AIM Level 10 Definitions

ad libitum

Freedom to improvise or vary the tempo

alto

The second highest voice in four-part harmony

aria

A composition for solo voice

asymmetrical meter

The combination of two simple meters where the pulse cannot be divided into 2, 3, or 4 beats per measure

augmented interval

A perfect or major interval that has been increased by a half step

augmented second

An interval of a second having three half steps (C-D#)

augmented triad

A triad made up of two major thirds

bass

the lowest voice in four-part harmony

cadence

A progression of tones or chords at the end of a phrase leading to a resting point in the music

cadenza

A section in a composition that allows the performer to improvise or that is written in the style of an improvisation

cantabile

In a singing style

chromatic scale

A twelve-tone scale built only of half steps

compound meter

A meter in which the beat can be subdivided into groups of three

diatonic scale

A scale with seven different tones

diminished interval

A perfect or minor interval that has been decreased by a half step

diminished triad

A triad made up of two minor thirds

dominant 7th chord

A major triad with a minor 7th added above the root, found on scale degree 5

first inversion triad

A triad that has its third as the lowest pitch

half cadence

Any cadence which ends on the dominant triad (V)

harmonic minor scale

A minor scale that raises scale degree 7 a half step

interval inversion

Turning an interval upside down so that the lower tone becomes the higher tone or the higher tone becomes the lower tone

invention

A short contrapuntal piece based on one theme

lento

A slow tempo

major interval

The intervals found in a major scale using scale Desiree’s 1-2, 1-3, 1-6, and 1-7

marcato

Marked; emphasized

melodic minor scale

A minor scale that raises scale degrees 6 and 7 one half step ascending, and uses the natural minor form descending

meter

The organizing pattern of strong and weak beats

minor interval

An interval which is a half step smaller than the corresponding major interval

monophonic music

A single line of melody

natural minor scale

A scale using the following whole and half step pattern: W-H-W-W-H-W-W

open harmony

Four-part harmony with an octave or more between the soprano and tenor

opera

A theatrical drama that is sung and set to music

overture

An orchestral composition used to introduce a large dramatic work

perfect interval

The intervals found in a major scale using scale degrees 1-1, 1-4, 1-5, and 1-8

phrase

Part of a melody which pauses or ends with a cadence

plagal cadence

A cadence consisting of the subdominant progressing to tonic; IV-I or iv-i

polyphonic music

Music in which two or more melodies are heard at the same time

prelude

A small composition that is usually followed by a larger composition in the same key

rondo form

A composition in which the first theme returns repeatedly (ABACAD, etc.)

root position triad

A triad with its root as the lowest pitch

second inversion triad

A triad that has its fifth as the lowest pitch

semplice

To play simply, without ornament

senza

Without

simple meter

A meter in which the beat can be subdivided into groups of two

soprano

The highest voice in four-part harmony

subito

Suddenly

syncopation

The emphasis of beats which are normally weak in a meter; an off-beat

tenor

The second lowest voice in four-part harmony

ternary form

A pice that has three parts (ABA form)

transposition

The performing or writing of music in a key other than the original key

troppo

Too much

voice leading

The procedures governing the movement of voices in chord progressions

whole-tone scale

A six-tone scale built only of whole steps

allegro or moderato

What is often the tempo for the 1st movement of a symphony?

Solo instrument accompanied by orchestra

What is a concerto?

Late 19th century France

When and where did Impressionism start?

9 symphonies and 32 piano sonatas

How many symphonies and piano sonatas did Beethoven compose?

He was a priest and the father of an orphanage

Two things about Vivaldi?

Marriage of Figaro, Barber of Seville, Magic Flute, Don Giovanni

Operas by Mozart

Polish, “poet of piano”

Chopin’s nationality and nickname?

Beethoven’s Symphony No. 3 Eroica

What symphony was written for Napoleon

Choral and organ music

What kind of music was Bach known for?

Haydn

Who was Father of the Symphony and Father of the String Quartet?

Mozart

Master of the Opera?

Austrian/German

Mozart’s nationality

Beethoven

Master of Music?

Paganini

Italian known for violin technique?

Paganini

Liszt took inspiration from who to write La Campanella?

Hungarian (wrote Hungarian Rhapsody)

Liszt’s nationality?

Lieds (German songs)

What type of music was Schubert known for?

Gounod, Bach’s Prelude

Who wrote the other Ave Maria (Not Schubert) and what was it based on?

Dvorak, Czech

Who wrote the New World Symphony and what was his nationality?

violin, viola, cello, double bass, harp

Strings in an orchestra from highest to lowest

trumpet, French horn, trombone, tuba

Brass in an orchestra from highest to lowest

piccolo, flute, oboe, clarinet, bass clarinet, bassoon, English horn

Woodwinds in an orchestra from highest to lowest

Timpani, snare drum, bass drum, cymbals, triangle, xylophone

Percussion in an orchestra

George Gershwin, American

Who wrote Rhapsody in Blue and what was his nationality?

La Boheme, Tosca, Madame Butterfly

Notable opera compositions by Puccini

Verdi

Who wrote the opera “La Traviata”?

"Rigoletto" by Verdi

What opera is “La Donna e mobile” from and who wrote it?

Bach, Beethoven, Brahms

Who are the famous Three B’s of classical music?

Renaissance

______—> Baroque —> Classical

Monteverdi

Famous Renaissance composer

The Firebird, The Rite of Spring, Petrushka

Famous work by Russian composer Igor Stravinsky

Louis Armstrong

American Jazz trumpeter known for What a Wonderful World

John Williams

Star Wars composer

Freddie Mercury

Lead singer of Queen

Jazz, Solitude

Billie Holiday known for? (Genre and song)

A contrapuntal compositional technique

What is a fugue

ragtime, American (The Entertainer)

Scott Joplin music style (and nationality)

Brandenburg Concertos, Inventions, St. Matthew Passion, Mass in B minor

Written by Bach

John Cage, 4 min 33 sec of silence

“4’33”” was written by who and why was it unique?

Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band

Beatles album considered one of the first concept albums

Created the genre of Rock and Roll

What was the significance of the 1952 song “Hound Dog”?

Johann Strauss

Who was the King of Waltz?

For minor keys, raise third note (scale degree 7) because harmonic minor

Dominant seventh chord