Studied by 0 people
Looks like no one added any tags here yet for you.
accent
a stress (>)
accidental
any chromatic sign not found in the key signature
adagio
very slow tempo
alla breve
2/2 time, cut time, 2 beats per measure, with the half note carrying the beat
allegretto
moderately fast, slightly slower than allegro
allegro
fast, lively
andante
slow, walking tempo
cantabile
in a singing style
chromatic
half step motion
Circle of fifths
a useful chart showing keys and relationships between keys, in both major and minor
con
with
consonant
2 or more harmonious, pleasing tones
crescendo
grow louder
D.C. al fine
da capo al fine, repeat to the beginning and end at fine
D.S. al fine
dal segno al fine, return to the sign and stop at the fine (end)
diminuendo
diminish in loudness
dissonant
2 or more tones requiring resolution
dolce
sweetly
dominant
having to do with 'sol,' the 5th tone of a scale
duple
2 beats per measure, subdivision in 2
enharmonic
2 pitches that are spelled differently, yet sound the same (e.g. G# & Ab)
espressivo
with expression
fermata
symbol indicating to hold pitch longer than the normal time value
flat
a) below the correct pitch; b) a sign indicating to lower pitch a half step; c) something found in the key signature, used to establish the key (the last flat is the 4th degree of a scale and the 2nd to last flat indicates the first degree of a major scale)
forte piano
accent strongly, instantly diminishing to soft volume (2 words)
diphthong
2 vowel sounds combined together
forte
strong, loud
glissando
a smooth gliding from one tone to another, sounding the tones in between
harmony
simultaneous musical combination of tones to produce chords
hemiola
in 3/4, two groups of 3 notes divided into 3 groups of 2 notes
interval
the distance between 2 pitches, measured from lower pitch to higher pitch
key signature
the collection of sharps or flats in the upper left corner of a piece of music
legato
smooth & connected (--)
leggiero
lightly
lyrical
pertaining to the lyre, adapted for singing
maestoso
majestically
marcato
accented and detached (v or ^)
melodic
in the style of a melody, progressing by single tones
meno
less
meter
symmetrical groupings of musical rhythms
mezzo
medium
moderato
moderate tempo
molto
very, very much
mosso
motion
ostinato
repeated pattern, incessant repetition of a theme
pavane
stately dance of Italian or Spanish origin, in slow tempo and alla breve time
piano
soft
piu
more
poco
little
presto
faster than vivace
rallentando
growing slower and broadening
resolution
the progression of a dissonance to a consonance
rhythm
the measured movement of similar tone-groups
ritardando
growing slower
rubato
"robbed," dwell on and prolong prominent melody tones or chords (slow down), robbing less prominent tones of a portion of their time value, through the process of acceleration
Senza
without
sharp
a) above the correct pitch; b) a sign indicating to raise pitch a half step; c) something found in the key signature, used to establish the key (the last sharp is the 7th degree of a scale)
simile
similarly, continue most recent articulations
slur
connects 2 or more different pitches
staccato
detached, separated (.)
subito
suddenly, now
suspension
a dissonance caused by holding a tone of a chord while the other tones progress
syncopation
shifting of accents from strong to weak beats
tempo
a word or phrase indicating the speed at which a piece should be performed
tempo primo
at the original pace
tenuto
horizontal marking attached to a pitch to indicate holding it for its full value, used in legato performance
tie
connects 2 of the same pitch, lengthening a note
tonic
having to do with 'do,' the keynote of a scale
vibrato
wavering of pitch to create a warmer tone
vivace
faster than allegro
