Music Theory and Terminology Review Flashcards (IGCSE)

Vocabulary flashcards covering core music concepts including melody, tempo, texture, musical devices, dynamics, articulation, ensembles, instrumental techniques, and musical structure.

Melody

A linear succession of musical tones that the listener perceives as a single entity; the tune.

Ascending

Moving upwards in pitch.

Descending

Moving downwards in pitch.

By Step (Conjunct)

Moving to the immediate next note higher or lower in the scale.

In Leaps (Disjunct)

Moving by intervals larger than a whole tone.

Scalic

A melody that moves primarily up or down notes of a scale in step-by-step motion.

Broken Chord

The notes of a chord played sequentially rather than simultaneously.

Arpeggio

A specific type of broken chord where the notes are played consecutively ascending or descending.

Countermelody

A secondary melody played simultaneously alongside the main melody.

Phrases

Musical sentences or self-contained melodic units, often punctuated by a cadence.

Improvisation

Creating and performing music spontaneously on the spot without relying on sheet music.

Leitmotif

A recurring musical theme associated with a specific character, place, emotion, or idea.

Range

The distance between the lowest and highest pitch of an instrument, voice, or piece.

Fanfare

A celebratory, attention-grabbing phrase typically played on brass instruments using notes from the harmonic series.

Hook

A memorable, catchy melodic or rhythmic phrase designed to grab the listener's attention (common in pop).

Riff

A short, repeated, rhythmic melodic idea, typically played on guitar, bass, or keyboards in pop/rock/jazz.

Rāga

A melodic framework, scale, and mood system used in Indian classical music.

Quarter-tone

An interval equal to half a semitone (half step), common in Middle Eastern and modern classical music.

Tempo

The overall speed or pace of the music.

Allegro

Fast, lively, and bright tempo.

Andante

Walking pace tempo (moderately slow).

Adagio

Slow and stately tempo.

Accelerando

Gradually speeding up the tempo.

Rallentando (Ritardando)

Gradually slowing down the tempo.

Rubato

Flexible tempo where time is taken and given back for expressive effect.

BPM (Beats Per Minute)

A precise numeric measurement of tempo indicating the number of beats in 60 seconds.

Monophonic

A single, unaccompanied melodic line.

Unison

Two or more voices/instruments sounding the exact same pitches at the same time.

Doubled in Octaves

Two or more parts performing the same melodic line one or more octaves apart.

Homophonic / Melody and Accompaniment

A clear primary melody supported by harmonic chords or accompaniment.

Polyphonic

Multiple independent melodic lines sounding at the same time (contrapuntal).

Heterophonic

Multiple performers playing simultaneous variations of a single melody.

Imitative

A texture where a phrase or motif played in one part is immediately copied/echoed in another.

Parallel Motion

Two or more parts moving in the exact same direction and maintaining the same interval apart.

Solo

A single featured instrument or voice performing alone or taking the lead.

Tutti

The entire ensemble or orchestra performing together.

Antiphonal

A dialogue or call-and-response texture between two separated groups/performers across a performance space.

Cluster Chords

Chords made up of adjacent musical notes/semitones played together, creating a dissonant tone mass.

Drone

A sustained or continually repeated low note/chord played beneath a melody.

Repetition

Stating the exact same musical phrase or idea again immediately.

Ascending Sequence

Repeating a musical phrase immediately at progressively higher pitch levels.

Descending Sequence

Repeating a musical phrase immediately at progressively lower pitch levels.

Imitation

Repeating a melodic line or motif in another part/voice shortly after its initial appearance.

Ostinato

A continually repeated rhythmic or melodic pattern throughout a section or piece.

Alberti Bass

A broken-chord accompaniment pattern common in the Classical era (typically low-high-middle-high).

Pianissimo (pp)

Very soft/quiet.

Piano (p)

Soft/quiet.

Mezzo Piano (mp)

Moderately soft.

Mezzo Forte (mf)

Moderately loud.

Forte (f)

Loud.

Fortissimo (ff)

Very loud.

Crescendo (<)

Gradually getting louder.

Diminuendo (>)

Gradually getting softer/quieter.

Terraced Dynamics

Sudden, abrupt shifts in volume from loud to soft (or vice versa) without gradual transitions (hallmark of the Baroque era).

Legato

Smooth, connected performance of notes.

Staccato

Detached, short, and separated notes.

Accent

Emphasizing or stressing a specific note to make it louder/stronger than surrounding notes.

Sforzando (sfz)

A sudden, sharp, heavy dynamic accent on a single note or chord.

Slur

A curved line indicating notes are to be played smoothly together (legato) in one breath/bow stroke.

Trill

Rapid alternation between the written note and the note directly above it.

Mordent

An ornament involving a rapid switch from the main note to the note above (upper) or below (lower) and back.

Turn

An ornament stepping from the note above, to the main note, to the note below, and back to the main note.

Appoggiatura

A leaning expressive grace note taking a specific rhythmic portion of the following main note's value.

Acciaccatura

A crushed grace note played as quickly as possible immediately before the main beat/note.

Ripieno

The larger ensemble/orchestral group in a Baroque concerto grosso.

Concertino

The small group of soloists featured in a Baroque concerto grosso.

Basso Continuo

The continuous bass line accompaniment in Baroque music, usually played by a bass instrument (cello/bassoon) and a chordal instrument (harpsichord/organ).

Chamber Music Ensembles

Small ensembles where each part is played by one individual without a conductor (e.g., string quartet = 2 violins, viola, cello; piano trio = violin, cello, piano).

Piano

A keyboard instrument where felt hammers strike steel strings with dynamic versatility.

Harpsichord

A Renaissance/Baroque keyboard instrument where strings are plucked by quills/plectrums.

Organ

A keyboard instrument producing sound by directing pressurized air through pipes.

Soprano

The highest standard female/child singing voice.

Alto

The lowest standard female singing voice.

Tenor

The highest standard male singing voice.

Bass

The lowest standard male singing voice.

Instruments of the Orquesta Típica

Traditional tango ensemble featuring bandoneons, violins, piano, and double bass.

Salsa Instruments

Clave, congas, bongos, timbales, cowbell, guiro, brass section (trumpets/trombones), piano, bass, and vocals.

Hindustani Instruments

Classical North Indian instruments including sitar, sarod, tanpura (tambura), bansuri, and tabla.

Instruments of Silk and Bamboo Ensembles (Sizhu)

Traditional Chinese instruments; "Silk" (pipa, erhu, yangqin, guzheng) and "Bamboo" (dizi, xiao, sheng).

Instruments of Takht Ensembles

Traditional Arab music chamber ensemble: 'ud (lute), qanun (zither), nay (reed flute), riq (tambourine), and violin/kamanja.

Pizzicato

Plucking the strings of a bowed string instrument with fingers.

Arco

Playing a string instrument using a bow.

Glissando

A continuous, rapid slide upward or downward between pitches.

Portamento

A smooth vocal or instrumental slide from one specific pitch to another.

Pitch-bending

Microtonally altering or curving a pitch up or down dynamically during its sustain.

Tremolo

Rapid repetition of a single note or quick alternation between two distinct pitches.

Double Stopping

Playing two strings simultaneously on a bowed string instrument.

Roll

Rapid, sustained succession of strokes on a percussion instrument (like a snare drum or timpani).

Melisma (Melismatic)

Singing several notes on a single syllable of text.

Syllabic

Singing strictly one note per syllable of text.

Rap

Spoken, rhythmic chanting of rhyming lyrics over a beat.

Word-Painting

Composing music that directly illustrates or mimics the literal meaning of the lyrics (e.g., rising notes for "heaven").

Binary

A two-part form structured as AB, where both sections are usually repeated.

Ternary

A three-part form structured as ABA, ending with a return to the opening material.

Rondo

A form featuring a recurring primary theme alternating with contrasting episodes (ABACA…).

Ritornello

A recurring instrumental theme played by the tutti ensemble that punctuates contrasting solo sections in Baroque music.

Episode

A contrasting passage or developmental section between main thematic statements (in rondo, ritornello, or fugue).

Sonata Form

A large-scale three-part structural movement consisting of Exposition, Development, and Recapitulation.

Exposition

The opening section of sonata form that presents the primary thematic material and establishes keys.

Development

The central section of sonata form where thematic ideas are fragmented, modified, and modulated through various keys.