Musical Analysis and Terminology Notes

Vocabulary flashcards covering musical terms, titles, stylistic indications, and period characteristics from the lecture notes.

Moderato (title meaning)

Moderate pace; balanced, graceful and controlled, not rushed.

Common time ($4/4$)

4 crotchet beats in a bar.

Classical period

A musical period characterized by clear, balanced melodies and light homophonic textures.

Inverted turn

Play fast, four note group.

Più

More.

Poco riten

Slow down only a little.

Staccatissimo

Play the note extremely short and detached.

Sonata (title meaning)

Multi-movement piece with several parts derived from the Italian word 'sonare' which means 'to sound'.

Compound time ($12/8$)

A time signature containing 12 quaver beats in a bar.

Late Baroque era (characteristics)

steady rhythm, abrupt dynamic changes, and ornamentations (trills and mordents)

Upper mordent

Quickly play bottom note then note above (up, down, up, down).

Lose Blatter (title meaning)

Loose, scattered, fluttering leaves.

Simple duple ($2/4$)

2 crotchet beats in a bar.

Romantic period (characteristics in Lose Blatter)

extreme emotional expression and technical virtuosity.

Forzando

Forceful, strong emphasis.

Sempre

Always.

Pedale simile

To continue using the sustain pedal in the exact same rhythmic pattern/style as pervious section.

Fermata

Hold note/cord/rest longer than its normal written value.

Marcato

Hammered.

Merry Andrew (title meaning)

trickster, player of jokes, clown.

Romantic period (characteristics in Merry Andrew)

intense personal emotion, rich lyrical melodies, and rhythmic freedom.

Sopra

Above/higher/over.

Tenuto (Merry Andrew)

Hold/sustained.

La Pluie (title meaning)

The rain and the rainbow.

20th century (characteristics in La Pluie)

complex rhythm and a greater variety of tone colour.

Dolce

Sweet.

Rit.

Ritardando, gradually slow down.

Poco

Little.

Tenuto (La Pluie)

Hold/sustain the note for its full value.