Music Terms for dynamics, tempo & texture GCSE

p

piano- quiet

mp

mezzo piano- moderately quiet

mf

mezzo forte- moderately loud

f

forte- loud

pp

pianissimo- very quiet

ff

fortissimo- very loud

crescendo- gradually getting louder

largo

very slow

lento

very slow

adagio

slow

moderato

medium pace

andante

walking pace

allegro

fast

presto

very fast

accelerando

getting faster

ritenuto

getting slower

texture

how different parts of music fit together

monophonic

a single (unaccompanied) melody line

unison

different parts playing the same notes at the same pitch

octaves

different parts playing the same notes at different octaves

homophonic

all parts moving together in harmony

a) melody and accompaniment

b) chordal

polyphonic

also known as contrapuntal

more than one different melody line playing at the same time

heterophonic

multiple parts play different variations of the same tune

imitation

A melody is copied by a different part/singer/instrument – sometimes with slight changes.

canon

Each part plays the same melody but starts at different times – the melody is played exactly the same.

When a canon is sung, it is also known as a round.

fugal

Each part plays the same melody starting at a different time – but starting on a different note.

Usually the dominant – then back to the tonic.

antiphony

Passages of music are performed by different singers/instrumentalists alternately.

ostinato

Repeating rhythmic or melodic idea

decrescendo- gradually getting softer