Musical+terms+for+Exam+1 (1)

Page 1: Musical Terms

Dynamics

• Crescendo: gradually gets louder

• Decrescendo: gradually gets softer

• Forte: loud

• Piano: soft

• Mezzo: medium

• Dynamics: degrees of soft and loud

Chords and Harmony

• Chord: several sounds played at once

• Triad: three notes

• Melody: prominent sound heard

• Harmony: background sound heard

• Dissonance: musical tension

• Consonance: musical resolution

Rhythm and Tempo

• Rhythm: internal beat of the music

• Allegro: fast

• Adagio: slow

• Andante: walking tempo

• Presto: very fast

Key Signatures

• Major: pleasant

• Minor: not so pleasant

Additional Terms

• Drone: single sustained note

Page 2: Standard Orchestral Instrumentation

Strings

• Violin: high

• Viola: middle

• Cello: low

• String Bass: lowest

Woodwinds

• Double Reeds

  • Oboe: high

  • English Horn: middle

  • Bassoon: low

• Single Reeds

  • E flat Clarinet: high

  • Clarinet: middle

  • Bass Clarinet: low

• Other Woodwinds

  • Piccolo: highest

  • Flute: high

Brass

• Trumpet: high

• Horn: middle

• Trombone: low

• Tuba: lowest

Percussion

• Timpani

• Cymbals

• Bass Drum

• Snare Drum

• Xylophone

• Triangle

• Harp

• Tambourine