Music Vocab Test 1

Appropriation

Aria

A song for a vocal soloist in genres such as opera or oratorio. The aria contrasts with recitative, a speech-like style of singing that conveys the dialogue

Auditory Cortex

Basso Continuo

Continuous bass, performed on a keyboard instrument (harpsichord or organ) and a low-range string or wind instrument. Used in the Baroque period

Classical Music

Classical Period

Clerics

A member of the clergy or religious figure, such as a priest or imam

Concerto

A three-movement (usually) work for a soloist(s) and orchestra (or band)

Genre

A category, usually of artistic output. Genres may be classified according to styles, eras, forms, subject matter, and so on

Harpsichord

A Baroque keyboard instrument with plucked strings

Lied

German term meaning “art song,” scored for piano and vocal soloist. Especially popular in the nineteenth century.

Madrigal

An Italian Renaissance vocal composition, usually written for several voices and often polyphonic

Mass Ordinary

Sections of the Catholic Mass where the texts remain the same from day to day, including the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei

Medieval Period

Opera

A staged and sung dramatic work with instrumental accompaniment.

Oratorio

A large-scale, unstaged sacred dramatic work for choir, soloists, and orchestra

Organ

Keyboard instrument in which pressurized air produces notes through pipes (pipe organ) or where notes are produced electronically (electronic organ).

Ornaments/Ornamentation

Decorative notes added to a basic melody, vocal or instrumental/The embellishment of a single musical line (vocal or instrumental) with decorative notes. Used most often in the Baroque period and also in jazz

Plainchant

See chant

Polyphony

A musical texture in which multiple independent melodic lines sound simultaneously

Popular Music

Program Music

Music that portrays extra-musical ideas or topics; often based on written or nonmusical artistic works

Protestant Reformation

Sixteenth-century religious movement that resulted in the formation of the Lutheran Church and other Protestant (non-Catholic) religions.

Recitative

Speech-like vocal style used in opera or oratorio that uses regular speech rhythms to carry the dialogue and forward the plot line

Renaissance Period