Musi 1107 - Baroque Period Vocab Review | KSU Spring 2025 Dr. Creasy

Toccata

A keyboard piece characterized by full chords, rapid runs, and arpeggios designed to showcase the performer’s touch.

Concerto

A musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, typically structured in three movements (fast-slow-fast).

Concerto Grosso

A musical composition featuring a small group of instruments with an orchestra, usually structured in three movements (fast-slow-fast).

Suite

A collection of instrumental dances, typically consisting of at least four movements, each with specific rules of meter and style.

Sonata

A multi-movement work for solo instrument and basso continuo.

Trio Sonata

A multi-movement work for two treble instruments and basso continuo.

Rondo

A musical structure in which an A section is repeated with different musical material in between (A B A C A D A...).

Ritornello

A musical structure similar to Rondo, where an A section is repeated but may return in incomplete form or in a different key (A B A’ C A’’ D A’’’...).

Binary

A musical structure consisting of two distinct sections (AB) that may appear in different orders or repetitions.

Rounded Binary

A musical structure with two distinct sections and a return of the A section (ABA).

Theme and Variations

A musical structure that uses a single theme repeatedly, with variations in each iteration (A A’ A’’ A’’’ etc).

Fugue

A complex musical structure with three sections featuring imitative polyphony in which a main theme is presented in each voice.

Recitative

A short piece in a style of singing that replicates speech (reciting), with rhythms dictated by the natural flow and stresses of speech (rather than dictated by meter or beat) and sparse accompaniment (so the singer has freedom to mimic speaking). Usually used to advance the plot and as introductions to arias.

Aria

The main pieces in operas and oratorios. During the Baroque period, a common format for an aria was ABA.

Choruses

Group songs in operas and oratorios. In any form, for any reason. (And in operas, sometimes for no reason!) They can be chorales or fugues or anything.

Chorale

A hymn tune sung in the vernacular, harmonized homophonically, often using strophic form.

Opera

A multi-movement dramatic musical work involving a libretto, score, singers, and orchestra, with structures like recitatives, arias, and choruses.

Oratorio

A multi-movement dramatic work telling a sacred story, performed in concert style without costumes or stage action.

Cantata

A shorter multi-movement work similar to an oratorio, consisting of recitatives, arias, and choruses performed in concert setting.

Mass

A major vocal/choral work that continues to use standard sections in Latin, increasingly composed for musical purposes rather than strictly for worship.