Chapter 99 Vocab

Front 1

basso

Back 1

lowest male voice; bass

Front 2

baritone

Back 2

male voice between base and tenor

Front 3

tenor

Back 3

adult male voice between baritone and alto

Front 4

alto

Back 4

highest male voice; countertenor

Front 5

falsetto

Back 5

artificially high voice

Front 6

contralto

Back 6

lowest female voice

Front 7

grave

Back 7

slowest tempo in music

Front 8

largo

Back 8

slow and dignified; stately

Front 9

adagio

Back 9

slow; in an easy, graceful manner

Front 10

lento

Back 10

slow

Front 11

andante

Back 11

moderately slow, but flowing

Front 12

moderato

Back 12

in moderate time

Front 13

allegro

Back 13

brisk; quick; lively

Front 14

mezzo-soprano

Back 14

female voice between contralto and soprano

Front 15

soprano

Back 15

highest voice in women and boys

Front 16

coloratura

Back 16

vocal music ornamented with runs and trills

Front 17

vivace

Back 17

brisk; spirited

Front 18

presto

Back 18

quick

Front 19

prestissimo

Back 19

at a very rapid pace

Front 20

crescendo

Back 20

gradually increasing in force or loudness

Front 21

decrescendo

Back 21

gradually decreasing in force or loudness

Front 22

dolce

Back 22

soft; sweet

Front 23

forte

Back 23

loud
ant. piano

Front 24

fortissimo

Back 24

very loud
ant. pianissimo

Front 25

pianissimo

Back 25

very soft

Front 26

piano

Back 26

soft

Front 27

sforzando

Back 27

accented; stressed

Front 28

a cappella

Back 28

without musical accompaniment

Front 29

arpeggio

Back 29

playing of the tones of a chord in rapid succession

Front 30

legato

Back 30

smooth and connected

Front 31

pizzicato

Back 31

by means of plucking the strings instead of using the bow

Front 32

staccato

Back 32

with breaks between successive notes; disconnected; abrupt

Front 33

tremolo

Back 33

rapid repetition of a tone or chord, without apparent breaks

Front 34

vibrato

Back 34

slightly throbbing or pulsating effect, adding warmth and beauty to the tone

Front 35

aria

Back 35

air, melody, or tune; especially, an elaborate, accompanied melody for a single voice in an opera

Front 36

bravura

Back 36

piece of music requiring skill and spirit in the performer

Front 37

cantata

Back 37

composite vocal and instrumental work, as one for soloists and chorus accompanied by a small orchestra

Front 38

concerto

Back 38

long musical composition for one or more principal instruments with orchestral accompaniment

Front 39

duet

Back 39

piece of music for two voices or instruments

Front 40

finale

Back 40

close or termination, as the last section of a musical composition

Front 41

intermezzo

Back 41

short musical or dramatic entertainment between the acts of a play

Front 42

libretto

Back 42

text or words of an opera or other long musical composition

Front 43

opera

Back 43

play mostly sung, with costumes, scenery, action, and music

Front 44

oratorio

Back 44

musical composition, usually on a religious theme, for solo voices, chorus and orchestra

Front 45

scherzo

Back 45

light or playful part of a sonata or symphony

Front 46

solo

Back 46

piece of music for one voice or instrument

Front 47

sonata

Back 47

piece of music having three or four movements in contrasted rhythms but related tonality

Front 48

trio

Back 48

piece of music for three voices or instruments

Front 49

tutti

Back 49

all

Front 50

tutti

Back 50

section of a musical composition played by all the performers

Front 51

cameo

Back 51

gem or medallion but in relief, the carved figure projecting

Front 52

campanile

Back 52

bell tower

Front 53

canto

Back 53

one of the chief divisions of a long poem

Front 54

chiaroscuro

Back 54

distributing and treatment of light and shade in painting or sketching

Front 55

cupola

Back 55

rounded roof; dome

Front 56

fresco

Back 56

art of painting with watercolors on damp fresh plaster

Front 57

intaglio

Back 57

design engraved by making cuts in a surface, into which the incised figure is sunk

Front 58

majolica

Back 58

enameled Italian pottery richly decorated in colors

Front 59

mezzanine

Back 59

intermediate story in a theater between the main floor and the first balcony

Front 60

mezzotint

Back 60

picture engraved on copper or steel by polishing or scraping away parts of a roughened surface

Front 61

patina

Back 61

film or incrustation, usually green, on the surface of old bronze or copper

Front 62

portico

Back 62

roof supported by columns, forming a porch or a covered walk

Front 63

rialto

Back 63

marketplace

Front 64

rotunda

Back 64

round building, especially one with a dome or cupola

Front 65

stucco

Back 65

plaster made of cement, sand, and lime for covering exterior walls of buildings

Front 66

tempera

Back 66

method of painting in which the colors are mixed with egg yolk or other substances, instead of oil

Front 67

terra-cotta

Back 67

hard clay for vases, roofing, statuettes

Front 68

torso

Back 68

trunk of body or statue without head, arms, or legs

Front 69

buffo

Back 69

male singer who plays a comic role in an opera; buffoon; clown

Front 70

cognoscente

Back 70

person having a superior knowledge of a field; expert; connoisseur

Front 71

dillettante

Back 71

dabbler in an art or other field

Front 72

diva

Back 72

principal female singer in an opera; prima donna

Front 73

impresario

Back 73

organizer or director of an opera or ballet company or a concert series

Front 74

inamorata

Back 74

woman the one loves

Front 75

inamorato

Back 75

man that one loves

Front 76

maestro

Back 76

eminent conductor, composer, or teacher of music

Front 77

mounteback

Back 77

boastful pretender; charlatan; quack

Front 78

politico

Back 78

politician

Front 79

prima donna

Back 79

principal singer in an opera

Front 80

simpatico

Back 80

possessing attractive qualities; appealing; likable; congenial

Front 81

virtuoso

Back 81

one who exhibits great technical skill in an art, especially in playing a musical instrument

Front 82

dolce far niente

Back 82

delightful idleness

Front 83

fiasco

Back 83

crash; complete or ridiculous failure

Front 84

imbroglio

Back 84

difficult situation

Front 85

incognito

Back 85

with one's identity concealed

Front 86

incognito

Back 86

disguised state

Front 87

vendetta

Back 87

feud for blood revenge

Front 88

antipasto

Back 88

appetizer consisting of fish, meats

Front 89

Chianti

Back 89

dry, red Italian wine

Front 90

gusto

Back 90

liking or taste; hearty enjoyment

Front 91

pasta

Back 91

paste or dough- used dried, as in macaroni, or fresh

Front 92

pizza

Back 92

pie of flattened dough topped with tomatoes, cheese, etc

Front 93

alfresco

Back 93

in the open air; outdoor

Front 94

bravo

Back 94

shout applauding an excellent performance

Front 95

gondola

Back 95

boat used in the canals of Venice

Front 96

grotto

Back 96

cave

Front 97

piazza

Back 97

town square or open market, esp Italy

Front 98

portfolio

Back 98

briefcase

Front 99

salvo

Back 99

simultaneous discharge of shots

Front 100

sotto voce

Back 100

under the breath; in an undertone; privately; as a sotto voce remark