all state exam hs vocab

Musical Terms Outline

Tempo Terms

1. A tempo - Return to the original tempo after some deviation

2. Accelerando - Becoming gradually faster

3. Allargando - Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; typically toward the end of a piece

4. Allegro con spirito - Fast tempo with spirit

5. Andante - Rather slow, at a moderate walking speed

6. Largo - Very slow and broad

7. Presto - Very fast; faster than allegro

8. Rallentando - Gradually slowing down

9. Rubato - Flexible tempo, accelerating and slowing down expressively

Dynamic and Expression Terms

1. Dolce - Sweetly, usually also softly

2. Espressivo - To play or sing with expression

3. Grandioso - Grand, majestic

4. Mezzo forte - Medium loud

5. Sforzando - Strongly accented; forced

6. Sotto voce - Softly; with subdued sound

Structural and Form Terms

1. Binary form - AB form of composition with two distinct sections

2. Form - Organization and structure of a composition

3. Strophic - A song where all stanzas are sung to the same music

Vocal Techniques and Styles

1. Bel canto - “Beautiful singing”; an Italian Opera term

2. Falsetto - Vocal phonation allowing for notes beyond normal range

3. Legato - Smooth, connected manner of playing or singing

4. Vibrato - Rapid fluctuation of pitch above or below the main pitch

Miscellaneous Terms

1. Anacrusis - Upbeat or pickup

2. Arpeggio - Notes of a chord played in succession

3. Cantabile - In a singing style; singable

4. Interval - Relationship between two pitches

5. Motif - A short musical idea or theme

6. Tranquillo - To perform in a relaxed tempo

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