AP Music Theory ~ Quiz Terms

augmentation

the note values of the pitches are made longer

crescendo

gradual increase in volume

octave displacement

taking a melody and moving one or more of the notes to a different octave

sequence

involves the repetition of a specific pattern of notes, typically at a different pitch level, with the same rhythm and interval structure

conjunct

stepwise motion (the notes do not skip a long the staff)

grave

the slowest tempo (20-40 bpm)

syncopation

deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse of a composition by means of a temporary shifting of the accent to a weak beat or an off-beat

tenuto

a note should be held out to its full value

antiphonal

singing/playing alternate musical phrases (call and response effect)

accelerando

a gradual increase in tempo

hemiola

special type of syncopation in triple meters, in which the beat is temporarily regrouped into twos

tutti

all performers play together

contour

the shape of the line of music/melody

fermata

indicates a note or rest should be held longer than its usual duration, allowing for expressive interpretation

arco

return to playing with the bow/resume using the bow after plucking the strings

slur

indicating that the notes it embraces are to be played without separation

terrace dynamics

volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud and back without gradual crescendos and decrescendos

compound meter

characterized by beats that are subdivided into three equal parts rather than two

vivace

lively and fast (tempo)

tempo

the speed at which a piece of music is performed, typically indicated by beats per minute

diminution

the note values of the pitches are shortened

parallel period

when two phrases begin identically/the second phrase of the pair is a variation of the first

legato

fluid, continuous motion between notes

binary

a song that has two main parts

trill

a musical ornament that consists of the rapid alternation between two adjacent notes, typically a principal note and the one above it

harmonic rhythm

a term for how long each chord lasts

tessitura

the general range of pitches found in a melody or vocal part

embellishment

ornamental notes added to a melody to add interest and expression without changing its basic structure

heterophony

the simultaneous variation of a single melody line

ostinato

a short melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout an entire composition or some portion of a composition

passing tone

melodic embellishments that fill in between the preparation and the resolution by stepwise motion

neighbor tone

decorates the line by moving from one pitch to another one-step above (upper neighbor) or below (lower neighbor) and then returning to the original pitch

suspension

when a note in the preparation chord is held over (suspended), creating a momentary accented dissonance (on the beat) that is resolved downward by a step to the resolution

retardation

a suspended note that resolves upward

appogiatura

incomplete neighbor that leaves the preparation by a leap and then resolves in the opposite direction by a step (it is an accented non-chord tone because it occurs on the beat

escape tone

leaves the chord tone by step then resolves in the opposite direction by leap