Terminology.


 * Form- ** The structure or shape of a musical work, based on repetition, contrast and variation; the organizing principle in music. Binary and ternary are basic forms, while more complex forms include sonata-allegro, rondo, minuet and trio, theme and variations, ritornello, and fugue.

** Harmony- ** The simultaneous combination of notes and the ensuing relationships of intervals and chords. Not all music’s of the world rely on harmony for interest, but it is central to most Western music.

** Mood- ** a distinctive emotional quality or character: // The mood of the music was almost funereal. //

** Ornamentation- ** ornaments are notes which are added to the main notes of a piece of music in order to make it more interesting. There are several types of ornaments, including trills and slides.

** Orchestration- ** The technique of setting instruments in various combinations.

** Articulation- ** articulation refers to the direction or performance technique which affects the transition or continuity on single note or between multiple notes or sounds.

** Molto- ** Very

** Soprano- ** Highest ranged voice, commonly possessed by women or young boys.

** Tessitura- ** the term tessitura generally describes the most musically acceptable and comfortable range for a given singer or, less frequently, musical instrument; the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding texture or timbre.

**Melody-** Melody can be motive or counterpoint, can have a counter melody going on under it. Is a series of pitches and different durations, this can be shown through phrasing and articulation.

**Riffs-** a melodic phrase, often constantly repeated, forming an accompaniment or part of an accompaniment for a soloist

**Motifs-** A short musical phrase / idea that is repeated for example the chorus, the main theme / sucession.

**Sequence-** The replaying of a certain section / motive of the music at a different pitch.

**Repetition-** Occurs in a certain form, for example verse 1, chorus, verse 2, chorus. It fixes the main melody, the hook, into our heads, and fills the need to re-hear the best part of the song.

**Call Response-** An instrument that plays a certain phrase and whilst breaking, another instrument echo's that phrase.

**Arpeggiated-** Section of the song that is played in an arpeggio (broken chord).

**Break-** A solo that ends (breaks) the main theme of the song and introduces the improvisation segment, generally in jazz.

**Chromatic-** A chromatic scales is a scales playing all notes eg, c, c sharp, d, d sharp, e, f, f sharp etc.

**Conjunct-** Smooth melody, that consists of small intervals.

**Countermelody-** A accompanying melody, different form the main melody.

**Countersubject-** A counter-theme / countermelody heard against the original theme.

**Diatonic-** Melody / harmony built from the seven majors / minors

**Development-** Structurally reshaping the main theme / manipulates the theme, whilst experimenting with other keys / chords.

**Disjunct-** Disconnected melody, with many large intervals.

**Dolce-** Sweetly.

**Dolente-** Sad / weepy / depressing.

**Duration-** How long a phrase goes for.

**Embellishment-** Musical decoration, making it different, new and fun, either improvised or slightly structured by signs in the music.

**Imitation-** Similar to call and respone, however one instrument states an idea, and whilst another instrument imitates that theme, the first instrument keeps playing something.

**Legato-** Smoothly, and connected in one phrase.

**Ostinato-** Short phrase either melodic or rhythmic played again throughout the piece.

**Phrasing-** A section of melodic theme in the music in which it is manipulated and changed of which is repeated ,and then rejoins another phrase.

**Unison-** The interval between two notes of the same pitch.

**Tone colour-** The quality of one voice or instrument and the difference between that instrument and the rest in the group (them together). eg, Grungy, smooth.

**Timbre-** Quality of sound that can distinguish one instrument from another.

**Articulation-** The way you begin a note eg, Ta (Long), Teh (short), accent - the feeling / emphasis you put into a note, mezzo-staccato

**Staccato-** A note played sort and detached.

**Tenuto-** To hold the note in question, for it's full value, indicated by a small horizontal line over the top of the note.

**Accents-** Making one note louder, or putting more emphasis on one note.

**Sforzando-** Sudden kind of accent on a note that is indicated by the marking "sfz".

**Dissonance-** Combination of tones that sound unstable, and horrible in need of resolution.

**Grave-** Very slow.

**Rhythm****-** Beat or pulse, keeping tempo throughout the piece, gives a forward movement feel.

**Metre-** The organization of lyrics or beats in a rhythmical pattern.

**Simple Time-** Is the group of rhythms in which the beat is sub divided into two, eg, a quaver.

**Duple Time-** Basic timing measure of two beats to a measure.

**Triple Time-** Basic timing of three beats to a measure.

**Repetition-** The repeating of a general form, repeats the best part of the song, generally the hook, example chorus.

**Syncopation-** Changing the tempo / pulse from the beat to a weak beat, or off beat.

**Accelerando-** Slowly gets faster.

**Beat-** A regular pulse, basic unit of lengh.

**Pulse-** the pulse.

**Measure-** A grouping of rhythmical patterns / metrical units that contain a certain number of beats to a bar.

**Ostinato-** Short phrase either melodic or rhythmic played again throughout the piece.

**Dynamics-** The differences of volumes throughout the piece your playing, adds colour, shape, mood and enlightenment. Dynamics can also refer to the increase or decrease in volume, eg, crescendo, decrescendo. dynamic explanation

**Harmony-** Different uses of pitch and melodies all intertwined, and put together to make different kinds of styles, sounds eg, chords, c major - C, E, G. Every note in the chord gives a harmonising effect and improves sound.

** Polyphony- ** The arrangement of different instruments in one piece of music, but are all independent parts / roles.

** Homophony- ** The arrangement of different instruments or voices parts in a piece of music, one is more dominant than the others, but the other parts create a harmony.

**Tonality-** Making the sound your playing revolve around one tone / major / minor scale, starting on the tonic note.

** Dissonance- ** combination of tones that sound unstable, and horrible in need of resolution.

** Major- ** Scale of 7 different pitches made up of tones and semi tones in an ordered way. Arpeggio made from the major chords notes 1, 3 and 5.

** Minor- ** Scale of 7 different pitches made up of tones and semi tones, but unlike the major, it has a darker, sadder sound to it, rather than a happy and joyful sound.

** Modal- ** characterises music that is based on the mode of a scale, rather than just the major and minor scales.

** Modulation- ** changing form one key to another.

**Texture-** The different feels, textures, sounds, the way they sound together. All the different layers of music in one creating a harmony.

** Chordal- ** A combination of chords sung / played spiratically.

** Contrapuntal- ** Texture of two or more melodic lines.

** Dolce- ** Sweetly.

** Monophonic- ** A melody without accompaniment.

** Polyphonic- ** Two or more melodic lines, combined into a multivoiced texture.

** Heterophonic- ** Two or more voices singing the same thing spiratically, usually as a result of improvising.

** Rubato- ** A kind of tempo, most commonly found in romantic music, that speeds up (hurries) in some places, and slows down (hesitates) sparingly.

** Accelerando- ** Slowly gets faster.

** Contrast- ** The contrasts between the different instruments, and what keeps us listening, its the most interesting parts of the song.

** Imitation- ** Similar to call and response, however one instrument states an idea, and whilst another instrument imitates that theme, the first instrument keeps playing something.

** Binary- ** Based on Statement and departure, consisting of two parts (A-B).

** Bridge- ** Transitional section of the music smoothly connecting the two different passages.

** Break- ** A solo that ends (breaks) the main theme of the song and introduces the improvisation segment, generally in jazz.

** Cadenza- ** Virtuosic solo passage in the manner of an improvisation, performed near the end of an aria or a movement of a concerto.