Download Music Vocabulary

Music Vocabulary
Measure
• The space on the staff between two
vertical lines. It is also called a bar.
Bar lines
• Vertical lines on the staff which separate
measures of music.
Meter
• The fraction appearing at the beginning of
the music or section indicating the
mathematical organization of rhythm. It is
also known as the time signature.
Time Signature
• The fraction appearing at the beginning of
the music or section indicating the
mathematical organization of rhythm. It is
also known as the meter.
Whole step
• Two half steps
Half step
• A Minor Second
Dance
• The physical response to rhythm.
Timbre
• Tone color
Characteristics
• Unique attributes
Style
• The way it is played
Genre
• Special styles
Strings
• Instruments using plucked or bowed
strings to create the sound
Brass Winds
• Instruments using a cup shaped
mouthpiece
Woodwinds
• Those originally made of wood or using a
reed to create the sound
Clef
• Symbol to indicate the tonal center
Score
• The conductor’s copy of the music.
Staff
• 5 lines and 4 spaces
Expression
• Emotion portrayed in music
Intonation
• The correct vibrations of a tone to match
the established standard or that of another
instrument
Resonance
• Vibrations of an instrument’s sound
creating the unique sound of that particular
instrument
Ledger Lines
• Short lines extending the staff upward or
downward
Vertical Music
• Music composed in a chordal manner in
which most or all parts move together at
the same time
Horizontal Music
• Music having independent lines weaving
a fabric of sound.
Second ending
• The short ending which will send
musicians forward to a new melodic
section.
Repeat
• To play it again
Fugue
• A melodic presentation using varied
melodic and rhythmic alterations to
present new interpretations of the melody.
Fugetto
• A small or short section in a fugal style.
First ending
• The short ending which will send
musicians back to a particular place to
repeat that section.
Double Bar
• Two bars of different size indicating the
end of a section or composition.
Dal signo al fine`
• Return to the sign and play to the fine`
Da capo al fine`
• Return to the beginning and play to the
fine`
Transposition
• To move the position of the tone to adjust
for the length of the instrument
Tessitura
• That part of the range used most often
Range
• The extreme from lowest to highest tone
for each instrument
Key Signature
• Those sharps and/or flats which identify
the tonal center.
• B flat
• C
• G
Homophonic
• Movement in a chordal manner
Counterpoint
• Independent movement of musical lines in
correlation to each other
Cannon
• The simple melodic repetition. It is also
called a round.
Brace
• Two or more staves joined with a bracket {
} indicating a system of music.
Slur
• A curved line which smoothly connects
tones on different lines and/or spaces
without attack.
Tie
• A curved line connecting tones (adding
their value) on the same line or space.
Major Second
• Whole Step
Minor Second
• Half Step
Tutti
• The entire ensemble
Music History
• The story of mankind’s music throughout
time.
Balance
• To achieve the aural perception of each
instrument or section being of the same or
equal volume without dominance by any
one instrument or section.
Blend
• To create an ensemble sound in which all
instruments/sections collectively create
one sound rather than individual sounds.
Dynamics
• Various degrees of loudness and softness
Forte (f )
• Strong or full
Piano (p)
• Soft
Mezzo (m)
• Medium
Mezzo Forte (mf)
• Medium full
Mezzo piano (mp)
• Medium soft
Fortissimo (ff)
• Very strong
Fortississimo (fff)
• Very, very strong
Pianissimo (pp)
• Very soft
Pianississiom (ppp)
• Very, very soft
Crescendo (cres.)
• To get louder
Decrescendo (decres)
• To get softer
Diminuendo (dim)
• To gradually get softer
Baroque
• The historic period between 1600 and
1750 AD
Medieval
• The historic period prior to 1400 AD
Renaissance
• The historic period between the 15th (1400
AD) and 17th (1600AD) centuries.
Rococo or Roccoco
• The French historic period between 1700
and 1799 AD (18th Century)
Classical
• The historic period between 1750 and
1820 AD
Impressionist
• The historic period between 1870 and
1880
Expressionist
• The historic period originating in Germany
beginning in the 20th Century.
Experimental
• One type of music composed between
1950 and today.
Jazz
• Jazz is a musical form which originated at
the beginning of the 20th century in
African American communities in the
Southern United States from a confluence
of African and European music traditions.
Fusion
• The mixing of diverse musical styles
originating around 1980.
Strophic
• Repeated melody for each verse
Through composed
• No repetition of music for new lyrics
Pulse
• Steady, ongoing emphasis of the count
Diatonic
• Within the Key
Consonant Interval
• Interval requiring no resolution (change)
Dissonant Interval
• Interval requiring resolution (change)
Dance
• The physical response to rhythm
Variation
• Changing the melody, rhythm, or harmony
of a composition.
Instrumentation
• Those instruments used in the ensemble
to perform the composition or concert.
Concert
• A performance by a large ensemble of
several compositions.
Recital
• A performance by a soloist or small
ensemble of several works. These
compositions may be from the same or
different historic periods.
Interpretation
• The unique and individual manner in which
a performer presents a musical
composition.
Voicing
• The manner in which instruments or
voices may be arranged to present a
composition.
Variety
• Use, or inclusion, of new material or new
treatments of previously presented
melodies, harmonies, and/or rhythms.
• Variety creates and maintains the
listener’s interest.
Unity
• Repetition or restatements of previously
presented material.
• Unity ties all the parts together.