Music gcse- pitch, ornamentation and articulation key vocab

Motif

(Usually) Short melody

Theme

(Usually) recurring melody

sequence (ascending/descending)

repeating a melody in same instrument/voice but shifting it all up/down

imitation

repeating same/similar melody in different instrument/voice

canon

second part enters with same melody before first is actually finished playing

inversion

when a melody is presented upside down

ostinato/riff

repeated rhythmic/melodic pattern over and over again

additive/subtractive melodic ideas (minimalism)

add or take away one or more beats to create phase shifting

resultant melody

when two melodic parts play at similar pitches- top layer of notes may appear to be just a singular melody but it is really the combination of the two instruments

tritone

augmented 4th

cantabile

singable/songlike instrumental music (measured tempo, flexible legato playing)

countermelody

secondary melody played in counterpoint with the primary melody

acciaccatura

‘crushed’ note (or short grace note)

appoggiatura

‘leaning’ note (temporarily replaces/resolves to main note)

trill

fast alternation between two notes used as decoration

upper mordent

initial note is sounded, followed by a higher note, then returning to original note

lower mordent

initial note is sounded, followed by a lower note, then returning to original note

step

melodic movement to next door note in the scale each time

leap

‘jumping’ to notes further than a second

staccato

detached notes

legato

smoothly played

accented

suddenly stressed notes