Level 9 History 2 Well Tempered Clavier Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering musical terms from the Level 9 History 2 Well Tempered Clavier lecture notes.

Prelude

A short keyboard work in improvisatory style, often paired with a fugue

Fugue

A highly structured, imitative contrapuntal composition during which a single theme or subject prevails

Subject

The initial statement of the main fugal theme (in the tonic key)

Answer

The second statement of the main fugal theme (usually in the dominant)

Real answer

An exact transposition of the subject

Tonal answer

A statement of the subject in which one or more of the intervals are adjusted to accommodate the harmony

Countersubject

A recurring counter-melody that accompanies entries of the subject and answer

Episode

A passage within a fugue in which neither subject nor answer is present

Stretto

A passage within a fugue in which the subject entries overlap one another in close succession

Pedal point

A sustained note through changing harmonies

Tierce de Picardie

A major tonic chord that concludes a work initially in a minor key

Counterpoint

The simultaneous use of two or more independent melody lines in music composition

Equal temperament

Method of keyboard instruments where the octave is divided into 12 equal semitones, allowing music to be performed "in tune" in all keys