Overall Key Words

Baroque era

Period in music history from 1600 to 1750 characterized by harpsichord, ornaments, terraced dynamics, basso continuo, and small orchestras.

Classical era

Musical period from 1750 to 1810 featuring slightly larger orchestras, introduction of the piano, Alberti bass, and works by composers like Haydn, Mozart, and Beethoven.

Romantic era

Musical period from 1810 to 1910 known for lyrical melodies, large orchestras, wider dynamics, richer harmonies, and composers like Tchaikovsky, Grieg, and Brahms.

Binary form

Musical form with two sections, A and B, where A usually ends in a related key and B returns to the tonic with some change or contrast.

Ternary form

Musical form with three sections, ABA, where section B provides contrast and A may return exactly or with slight changes.

Rondo form

Musical form with a recurring main theme (A) interspersed with contrasting sections (B, C, etc.) called episodes.

Minuet and Trio

Dance-inspired musical form with two repeated sections in the minuet (AB) and two new repeated sections in the trio (CD), returning to the minuet at the end.

Variations

Musical form where the main theme is repeated and developed in different ways.

Strophic

Simple song form where the same melody is repeated throughout.

Chord

Group of two or more notes played simultaneously; a triad consists of three notes.

Chord sequence/pattern

Series of chords used in music.

Diatonic harmony

Harmony based on the chords of major and minor scales.

Primary chords

I, IV, V chords in a key.

Secondary chords

ii, iii, vi, vii chords in a key.

Cadences

Musical chords at the end of a phrase, including perfect, plagal, imperfect, and interrupted cadences.