music vocabulary terms

melody

• linear sequence of pitches that move up, down, or remain the same; often referred to as the “tune”

harmony

• occurs when two or more sounds are played or sung simultaneously

texture

• thickness or density of the sound of music

beat

• recurring, consistent pulse of the music

rhythm

• regular pattern of long and short sounds and silences

meter

• organization of rhythm in time

• duple (2)

• triple (3)

• quadruple (4)

duration

• amount of time a sound or silence lasts indicated by various note value durations and rest symbols

timbre

• the unique sound, or tone quality, of an instrument or voice, “the color of the sound”

expressive qualities

• musical characteristics eliciting a variety of aesthetic responses from the listeners (dynamics, articulation, tempo)

dynamics

• varying levels of loud and soft

ff

fortissimo - very loud

f

forte - loud

mf

• mezzo forte - medium loud

mp

mezzo piano - medium soft

p

piano - soft

pp

pianissimo - very soft

<

cresendo - gradually get louder

>

decrescendo - gradually get softer

articulation

• the emphasis, continuity, or transition between single or multiple notes/sounds

interval

• the distance between the pitch of two notes

tempo

• speed of the underlying beat, from very fast to very slow

allegro

• fast

moderato

• moderate

adagio

• very slow

form

• overall structure of a piece of music

types of forms

• A Form

• AB (Binary Form)

• ABA (Ternary Form)

• ABACADA (Rondo Form)

• A A’ A’’ A’’’ (Theme and Variations)