(06s, characterized by loud aggressive rock music, confrontational attitudes, body piercing, and unconventional hairstyles, makeup, and clothing) RApopular music %it spo1en r .t mic vocals: a vocal style in which performers use rhythm and rhyme to speak in verse over music with a strong beat, usually hip hop >ap developed from )frican )merican hip hop music and culture in the '(06s REGGAE <amaican popular music: popular music, originally from =amaica, that combines rock, calypso, and soul and is characterized by heavy accentuation of the second and fourth beats of a four-beat bar R35T3M A(/ 'LUES st.le o* music: a style of music combining blues and jazz, originally developed by )frican )merican musicians ROC: t.pe o* pop music: a style of pop music, derived from rock and roll, usually played on electric or electronic instruments and equipment ROC: A(/ ROLL pop music %it eav. $eat: pop music derived from blues music that has heavily stressed beats !t is usually played on electric instruments and has simple, often repetitive, lyrics SALSA Latin American &ance music: +atin )merican dance music combining aspects of jazz and rock with )frican-%uban melodies

SAM'A 'ra4ilian &ance: a lively *razilian ballroom dance with strong )frican influences in 2:2 time 'ra4ilian music: the music for a samba S:A popular <amaican &ance music: dance music in 2:2 time, marked by emphasis on the second and fourth beats, originating in =amaica in the late '(?6s !t combines traditional %aribbean music and jazz, and was a predecessor of reggae SOUL 1in& o* A*rican American music: a style of )frican )merican popular music with a strong emotional quality, related to gospel music and rhythm and blues S=I(G st.le o* ;a44 music: jazz music of the '(16s and '(26s, suitable for dancing and generally played by big bands 3EA25 METAL t.pe o* roc1 music: a style of loud rock music with a very strong beat ACI/ ROC: ps.c e&elic roc1 music: electric rock music popular in the late '(/6s, with instrumental effects and lyrics suggesting or promoting psychedelic e&periences CLASSICAL MUSIC 'ARO7UE ig l. ornamente& 1>C music: highly ornamented music of the '0th century written by composers such as *ach, 3andel, @ivaldi, and 7elemann O-ERETTA comic opera %it &ancing: a theatrical production, usually with a comic theme, similar to opera but with much spoken dialogue and usually some dancing -ilbert and $ullivan wrote many operettas EARL5 MUSIC Me&ieval an& Renaissance music: music written during the medieval and >enaissance periods, sometimes also including the music of the baroque and early classical periods C3AM'ER MUSIC classical music per*orme& $. small group: classical instrumental music written for a small group such as a quartet or trio and often originally intended for performance in a large room or a small concert hall COMIC O-ERA opera %it comic li$retto: an opera with a humorous plot and a happy ending musical genre: comic operas considered as a musical genre MI(IMALISM movement *or simplicit. in music: a trend in music toward simplicity of rhythm and tone, including sustained or repeated rhythmic and melodic patterns resulting in a hypnotic effect O-ERA musical &rama: a dramatic work where music is a dominant part of the performance, with the actors often singing rather than reciting their lines !t is usually highly stylized and typically has recurring themes intensified by musical repetitions developed as the piece progresses T=EL2E,TO(E using serial music tec ni0ues: relating to or using compositional techniques based on strict sequences of notes selected from the '5 notes of the chromatic scale