AP Music Theory Vocabulary - D & E

I hate vocab

da capo (It., Dah KAH-poh)

"from the beginning;" indicates to return to the beginning.

da capo al coda

Indicates to return to the beginning and play to the "To Coda" indication, then skip to the Coda and finish.

da capo al fine

Indicates to return to the beginning of a piece and play to the "Fine."

dal (It., dahl)

"from the," "by the"

dal segno (It., dahl SAY-nyoh)

"from the sign;" indicates to return to the sign %.

dal segno al coda

Indicates to return to the D.S. sign and play to the "To Coda" indication, then skip to the Coda and finish.

dal segno al fine

Indicates to return to the D.S. sign and play to the "Fine".

decrescendo (It., deh-creh-SHEN-doh)

Gradually growing softer.

descant

Soprano or tenor voice; a melodic line or counterpoint accompanying an existing melody.

détaché (Fr., Day-tah-SHAY)

In string playing, short detached bowing strokes.

development

The elaboration of thematic, melodic, harmonic, or rhythmic material.

diatonic

The notes indigenous to a key in a major or minor scale.

diluendo (It., dee-loo-EN-doh)

Fading.

diminution

Shortening the duration of note values of a theme.

diminuendo (It., dee-mee-noo-EN-doh)

Gradually getting softer.

disinvolto (It., dee-zeen-VOHL-toh)

Easily, freely.

disjunct

Moving by skips - intervals larger than a second.

divertimento (It., dee-vehr-tee-mehn-toh)

An entertaining instrumental piece with short movements.

divisi, div. (It., dee-VEE-see)

"Divided;" indicating separate parts written on one staff to be played by separate performers.

dodecaphonic (doh-dehk-a-FON-ic)

Twelve-tone music.

doit (doyt)

A jazz technique on brass and wind instruments where a note is sounded and then glissed upwards from 1 to 5 steps.

dolce (It., DOHL-cheh)

Sweet.

doloroso (It., doh-loh-ROH-zoh)

Sorrowful.

double stop

In the string family, playing two notes simultaneously.

double time

Duple meter; twice as fast as before.

drone

A note that continues at the same pitch for an extended time.

D.S.

Dal segno.

dump

A melancholy elegy, lament, or slow dance from the 16th century.

duplet (DOO-plet)

Two notes played in the time of three notes of equal value.

dur (Ger., door)

Major.

ebollimento (It., eh-bohl-lee-MEN-toh)

Sudden passion.

eight to the bar

A repeated bass pattern that has eight eighth notes to a measure.

Einhalt (Ger., EIN-hahlt)

A pause.

Einklang (Ger., Ein-klahng)

Unison, harmonious.

elegy

A melancholy piece.

embellishment

Ornaments added to music or to a melodic line.

embouchure (Fr., AHM-boo-shoor)

On wind and brass instruments, the shape of the mouth and lips.

ému (Fr., ay-M[U]E)

With feeling.

encore (ON-kor)

"Again;" to repeat a piece or play an additional piece at the end of a performance.

entr'acte (Fr., ah[n]-TRAHKT)

A piece played between acts of an opera, ballet, or musical.

entrada (Sp., en-TRAH-dah)

Prelude.

entrée (Fr., ah[n]-TRAY)

Opening piece for entry of characters in a ballet or opera; a scene or section.

episode

In a fugue, a section that does not contain the main theme or subject.

equal temperament

Any tuning system that divides the octave into a number of equal intervals.

espressivo (It., eh-spreg-SEE-voh)

Expressive, emotional.

estinto (It., es-TEEN-toh)

Soft, almost inaudible.

étouffé (Fr., ay-toof-FAY)

Muted, damped.

étude (Fr., ay-T[U]ED)

A study or exercise piece written to improve technique.

etwas (Ger., ET-vahss)

Somewhat.

exposition

In sonata form, the first section containing theme statements; in a fugue, the introduction of the subject in all parts.

expressionism

Early 20th century musical style employing a subjective and abstractive approach, in opposition to impressionism.