TMTA Grade 9

Ad Libitum

Freedom to improvise or vary the tempo

Alto

In four part harmony, the second highest voice

Aria

A composition for solo voice

Augmented Interval

A Perfect or Major interval that has been increased by a half step

Authentic Cadence

A cadence which progresses from the dominant triad (V) to the tonic triad (I or i)

Augmented Triad

A triad that is built of two Major thirds, a Major third from the root note to the third and a Major third from the third to the fifth (or an augmented 5th from the root note to the 5th)

Bass

In four part harmony, the lowest voice

Chromatic Scale

A twelve-tone scale built only of half-steps

Diminished Interval

A Perfect or minor interval that has been decreased by a half step

Diminished Triad

A triad that is built of two minor thirds, a minor third from the root note to the third and a minor third from the third of the triad to the fifth (or a diminished 5th from the root note to the 5th)

Half Cadence

Any cadence which ends on the dominant triad (V)

Harmonic Interval

Two tones played or sung at the same time

Imperfect Authentic Cadence

Any Authentic Cadence (V-I) which is not a Perfect Authentic Cadence (does not have it's roots in the bass)

Invention

A short contrapuntal piece, with one theme

Melody

An organized group of tones, heard one at a time, which is divided into phrases, a tune

Melodic Interval

Two tones played or sung in succession

Names of Scale Degrees

Degrees: Tonic (I), Supertonic (II), Mediant (III), Subdominant (IV), Dominant (V), Submediant (VI), Leading Tone/Subtonic (VII)

Opera

A theatrical drama, that is sung. A drama set to music

Parallel Keys

Major and minor keys that have the same keynote (C MAJ-c min)

Perfect Authentic Cadence

An Authentic Cadence (V-I) that has the root of both chords in the bass and the soprano of the I chord

Phrase

Part of a melody which pauses or stops with a cadence

Plagal cadence

A cadence which progresses from the subdominant triad (IV or iv) to the Tonic triad (I or i)

Prelude

A smaller composition that is usually followed by a larger composition, in the same key

Relative Keys

Major and minor keys that share the same key signature (C MAJ-a min)

Semplice

To play simply, without ornament

Soprano

In four-part harmony, the highest voice

Tenor

In four-part harmony, the third highest voice

Whole Tone Scale

A six-tone scale built only of whole tones