Music Vocabulary & Bowings 12th

anacrusis

pickup; upbeat

Mordent

An ornament made up of a main note, the note above (or below) the note and the main note again, all played as quickly as possible in the time of the main note

binary

a musical form consisting of two units (A and B) constructed to balance and complement each other

ternary

a three-part musical form in which the third section is a repeat of the first; hence ABA

appassionato

passionate, fervent

polymeter

the simultaneous use of two or more meters; sometimes applied to the successive use of different meters in one or more parts

affetuso

tenderly, with feeling

a piacere

indication for the performer to play according to their own pleasure, particularly with regard to tempo

calmato

calm, tranquil

comodo

at a comfortable, easy tempo

Bitonality

simultaneous use of two different keys

antiphony

a series of musical answers sung back and forth between groups

collé bowing

a bow stroke in which the bow is placed on the strings from the air and at the moment of contact the bow is lightly but sharply pinched