Music Genres

The following flashcards cover various music genres, their characteristics, significant composers, and notable pieces, based on the lecture notes.

Gregorian Chant

Sacred, monophonic chant for meditation; simple melody lacking strict rhythm or meter; sung in Latin by male voices; performed a cappella.

Organum

Early sacred polyphony expanding on chant; polyphonic texture with 3 voices plus organ.

Crusader Songs

Songs in the vernacular providing motivational themes for joining the Crusades, often upbeat and strophic.

Chanson

Secular music for entertainment often expressing love and devotion; mostly monophonic, sung in vernacular.

Motet

A polyphonic, a cappella choral work in Latin, sacred in nature; can incorporate secular melodies.

Madrigal

A secular vocal music form consisting of several voices, often with poetic lyrics reflecting emotions.

Lute Song

A musical piece for solo voice accompanied by lute; characterized by a homophonic texture.

Chorale

A simple, monophonic hymn intended for congregational singing in the Lutheran tradition.

Oratorio

A large-scale musical composition for orchestras and voices, usually a narrative on a sacred theme, performed without acting.

Opera

A dramatic work set to music for singers and instrumentalists, combining vocal and instrumental components.

Sonata

An instrumental composition with multiple movements, typically for one or more instruments.

Concerto

A musical composition for a solo instrument accompanied by an orchestra, featuring a contrast between the two.

Canon

A musical piece in which a melody is played and then imitated, creating a sense of counterpoint.

French Overture

An instrumental introduction commonly used in Baroque operas, known for its two-part structure.

Cyclic Mass

A mass that unifies the musical settings of the different parts through a common musical theme.