Chorus Exam

tempo - time, speed

adagio - slowly 

andante - walking speed 

allegro - quickly 

presto - very fast

accelerando - accelerating, gradually getting faster 

ritardando - slowing

rallentando - gradually slowing (over a longer period of time)

dynamics - the degree of loud or soft pianissimo - very soft (PP)

dynamic: piano - soft (P)

dynamic: mezzo-piano - moderately (medium) soft (mp)

dynamic: mezzo-forte - moderately (medium) loud (mf)

dynamic: forte - loud (f)

dynamic: fortissimo - very loud (ff) 

crescendo - gradually louder 

decrescendo - gradually softer

diminuendo - gradually softer (over a longer period of time)

Voice - the human instrument

choir - a group of vocalists

SATB - Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Bass

SSA - Soprano 1, Soprano 2, Alto

TTB - Tenor 1, Tenor 2, Bass

Chest voice - ones low register (vocal)

head voice - voice above the break

falsetto - false voice

diphthong - transition between two vowels

unison - sound as one

A cappella - without accompaniment

balance - equal voices

blend - equal tone quality

articulation - the way notes are begun 

attack - the first component of a note or sound

carry-over - connecting where u might normally breathe 

soprano - the highest female voice 

alto - the lowest female voice 

tenor - the highest male voice 

bass - the lowest male voice 

chorale - a traditional piece for choir

divisi - divide 

intonation - the ability to play or sing "in tune"

sotto voce - soft voice 

timbre - tone quality 

tonality - modality, sonority

a tempo - return to the previous tempo accent - stress

accompaniment - supports the vocal lines

arranger - the person that changes the setting of a piece of music 

beat - the pulse within the music 

composer - the creator of the music conductor - musical director

consonance - harmony which does not need to be resolved 

dissonance - clashing harmonies downbeat - the first beat of the measure espressivo - expressively 

fermata - hold 

grand pause - break

introduction - the opening to a piece of music 

legato - smoothly

lyric - text OR smooth melodic style 

mezzo - middle, medium 

molto - much

poco a poco - little by little 

quartet - group of 4 performers 

quintet - group of 5 performers 

staccato - short, detached 

subito - suddenly

tenuto - stress

theme - musical idea

tie - connecting two like notes and played as one

tuti - all

un poco - a little