HUM 310 Romanticism Terms

Alliteration

A literary device involving the repetition of initial sounds in successive or closely associated words or syllables.

Aquatints

A type of print produced by an engraving method similar to etching but involving finely granulated tonal areas rather than line alone.

Arpeggio

The sounding of the notes of a chord in rapid succession.

Assonance

A literary device involving similarity in sound between vowels followed by different consonants.

Bel canto

An operatic style characterized by lyricism and vocal embellishment.

Dialectic

In Hegelian philosophy, the process by which every condition ('thesis') confronts an opposite condition ('antithesis') to resolve in synthesis.

Dissonance

In music, an inharmonious or harsh sound.

Études

An instrumental study designed to improve a player’s performance technique.

Free verse

Poetry based on irregular rhythmic patterns rather than on the conventional regular use of meter.

Idée fixe

A term used by Berlioz for a recurring theme in his symphonic works.

Impromptus

A short keyboard composition that sounds like it is improvised.

Leitmotif

A short musical theme that designates a person, object, place, or idea and that reappears throughout a musical composition.

Lied

An independent song for solo voice and piano; 'art song'.

Music-drama

A unique synthesis of sound and story in which both are developed simultaneously and continuously; a term used to describe Wagner’s later operas.

Nocturnes

A slow, songlike piece, usually written for piano; melody played by the right hand and the soft accompaniment by the left.

Opus

A musical composition; followed by a number that designates its chronological place in musical composition in its order of publication.

Prima Ballerina

The first, or leading, female dancer in a ballet company.

Scherzo

A swift, light movement, commonly in triple time.

Sublime

Aspects of nature and its mysterious grandeur that inspire feelings of awe and terror.

Tone Color

The distinctive quality of a musical sound made by a voice, a musical instrument, or a combination of instruments.

Virtuoso

One who exhibits great technical ability, especially in musical performance; also used to describe musical composition demanding great technical skill.