Higher Music

Trill

A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes

Tierce de Picardie

The final chord of a piece of music in the minor key is changed to major.

Passacaglia

Variations over a ground bass.

Concerto grosso

Baroque concerto type based on the opposition between a small group of solo instruments (the concertino) and orchestra (the ripieno).

Mordent

an ornament in which the written note is played, followed by the note below the written note and the written note again

Interrupted cadence (V-VI)

Ending sounds unfinished with a strange chord

Sequence

Phrase repeated either higher or lower.

Basso Continuo

Continued bass line in Baroque played by a Harpsichord, Cello or Bassoon.

Concertino

the group of instruments that function as soloists in a concerto grosso

Mass

Vocal, uses religious text such as Sanctus, Credo, Gloria, Agnus Dei.

Modal

Used in Plaintchant music, Usually this refers to any of the early scales e.g. Dorian mode (white notes D to D on a keyboard).

Chamber Music

Music using a small group of musicians, with one player to a part.

Ground bass

a short theme, usually in the bass, that is constantly repeated as the other parts of the music vary.

Acciaccatura

An ornament which sounds like a crushed note played very quickly on the beat or just before it.

Imitation

Exact phrase of the music imitated/repeated by another instrument/part.

Ripieno

the body of instruments accompanying the concertino in baroque concerto music.

Obbligato

A prominent solo instrument part in a piece of vocal music.

Plagal Cadence (IV-I)

Sounds finished, like in church music going 'A-men'.

Ritornello

Short, recurring instrumental passage found in both the aria and the Baroque concerto

Augmentation

Statement of a melody in longer note values, often twice as slow as the original.

Dimunition

Statement of a melody in shorter note values, often twice as fast as the original.

Modulation

the process of changing from one key to another

Major Tonality

sounds bright and happy

Sequence

Phrase repeated either higher or lower

Perfect cadence (V-I)

when the piece of music sounds finished.

Triplets

Three notes played in the time of two

Ostinato

a short phrase repeated over and over again

Concerto

a composition for orchestra and a soloist

Symphony

a large scale piece of work played by a orchestra

Sonata

Soloist accompanied by piano or a piano on its own

Exposition

1st section of a movement in Sonata form

Coda

Small section at the end of a piece of music. Italian word for 'tail'.

Polyphonic

When the music weaves in and out of each other.

Inverted Pedal

A note which is held on or repeated continuously at a high pitch

Pedal

A note which is held on or repeated continuously at a lower pitch.

Syncopation

Parts play off beat.

Glissando

rapid slide up or down on an instrument

Descant

A melody which is sung above the main melody

Added 6th Chord

Chord that has the 6th note of the scale added to it i.e. C Major is C E G but with a 6th note it would be C

E G A.

Diminished 7th Chord

A chord consisting of three intervals of a minor 3rd built one on top of the other, the interval between

the lower and top note being a diminished 7th. Creates tension.

Dominant 7th Chord

A Chord built on the dominant (5th) note of a key which adds the 7th note above its root. It is

sometimes written as V7 or, in the key of C major, G7(GBDF).

Augmented Chord

This chord is formed by a major triad in which the 5th degree is raised by a semitone

Harmonic Minor Scale

A Scale which shares the same key signature as its RELATIVE MAJOR but raises the 7th note by a

semitone.

Melodic Minor Scale

A Scale which shares the same key signature as its RELATIVE MAJOR but raises the 6th and 7th notes by

a semitone ascending, and similarly lowers them descending.

Interrupted Cadence

Chords V - VI at the end of a phrase. In a major key, chord VI is minor: It sounds unfinished.

Plagal Cadence

Chords IV to I at the end of a phrase: It sounds finished and think of a Church song.

Mode/Modal

Usually this refers to any of the early scales e.g. Dorian mode (white notes D to D on a keyboard).

Anacrusis

Upbeat to the music

Cross Rhythms

Contrasting rhythms played at the same time.

Con Sordino

Muted

Flutter tonguing

When the player rolls the letter R on a woodwind or brass instrument.

Rolls

Very fast repetition of a note on a percussion instrument

Tremelando

string technique sounds like trembling

Coloratura

One type of singing that was sometimes heard in ARIAS was called COLORATURA. This concept is used

to describe high, florid ('flowery' and 'showy') vocal singing involving:Scales, Runs, Wide leaps,

Ornaments, lots of melismatic singing.

Harmonics

The high eerie sounds produced on a string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain

points. Harmonics can be played on any instrument with strings for example, violin, guitar and harp.

Musique Concrete

20th century style of composition using pre-recorded live sounds, for example, a creaking door. These

sounds are then edited by simple editing techniques such as cutting and re-assembling, playing

backwards, slowing down and speeding up.

Oratorio

An ORATORIO is similar to an OPERA in many respects. It uses soloists, choruses and is accompanied by

an orchestra. However, it does NOT use costumes, staging or scenery and is based on the BIBLE The

choir usually sit behind the orchestra in the concert hall or church and the soloists sit in front of the

orchestra.

Plainchant

Unaccompanied melody set to the Latin words of the Roman Catholic liturgy. Modal with no regular

metre.

Recitative

A type of vocal writing where the music follows the rhythm of speech. A recitative is often followed by

an aria.

Sonata

A work for solo piano, or solo instrument and piano, often in three or four movements.

Lied

German word for song, sung in german, solo singer accompanied by piano.

Impressionist

A 20th century style where brief musical ideas merge and change to create a rather blurred and vague outline.

Jazz Funk

A combination of jazz improvisation and the amplified instruments and character of rock.

Sonata Form

Exposition, Development, Recapitulation

Da capo aria

An aria in ternary form used in opera and oratorio

Alberti Bass

Broken chord accompaniment in the bass, often used in keyboard music.