APPENDIX GLOSSARY OF MUSIC TERMS

Appendix: Glossary of Music Terms with Composers

Absolute Music

Music created without any reference to literature, poetry, nature, or other nonmusical factors.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Anton Bruckner.

A Cappella

Choral music performed without instrumental accompaniment.Composers: Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, Eric Whitacre.

Alberti Bass

A simple bass-part figuration where chord tones are sounded in succession, rather than simultaneously.Composers: Domenico Scarlatti, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Atonal Music

Music that does not center around any major or minor key.Composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern.

Basso Continuo

A Baroque accompaniment part typically played by a harpsichordist or organist and a cellist or bassoonist.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, George Frideric Handel.

Bi-tonal Music

Music that features two keys occurring simultaneously.Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Charles Ives.

Cadenza

A technically brilliant passage in a piece of music, often appearing just before the final cadence.Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Sergei Rachmaninoff.

Celesta

A small keyboard instrument employing steel bars for sound production; notably used in orchestral compositions by Tchaikovsky.Composers: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, Maurice Ravel.

Chord

A combination of three or more notes sounded together.Composers: Claude Debussy, Franz Schubert.

Chromatic

Notes that include sharps, flats, or naturals not found in the scale or key of the composition.Composers: Richard Wagner, Claude Debussy.

Consonant

Sounds that are stable, smooth, and at rest.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Johannes Brahms.

Contrapuntal

Denotes music with two or more rhythmically and melodically independent lines.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Dmitri Shostakovich.

Counterpoint

The combination of two or more independent melodies that are rhythmically shaped.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Giovanni Gabrieli.

Descriptive Music

Music that aims to portray literary effects or moods, as well as nature or events.Composers: Hector Berlioz, Bedřich Smetana.

Development

The reworking of previously stated thematic material within a musical piece; typically found in the middle section of a sonata form.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn.

Diatonic

Refers to tones that belong to the scale or key of a piece.Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Johannes Brahms.

Dissonant

Sounds that are unstable, harsh, and create tension.Composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky.

Dulcimer

A soft-sounding stringed instrument played on the lap, similar to an autoharp.Composers: Traditional folk music, contemporary composers like Kevin Volans.

Dynamic Level

The variation in softness and loudness in a musical piece.Composers: Gustav Mahler, Claude Debussy.

Electronic Music

Music produced using tape recorders, synthesizers, or digital computers.Composers: Karlheinz Stockhausen, Pierre Schaeffer.

Exposition

The section of a sonata form movement or fugue where the thematic material is presented.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Figuration

The elaboration and decoration of simple chords in musical accompaniment parts.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy.

Form and Structure

Form: The organizing framework of musical works marked by the progression of themes and tonalities.Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók.

Fugue

A structured composition with an imitative contrapuntal texture.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Dmitri Shostakovich.

Harmony

The movement from one chord to another within a piece.Composers: Claude Debussy, Franz Liszt.

Harmonic Cadence

A two-chord progression marking the end of phrases or sections.Composers: Johannes Brahms, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Harpsichord

A keyboard instrument popular in the Baroque era, with strings plucked instead of struck.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, François Couperin.

Hemiola

A rhythmic device structuring equal beat divisions into two and three.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Igor Stravinsky.

Imitation

The repetition of a melody by subsequent musical parts or voices.Composers: Giovanni Gabrieli, Johannes Brahms.

Key

A series of notes forming a scale, denoting the primary tonal center.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Legato

Playing notes smoothly and in a connected manner.Composers: Frédéric Chopin, Johannes Brahms.

Melody

An organized succession of pitches or tones, often divided into phrases.Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Franz Schubert.

Melodic Cadence

The concluding tone of a phrase, often utilizing scale-steps for different types of cadences.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Haydn.

Meter

The structured pattern of beats in music.Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Béla Bartók.

Metronome

A device indicating the number of beats per minute.Composers: Not applicable; a tool used by all composers.

Modulation

The transition from one key to another.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Additional Terms

Motive: A distinctive melodic-rhythmic pattern.Composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Igor Stravinsky.

Non-Chord Tones: Tones not matching the underlying chord.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Claude Debussy.

• Anticipation, Appoggiatura, Neighbor Tone, Passing Tone, Suspension.

Opus: A single work of a composer identified by number in a sequence of published works.Composers: Franz Joseph Haydn, Johannes Brahms.

Ornaments: Melodic embellishments like trills and turns.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Ostinato: A short, repeated melodic phrase, typically in the bass.Composers: Giovanni Gabrieli, Philip Glass.

Phrase: A semi-complete section of melody.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Schubert.

Program Music: Music with a title referencing literature or nature.Composers: Hector Berlioz, Jean Sibelius.

Recapitulation: The section in sonata form where previously stated thematic material returns.Composers: Ludwig van Beethoven, Franz Joseph Haydn.

Rhythm: The duration and pattern of musical sounds.Composers: Igor Stravinsky, Terry Riley.

Sacred Music: Music with religious themes.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Palestrina.

Scale: A sequential arrangement of pitches.Composers: Applicable to all composers.

Secular Music: Non-religious compositions.Composers: Various; specific examples include settings by Stravinsky in the context of secular pieces.

Sequence: The repetition of a melody at different pitch levels.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart.

Seventh Chord: A harmonic structure comprising four tones with a seventh interval.Composers: Claude Debussy, George Gershwin.

Staccato: Notes played in a detached or bouncing manner.Composers: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Scott Joplin.

Stretto: A contrapuntal technique where imitative entries overlap, creating a textural climax.Composers: Johann Sebastian Bach, Dmitri Shostakovich.

Syncopation: Rhythmic patterns contrasting with the regular beat.Composers: Scott Joplin, Leonard Bernstein.

Tempo: The speed at which music is played, measured in gradations like Largo, Andante, Allegro, etc.Composers: Different interpretations by various composers including Antonio Vivaldi and George Bizet.

Texture: The manner in which musical lines combine.Composers: J.S. Bach (polyphonic), Schubert (homophonic).

Theme: A simple melody that can undergo variations.Composers: Pachelbel (Canon in D), Brahms (Variations).

Tone Row: A specific arrangement of the twelve chromatic tones used for constructing melodies and harmonies.Composers: Arnold Schoenberg, Anton Webern.

Forms in Music

Formal Design: General forms and organizing phrases or sections.

• Additive Form: Contrasting succeeding phrases (ABCD).

• Binary Form: Two-part structure (AB).

• Continuous Form: One-section form.

• Fugue: Structured work with imitative textures (Bach, Shostakovich).

• Rondo Form: Multi-section form (ABACA).

• Sonata Form: Featuring exposition, development, and recapitulation.

• Ternary Form: Three-part structure (ABA).

Vocal and Instrumental Music

Vocal Music:

• Aria: Accompanied dramatic song for voice (Verdi, Puccini).

• Cantata: Religious music for solo voices and chorus (Bach).

• Lieder: Songs based on Romantic poetry (Schubert, Schumann).

• Madrigal: Renaissance choral piece with secular text (Thomas Weelkes).

• Mass: Sacred choral work for worship (Bach, Mozart).

Instrumental Music:

• Toccata: A free-form instrumental composition (Bach).

• Concerto: For solo instruments with orchestral response (Vivaldi, Haydn).

• Sonata: Detailed work often consisting of multiple movements (Beethoven).

• Symphony: A substantial orchestral piece usually with four movements (Haydn, Mahler).

Music Eras

Music Eras

The Baroque Era (1600-1750)

The Baroque era emerged after the Renaissance and was characterized by its highly ornamented style and expressiveness. The music of this period featured contrasting elements and musical forms such as opera, oratorio, concerto, and sonata. Instrumentation expanded significantly with the use of complex polyphony and new instruments like the violin family, harpsichord, and organ. The use of figured bass and basso continuo became standard. Notable Composers:

• Johann Sebastian Bach: Renowned for his mastery of counterpoint and his compositions like the "Brandenburg Concertos" and "Mass in B Minor."

• George Frideric Handel: Known for his operas and oratorios, particularly "Messiah."

• Antonio Vivaldi: Famous for his concertos, especially "The Four Seasons."

The Classical Era (1750-1800)

The Classical era followed the Baroque period and emphasized clarity, balance, and form. It saw the development of sonata form and the rise of the symphony and string quartet. This era favored homophonic textures, where a clear melody is accompanied by chords. Composers sought to express universality and create music that was more accessible to the general public. Notable Composers:

• Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart: Prolific in various genres, his masterpieces include "The Magic Flute" and "Requiem."

• Joseph Haydn: Often called the "father of the symphony" and the "string quartet," known for works like "The Creation" and "Symphony No. 94" (Surprise).

• Ludwig van Beethoven: A bridge between the Classical and Romantic eras, he expanded forms and emotional depth, exemplified in works like his "Symphony No. 9" and "Piano Sonatas."

The Romantic Era (1800-1900)

The Romantic era explored deeper emotional expression and individualism. It broke away from classical forms and conventions, incorporating more personal themes and nationalistic elements. Composers utilized innovative harmonies and expanded orchestras to enhance dramatic impact. The prominence of virtuosic performances emerged, along with operatic and orchestral music. Notable Composers:

• Frédéric Chopin: Known for his piano works that express profound emotion, such as nocturnes and études.

• Richard Wagner: Influential in expanding the role of opera with his concept of the Gesamtkunstwerk (total artwork), famous for "The Ring Cycle."

• Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky: Celebrated for his ballets and symphonic works, including "Swan Lake" and "The Nutcracker."

The Contemporary Era (1900-present)

The Contemporary era encompasses various movements characterized by experimentation and radical changes in musical style, often breaking away from traditional ideas. Styles such as jazz, minimalism, and folk influences emerged. Pioneering technology played a significant role in music production, leading to electronic music and innovative forms of composition. Diverse cultural influences also reshaped musical landscapes. Notable Composers:

• Arnold Schoenberg: Known for developing the twelve-tone technique and exploring atonality in works like "Pierrot Lunaire."

• Igor Stravinsky: Famous for his rhythmic innovations and ballets including "The Firebird" and "The Rite of Spring."

• Steve Reich: Renowned for his contributions to minimalism, with works emphasizing repetitive patterns and phasing techniques, such as "Music for 18 Musicians."