FINE ARTS UNIT 3 VOCAB

Acoustics

the science of sound

Dynamics

degrees of loud and soft

Forte

loud

Piano

soft

Allegro

fast

Andante

walking speed

Adagio

slow

Melody

series of sounds with organized rhythm; a succession of tones with a recognizable musical shape

Cadence

the melody comes to a stopping point

Harmony

two or more tones sounding at one time

Harmonic Progression

standardized paths for harmonies to take from one chord to another

Tonality

organized harmony

Scales

a series of 7 notes in a defined pattern

*Homophony

one import musical line, everything else accompanying

*Polyphony

two or more important musical lines simultaneously

Doctrine of Ethos

philosophers believed modes (Greek scales) permanently influenced character

*Chant

monophonic text in Latin; seen as functional music

A Cappella

“voices only;” no instrumental accompaniment

Organum

Word Painting

music closely follows the text

Imitation

using one melody and repeating through the voices

Hymn

a religious song/poem

Dance Suite

secular genre where a series of instrumental dances performed together as a unit

Idiomatic Writing

composing for a specific instrument/voice type

Virtuoso

specialist performer on an instrument

*Basso Continuo

low voice; found in bass instrument + harpsichord (organ)

Concerto

multi-movement work for solo instrumental orchestral accompaniment

Fugue

a contrapuntal style where a short melody/phrase (subject) is introduced by 1 part & successively taken up by others & developed by interweaving the parts

Sonata

(many things) could be for solo instrument OR a multi-movement piece for solo instrument & continuo accompaniment

Oratorio

a sung theatrical performance, but no staging/costumes/sets

Ritornello Form

ABACADAE…A

Symphony

multi-movement piece for orchestra

String Quartet

multi-movement piece for 2 violins, viola, and cello

Rondo Form

ABACABA

Theme and Variations

a melody is repeated with slight changes each time

Cyclic

same motif heard in all 4 movements, unites them together; made by Beethoven

*Lied

German polyphonic secular song

Character Pieces

focus on “mood,” not form

Ideé fixe

a recurring motif/theme

Dies Irae

a Requiem Mass by Mozart

Symphonic Poem

tone poem; one movement program music for orchestra

Impressionism

in direct opposition to ideas & sound of German Romantic orchestral music

*Serialism

compositions using series of pitches, rhythms, harmonies, dynamics, dynamics, etc.

Ostinato

a regularly rhythmic pattern

*Sprechstimme

a style of dramatic vocalization intermediate between speech and song

“Dance”

human movement + artistic expression

Choreographer

person who creates the dance routine, director/composer of dance

Mise-en-scene

the setting/surrounding of an event; what’s seen on stage

Mime

body movement of people/animals; suggesting action/character/emotion without using words

Pantomime

“acting out” dramatic action with no words often accompanied by music

Pas de deux

“step of two;” a dancing that showcases gender sterotypes

Estampie

secular dance featuring a basic rhythm repeated ad nauseam

Divertissements

“diversions”