Reading...
Play button
Play button
Use LEFT and RIGHT arrow keys to navigate between flashcards;
Use UP and DOWN arrow keys to flip the card;
H to show hint;
A reads text to speech;
71 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
|
Amplitude
|
The maximum displacement of a wave particle from its equilibrium
position; is independent of frequency; measured as a ratio of two sounds’ intensities |
|
|
Attack
|
The first stage of the sound envelope; describes the sound produced
before the tone-producing vibration is achieved |
|
|
Beats, acoustic definition
|
Variations in volume detected by the ear when sound waves of slightly
different frequencies overlap |
|
|
Compression
|
The relatively high-pressure regions in a sound wave where the
molecules of the medium are pushed closer together than when at equilibrium |
|
|
Crest
|
The high point of a wave; the farthest from equilibrium a wave
particle moves in the positive direction |
|
|
Decibel
|
Unit that measures the ratio between two sounds’ intensities; indicates
the loudness of a sound relative to other sounds; utilizes a logarithmic scale; named for Alexander Graham Bell |
|
|
Dynamics
|
The volume or intensity of a musical piece or of an instrument in a
piece; help convey emotion and create variety |
|
|
Frequency
|
A measure of how quickly a sound waves oscillates as it travels
through a medium; the reciprocal of a wave’s period; measured in hertz (Hz) |
|
|
Hertz
|
A unit equal to one cycle per second; used to measure frequency;
named after the physicist Heinrich Hertz |
|
|
Music
|
The organized arrangement of sound within a given time period
|
|
|
Pitch
|
1) How high or low a sound is perceived by the human ear; is directly
proportional to frequency; or 2) A sound of a particular frequency; a tone |
|
|
Rarefaction
|
The relatively low-pressure regions in a sound wave where the
molecules of the medium are spaced farther apart than at equilibrium |
|
|
Sound wave
|
The form in which sound travels through a medium
|
|
|
Timbre
|
The sound quality or “tone color” produced by a given voice or
instrument; results from the overall sound wave produced; the timbre of an ensemble results from the individual timbres of its component instruments or voices; also known as sonority |
|
|
Tone
|
A sound with a particular frequency
|
|
|
Form
|
The structure of a piece of music; describes the organization of
individual musical elements, the arrangement of sections of music, or both |
|
|
Harmony
|
The simultaneous sounding of more than one pitch; usually
accompanies or supports the melody |
|
|
Melody
|
The sequence of pitches that is played or sung in a piece
|
|
|
Rhythm
|
The arrangement of sounds and silences with respect to time
|
|
|
Texture
|
The layering of musical sounds; can exist at melodic, harmonic, and
rhythmic levels |
|
|
Motif
|
A melodic idea that recurs throughout a piece; may be a phrase but is
often shorter; also known as motive |
|
|
Ascending melody
|
A melodic line in which the notes generally progress higher and higher
in pitch |
|
|
Crescendo
|
Gradually getting louder or “growing”; may also be denoted by an
elongated “hairpin” symbol opening to the right ( < ) |
|
|
Decrescendo
|
Gradually getting softer; diminishing; may also be denoted by a
hairpin symbol opening to the left ( > ) |
|
|
Forte
|
Loud; abbreviated as f
|
|
|
Fortissimo
|
Very loud; abbreviated as ff
|
|
|
Mezzo
|
Literally “middle” or “medium;” modifies other musical terms (but
not a dynamics marker in its own right) |
|
|
Mezzo forte
|
Literally “medium loud”; play at moderate volume louder than piano
or mezzopiano but softer than forte; abbreviated as mf |
|
|
Mezzo piano
|
Literally “medium soft”; louder than piano but softer than mezzo forte;
abbreviated as mp |
|
|
Pianissimo
|
Very softly; softer than piano; abbreviated as pp
|
|
|
Piano
|
Literally “quiet”; a direction to play softly; abbreviated as p
|
|
|
Sotto voce
|
Literally “under the breath”; a direction to play very softly
|
|
|
Accelerando
|
Direction for the music to get faster
|
|
|
Adagio
|
Slow tempo around 100-129 M.M.; also known as adagio
|
|
|
Allegro
|
“Joyful”; fast speed around 156-184 M.M.
|
|
|
Andante
|
“A walking pace”; indicates a moderate tempo, around 128-156 M.M.
|
|
|
Comodo
|
“Comfortable”; signifies moderate speed
|
|
|
A tempo
|
Return to the original tempo
|
|
|
Largo
|
“Broad”; indicates a slow tempo, around 40-70 M.M.
|
|
|
Prestissimo
|
As fast as possible
|
|
|
Presto
|
“Ready”; indicates a very fast tempo, around 184-208 M.M.
|
|
|
ITALIAN MUSICAL TERMS – MOOD/CHARACTER
|
Affetuoso- Tenderly
Agitato- Excited and fast Animato- Animated Cantabile- In a lyrical, singing style Capriccioso- Whimsically Con amore- With love Con brio- With spirit Dolce- Sweetly Grave- Solemn Grazioso- Gracefully Lacramante- Weeping; sad Lugubrioso- Weeping; sad Maestoso- Majestically Misterioso- Mysteriously Scherzando-Playfully Vivace- Lively; usually played quickly |
|
|
Falsetto
|
Vocal technique that allows singers to sing much higher than their
natural ranges; used by countertenors to sing into alto or soprano ranges |
|
|
Legato
|
Playing notes smoothly and in a connected fashion; aided by use of
the damper pedal on the piano; symbol resembles an arch (“tie”) |
|
|
Pizzicato
|
Direction toward players of the violin family; the performer should
not use the bow and should instead pluck the strings directly with his or her fingers |
|
|
Binary
|
A piece with AB structure; consists of two distinct sections; the first
section is usually like a question and in open form whereas the second section is usually like an answer and in closed form |
|
|
Cadenza
|
A short section in which soloists perform in order to show virtuosity;
formerly improvised |
|
|
Coda
|
A musical passage that contrasts with the preceding sections; often
concludes sonatas; often emphasizes the subdominant or dominant key and its movement toward the tonic |
|
|
Exposition
|
The first section of a sonata; introduces the sonata’s first main theme
in the tonic key; often repeated |
|
|
Rondo
|
Has ABACA or similar structure, such as ABACADA or
ABACADAEA; the A section repeats and alternates with at least two other sections |
|
|
Singular
|
A form used in orchestral music; consists of an exposition,
development, and recapitulation; also known as sonata |
|
|
Sonata-allegro
|
A form used in orchestral music; consists of an exposition,
development, and recapitulation; also known as sonata |
|
|
Strophic
|
Type of form in which there is internal repetition; each stanza is
accompanied by the same or similar musical segment; the opposite of through-composed form |
|
|
Ternary
|
Has ABA form; two identical sections sandwich a unique second
section; each section is closed and provides tonal resolution |
|
|
Theme and variation form
|
A basic melody repeated multiple times with one or more elements
varied each time |
|
|
Alto
|
The lowest female part; may overlap with the male tenor range; in
general a range of G3 to E4; also known as contralto |
|
|
Baritone
|
Middle-range voice part for men; not quite as high as tenor but not
quite as low as bass; range of G2 to D4 |
|
|
Bass
|
Lowest male voice part; range from E2 to C4
|
|
|
Countertenor
|
Male singer that sings in the alto or soprano range using falsetto; also
known as contratenor |
|
|
Mezzo-soprano
|
Middle soprano”; a female voice part with a range in between those
of the soprano and alto parts; A3 to F5 range |
|
|
Soprano
|
Highest female part; highest part in chorus; generally a range of C4 to
Bb5 |
|
|
Tenor
|
Usually the highest male voice part; overlaps to some degree with the
female alto range; range of C3 to F4 |
|
|
Aerophone
|
Creates sound via a vibrating column of air; includes woodwind and
brass instruments |
|
|
Chordophone
|
Creates sound when a stretched string vibrates
|
|
|
Electrophone
|
Electronic circuits in the instrument oscillate to create sound waves
|
|
|
Idiophone
|
Instrument that is struck, scraped, rubbed, or bowed to produce
sound; sound waves do not result from a stretched membrane |
|
|
Membranophone
|
Percussive instrument that produces sound via the vibration of a
membrane stretched over a frame |
|
|
Heterophony
|
“Different sound”; two or more different instruments or singers play a
single melody at the same time |
|
|
Homophony
|
Same sound”; a singer sings a melody and is supported by
instruments or other singers |
|
|
Monophony
|
“One sound”; one instrument or singer plays a single melody alone
|
|
|
Polyphony
|
“Many sounds”
|
