AP Music Theory

homophony

texture with principal melody and accompanying harmony

heterophony

a type of texture characterized by the simultaneous variation of a single melodic line

polyphony

the style of simultaneously combining a number of parts, each forming an individual melody and harmonizing with each other.

monophony

single-line texture, or melody without accompaniment

appoggiatura

a grace note performed before a note of the melody and falling on the beat

anticipation

part of a chord about to follow is introduced beforehand (approached by step)

escape tone

approached by step, resolved by skip in the opposite direction

neighbor tone

a nonharmonic tone which steps below (lower) or above (upper) the chord tones.

preparation

the consonant pitch or chord which precedes a dissonant nonharmonic tone (move from consonance to dissonance)

suspension

prolonging a note to create a dissonance with the next chord, resolves down

retardation

prolonging a note to create a dissonance with the next chord, resolves up

resolution

the move of a note or chord from dissonance to a consonance

retrograde

inversion of a motive that reverses the order of the motive's pitches

binary form

a musical form consisting of two units (A and B) constructed to balance and complement each other

rounded binary form

binary form in which the beginning or all of the first section returns in the tonic in the latter part of the second section

ternary form

a three-part musical form in which the third section is a repeat of the first

truncation

Shortening of a musical phrase

elision

a special device for joining phrases together in an overlapping manner; the final bar of one phrase is simultaneously the first bar of the next phrase

augmentation

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

diminution

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

melisma

a group of notes sung to one syllable of text

ostinato

a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm

obbligato

an instrumental part, typically distinctive in effect, which is integral to a piece of music and should not be omitted in performance

rubato

a flexible tempo using slight variations of speed to enhance musical expression

tessitura

the range within which most notes lie

fragmentation

division of a musical idea (gesture, motive, theme, etc.) into segments

parallel period

when two phrases begin the same

contrasting period

when two phrases begin differently

strophic form

verse-repeating or chorus form

voice exchange

when voice parts exchange notes in order to prolong a chord: For example, a I chord moving to a I6 chord could exchange the root and the third with the bass and soprano voices

conjunct

stepwise

disjunct

a melody that moves by leaps

ionian

major scale

dorian

starting on second degree of major, close to minor

phrygian

starting on third degree of major, close to minor

lydian

starting on fourth degree of major, close to major

mixolydian

starting on fifth degree of major, close to major

aeolian

starting on sixth degree of major, same as natural minor

locrian

starting on the seventh degree of major, basically a minor scale

antiphonal

A type of music in which two or more groups of voices or instruments alternate with one another

picardy third

suddenly ending a minor composition in a major triad

phrygian half cadence

iv6 to V in minor

plagal cadence

IV-I (hallelujah)

deceptive cadence

V-vi

perfect authentic cadence

V to I; in root position; melody ends on tonic

imperfect authentic cadence

must end on I chord

half cadence

ends with the V chord

sequence

melodic phrase repeated at different levels of pitch

consequent phrase

the second phrase of a two-part melodic unit that brings a melody to a point of repose and closure

antecedent phrase

the opening, incomplete-sounding phrase of a melody with a half cadence; often followed by a consequent phrase that brings the melody to closure

cadenza

solo section

scalar variance

the use of natural, harmonic, and melodic minor within one composition

recapitulation

reiteration of the musical themes from the movement's exposition

rondo form

classical form with at least three statements of the refrain (A) and at least two contrasting sections (at least B and C); placement of the refrain creates symmetrical patterns such as ABACA, ABACABA, or even ABACADA

mordent

ornament in which the written note is played, followed by the note above and the written note again (basically a trill)

hemiola

a musical figure in which, typically, two groups of three beats are replaced by three groups of two beats, giving the effect of a shift between triple and duple meter

alla breve

cut time 2/2

stringendo

gradually faster