all state exam hs vocab

A tempo

Return to the original tempo after some deviation.

Accelerando

Becoming gradually faster.

Allargando

Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece.

Allegro con spirito

Fast tempo with spirit.

Anacrusis

Upbeat or pickup.

Andante

Rather slow, at a moderate walking speed.

Arpeggio

The notes of the chord played in succession to one another, rather than simultaneously; a broken chord.

Bel canto

'Beautiful singing'; an Italian Opera term.

Binary form

AB- form of a composition that has two distinct sections.

Cantabile

In a singing style; singable.

Chromatic

Motion by half steps; also describes harmony or melody that employs some of the sequential pitches in an octave.

D. C. or Da Capo

Repeat from the beginning of the composition.

Descant

A high obligato part above the melody.

Divisi

Performers singing the same part are divided to sing different parts.

Dolce

Sweetly, usually also softly.

Espressivo

To play or sing with expression.

Falsetto

Type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the normal vocal range.

Fermata

A pause or hold.

Form

The organization and structure of a composition.

Grandioso

Grand, majestic.

Improvisation

Music that is created spontaneously.

Interval

The relationship between two pitches, the distance between an upper and a lower pitch.

Largo

Very slow and broad.

Ledger lines

Short horizontal lines used to extend a staff either higher or lower.

Legato

To play or sing in a smooth, connected manner.

L’istesso

The beat remains constant when the meter changes.

Meno mosso

Less motion.

Meter

Indicated by a time signature, can be simple or compound.

Mezzo forte

Medium loud.

Modulation

To change key within a composition.

Motif

A short musical idea or melodic theme, usually shorter than a musical phrase.

Niente

Dying away to nothing.

Opera

A major vocal work that involves theatrical elements.

Oratorio

Large scale musical composition on a sacred subject.

Part song

An unaccompanied homophonic choral composition for three or more voices.

Poco piu mosso

A little more motion.

Presto

Very fast; faster than allegro.

Rallentando

Gradually slowing down.

Rubato

Making the established pulse flexible by accelerating and slowing down the tempo; an expressive device.

Senza

Without.

Sforzando

Strongly accented; forced.

Solfege

A system used for teaching sight-singing (Do-Re-Mi).

Sotto voce

Softly; with subdued sound; performed in an undertone.

Strophic

Describes a song where the stanzas are all sung to the same music.

Subito

Suddenly; quickly.

Tessitura

Most widely used range of pitches in a piece of music.

Tranquillo

To perform in a relaxed tempo.

Triad

Three note chord consisting of the root, third, and fifth.

Vibrato

A rapid fluctuation of pitch slightly higher or lower than the main pitch.

Vivace

Lively; briskly.