Chorus Exam

Only Vocab

tempo

time, speed

adagio

slowly

andante

walking speed

allegro

quickly

presto

very fast

accelerando

accelerating, gradually getting faster

ritardando

slowing

rallentando

gradually slowing (over a longer period of time)

dynamics

the degree of loud or soft

pianissimo

very soft (PP)

piano

soft (P)

mezzo-piano

moderately (medium) soft (mp)

mezzo-forte

moderately (medium) loud (mf)

forte

loud (f)

fortissimo

very loud (ff)

crescendo

gradually louder

decrescendo

gradually softer

diminuendo

gradually softer (over a longer period of time)

Voice

the human instrument

choir

a group of vocalists

SATB

Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

SSA

Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto

TTB

Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass

Chest voice

one's low register (vocal)

head voice

voice above the break

falsetto

false voice

diphthong

transition between two vowels

unison

sound as one

A cappella

without accompaniment

balance

equal voices

blend

equal tone quality

articulation

the way notes are begun

attack

the first component of a note or sound

carry-over

connecting where you might normally breathe

soprano

the highest female voice

alto

the lowest female voice

tenor

the highest male voice

bass

the lowest male voice

chorale

a traditional piece for choir

divisi

divide

intonation

the ability to play or sing 'in tune'

sotto voce

soft voice

timbre

tone quality

tonality

modality, sonority

a tempo

return to the previous tempo

accent

stress

accompaniment

supports the vocal lines

arranger

the person that changes the setting of a piece of music

beat

the pulse within the music

composer

the creator of the music

conductor

musical director

consonance

harmony which does not need to be resolved

dissonance

clashing harmonies

downbeat

the first beat of the measure

espressivo

expressively

fermata

hold

grand pause

break

introduction

the opening to a piece of music

legato

smoothly

lyric

text OR smooth melodic style

mezzo

middle, medium

molto

much

poco a poco

little by little

quartet

group of 4 performers

quintet

group of 5 performers

staccato

short, detached

subito

suddenly

tenuto

stress

theme

musical idea

tie

connecting two like notes and played as one

tuti

all

un poco

a little