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BCS Music Dept. Useful words and phrases Useful words and phrases This is not intended to be an exhaustive list but should give you a few pointers… A Capella Unaccompanied choral music Accelerando An increase, or acceleration of the tempo, or pace of a piece Accent Extra force given to a marked note. Indicated with a > above the note Accidental A sharp, flat or natural given to a note that is not indicated in the key signature Adagio Slow, but faster than largo. A slow movement is called an adagio Allegretto Fairly quick, but not as much as allegro Allegro Quick and lively, but not as much as presto Alto The lowest female voice or a clef for instruments such as the viola Andante A walking speed, but not too slow Antiphonal When two or more sets of instruments or voices sing against each other in a question - answer style, playing alternately Arco Use of the bow by the player of a string instrument. Aria A song from an Opera, sung by a soloist or a small group of soloists Atonal Music without a sense of key, by Schoenberg and others in the early 1900s Binary form The music follows an AB pattern Canon A device in counterpoint whereby one melody is imitated note for note by other parts, which normally begin after the first note and overlap it. Choir A group of singers often comprising sopranos, altos, tenors and basses Chorus Either a section from a song (other than the verse) or a song from an opera, sung by a large group of singers (or the whole company) Concerto A piece of music for a solo instrument with an orchestral accompaniment – originated in the Baroque period but still popular Concerto Grosso From the Baroque period: a piece of music for a string orchestra (ripieno) and a small group of soloists (concertino) Contrapuntal When the melody is shared between the different instruments playing, to produce an overall melody when all the instruments are playing 1 BCS Music Dept. Useful words and phrases Dischord (discord) "A combination of notes including one or more dissonant intervals". This means a combination of notes that don't sound 'right' together Drone A single note or chord which is held continuously while the rest of the music moves forward Flat When a note is played a semitone down from its natural state Gamelan An orchestra made up of gongs and metallophones - usually from Indonesia Grave A term meaning very slow, slower than largo Ground Bass A short ostinato motif played in the bass part repeatedly, while the melody line changes above Homophonic All the parts play the same rhythm although they play different notes Imitation Where the opening pattern of a musical phrase played by one voice or instrument is copied by another, not necessarily at the same pitch Largo A term meaning slow, but not as slow as grave Legato A term, meaning smooth, indicating the playing style, connecting the notes smoothly. The opposite of staccato Modes Before the modern practice of major and minor keys was developed, players and composers used modes in music. A mode can be created by playing all the white notes on a piano from any note to that note a further octave up (eg. A-A) Modulation A change of Key during the course of a piece of music Monophonic Music written in only one voice, or with only one melody line throughout Motet A piece of religious music for a large Choir, sung in Latin, usually A Capella but might include an organ – from the Renaissance Opera A musical drama, completely sung throughout, to tell a story and including arias, choruses and recitative Oratorio Similar to an opera, but on a religious theme (The Creation by Haydn). Usually not acted out but just performed as concerts Ostinato A short section of music repeated several times in succession or even throughout a piece of music 2 BCS Music Dept. Useful words and phrases Piano Trio A group of three instruments including: A piano, a violin and a cello – very popular in the Classical period Pizzicato When a stringed instrument is played not with a bow, but plucked with the fingers. Opposite of arco Polyphonic Music which has several different melodies simultaneously , which weave in and out of each other, creating a seamless texture (no gaps) – very common in renaissance vocal music Presto Very fast, faster than Allegro Raga A scale used in Indian music. It forms the basis of most of the piece Recitative In oratorios and operas - A sung solo punctuated by chords – very sparse accompaniment – often fills in bits of story or important dialogue Rubato To play with a flexible tempo – very common in the romantic period, particularly in the piano music of Chopin Sequence The more or less exact repetition of a melody a higher or lower pitch Sharp When a note is played a semitone up from its natural note Sonata A piece written for a solo instrument with a piano accompaniment eg. A violin sonata is played by a violin and a piano. Also a piece for solo piano. Soprano The highest female voice Staccato A playing style where the notes are played detached from each other. The opposite of legato String Quartet A group of four string instruments including: two violins, one viola and a cello. Originated in Classical period, where it is very common but also popular in Romantic and 20th Century Symphony A piece for full orchestra without soloists Ternary form The music follows an ABA pattern Texture How many instruments are playing and how do they relate to each other (are they accompanying, playing the melody etc.) Tierce de Picardie When a piece of music begins in a minor key and stays in a minor key right up till the last chord where it changes to major 3