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| Term |
Definition |
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| A |
• the sixth note of the diatonic scale of C major / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| a cappella |
• one or more vocalists performing without an accompaniment |
| a poco |
• a little, gradually |
| a tempo |
• in time, ie revert to the previous or original tempo |
| accelerando |
• gradually faster |
| accessible |
• music that is easy to listen to and understand |
| adagietto |
• slow, but not as slow as adagio |
| adagio |
• very slow |
| affettuoso |
• tender / tenderly |
| agitato |
• agitated, rapid |
| al fine |
• to the finish |
| aleatoric |
• in which chance influences the choice of notes |
| aleatory |
• aleatoric / aleatoric music |
| alla |
• in the style of |
| alla marcia |
• in the manner of a march |
| allargando |
• gradually slower and broader |
| allegretto |
• light and moderately quick, but not as quick as allegro |
| allegro |
• rapid, lively |
| alternatim |
• alternating between polyphonic harmonization of plainsong and unadorned plainsong |
| altissimo |
• very high |
| alto |
• the highest male voice (properly countertenor) / the lowest female voice (also contralto) / a person possessing such a voice / a part for such a voice / an instrument of corresponding range |
| amoroso |
• in a loving or tender manner |
| andante |
• moderately slow, but moving |
| andantino |
• generally a little quicker than andante |
| animato |
• spirited |
| appassionato |
• intensely, passionately, with feeling |
| arco |
• (also coll’arco) with the bow (a direction marking the end of a pizzicato passage) |
| arco saltando |
• with rebounding bow |
| arioso |
• in the melodious manner of an aria, or between aria and recitative / a piece in this style |
| assai |
• very |
| athematic |
• not using themes as a basis |
| atonal |
• music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key |
| augmented |
• a semitone higher than perfect or major |
| authentic |
• applied in music to medieval modes (eg Gregorian chants) having their sounds within the octave above the final (cf plagal) |
| B |
• the seventh note of the diatonic scale of C major (H in German notation, B being used for B flat) / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| baroque |
• time in music history ranging from the middle of the 16th to the middle of the 17th centuries: characterized by emotional, flowery music; written in strict form |
| bass |
• a bass singer (often in the Italian form basso) |
| bass |
• the lowest part in music / low, deep / low in pitch and range / a bass instrument |
| bass clef |
• the clef in which the F a fifth below middle C is written on the fourth line of the stave |
| basso |
• a bass singer (Italian) |
| beat |
• the unit of musical rhythm |
| bis |
• a direction indicating that a section is to be repeated |
| brilliante |
• brilliantly |
| broken |
• (of a chord) played as an arpeggio |
| C |
• the first note of the diatonic scale of C major, the sound on which the system is founded / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| cadence |
• a sequence of chords that brings an end to a phrase, either in the middle or the end of a composition |
| cadenza |
• originally an improvised cadence by a soloist: later it became a written out passage to display performance skills of an instrumentalist or performer |
| calando |
• gradually slowing with diminishing volume |
| cancrizans |
• of a canon, having the imitating vocal part repeating the theme backwards |
| canon |
• a musical form where the melody or tune is imitated by individual parts at regular intervals: the individual parts may enter at different measures and pitches: the tune may also be played at different speeds, backwards, or inverted |
| cantabile |
• in a singing style |
| cantata |
• music written for chorus and orchestra: most often religious in nature |
| canto |
• the part in a piece of music that carries the melody / the highest part in a piece of choral music (also cantus) |
| cantus |
• a melody or chant, esp in medieval ecclesiastical music / the highest part in a piece of choral music (also canto) |
| capriccio |
• a quick, improvisational, spirited piece of music |
| capriccioso |
• in a free style |
| carol |
• a song or hymn celebrating christmas |
| castrato |
• male singers who were castrated to preserve their alto and soprano vocal range |
| cavatina |
• a short and simple melody performed by a soloist that is part of a larger piece |
| chamber music |
• written for 2 to 10 solo parts featuring one instrument to a part: each part bears the same importance |
| chant |
• singing in unison, texts in a free rhythm: similar to the rhythm of speech |
| choir |
• group of singers in a chorus |
| chorale |
• a hymn sung by the choir and congregation often in unison |
| chord |
• 3 or 4 notes played simultaneously in harmony |
| chord progression |
• a string of chords played in succession |
| chorus |
• a group singing in unison |
| chromatic |
• by semi-tones |
| chromatic scale |
• includes all twelve notes of an octave |
| classical |
• the period of music history which dates from the mid 1700’s to mid 1800’s: the music was spare and emotionally reserved, especially when compared to romantic and boroque music |
| classicism |
• the period of music history which dates from the mid 1800’s and lasted about sixty years: there was a strong regard for order and balance |
| clavier |
• the keyboard of a stringed instrument |
| clef |
• in sheet music, a symbol at the beginning of the staff defining the pitch of the notes found in that particular staff |
| coda |
• closing section of a movement |
| coll’arco / col arco |
• with the bow (a direction marking the end of a pizzicato passage) |
| coloratura |
• embellished vocal passages including runs, trills, etc / florid, embellished |
| coloratura soprano |
• a high and flexible soprano voice, capable of singing coloratura passages / a singer with such a voice |
| commodo / comodo |
• with ease, relaxed |
| compound time |
• time in which each bar is made up of two or more simple measures, each divided into three |
| con amore |
• with tenderness |
| con anima |
• with animation, spirited |
| con brio |
• with spirit, brilliantly |
| con calore |
• with warmth, passionately |
| con dolore |
• with grief, mournfully |
| con espressione |
• with expression |
| con forza |
• with force |
| con fuoco |
• with fire |
| con grazia |
• with graceful style |
| con moto |
• with motion |
| con sordino |
• (of an instrument) played with a mute |
| con spirito |
• with spirit, brilliance |
| concert master |
• the first violin in an orchestra |
| concerted |
• arranged in parts |
| concerto |
• a composition written for a solo instrument: the soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment |
| conductor |
• one who directs a group of performers: the conductor indicates the tempo, phrasing, dynamics, and style by gestures and facial expressions |
| conjunct |
• of or relating to two adjacent degrees of a scale |
| consecutive |
• parallel |
| consonance |
• groups of tones that are harmonious when sounded together as in a chord |
| contralto |
• lowest female singing voice |
| counterpoint |
• two or three melodic lines played at the same time |
| countertenor |
• the highest alto male voice / a person possessing such a voice / a part for such a voice |
| courante |
• a piece of music written in triple time: also an old french dance |
| crab canon |
• a canon in which the notes of the theme are repeated in reverse order |
| crescendo |
• gradually louder /an increase of loudness /a passage of increasing loudness |
| D |
• the second note of the diatonic scale of C major / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| da capo |
• from the beginning / return to the beginning |
| dal segno |
• from the sign / an indication that the performer must return to the sign |
| deceptive cadence |
• a chord progression that seems to lead to resolving itself on the final chord; but does not |
| decrescendo |
• gradually softer / becoming quieter / diminuendo |
| development |
• where the musical themes and melodies are developed, written in sonata form |
| diastaltic |
• [Greek music] (of intervals) extended / (of style) bold |
| diazeuctic |
• [Greek music] the separation of two tetrachords by a whole tone |
| diminished |
• a semitone lower than perfect or minor |
| diminuendo |
• gradually softer / a decrease in loudness / a passage of decreasing loudness |
| disjunct |
• [Greek music] (of tetrachords) having the highest note of the lower and the lowest of the upper a tone or semitone apart |
| dissonance |
• harsh, discordant, and lack of harmony: also a chord that sounds incomplete until it resolves itself on a harmonious chord |
| do |
• the first note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to doh) |
| dodecaphonic |
• twelve-tone |
| doh |
• see do |
| dolce |
• sweet / sweetly / a soft-toned organ stop |
| dolcemente |
• softly and sweetly |
| doloroso |
• in a soft and sorrowful manner |
| Dorian mode |
• [Greek music] a mode of ancient Greek music consisting of two tetrachords with a semitone between the two lowest notes in each, the tetrachords separated by a whole tone (as efga or bcde, but reckoned downwards by the Greeks), traditionally of a stirring, solemn, simple and martial quality |
| double |
• duple, having two beats in a bar / sounding an octave lower |
| drone |
• dull, monotonous tone such as a humming or buzzing sound: also a bass note held under a melody |
| duet |
• a piece of music written for two vocalists or instrumentalists |
| duple |
• having two beats in the bar |
| dynamics |
• pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition: also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume |
| E |
• the third note of the diatonic scale of C major / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| eight-foot |
• having the pitch of an open organ-pipe eight feet long, or having that pitch for the lowest note |
| elegy |
• an instrumental lament with praise for the dead |
| encore |
• a piece of music played at the end of a recital responding to the audiences enthusiastic reaction to the performance, shown by continuous applause |
| energico |
• energetically |
| enharmonic interval |
• two notes that differ in name only: the notes occupy the same position: for example: c sharp and d flat |
| ensemble |
• the performance of either all instruments of an orchestra or voices in a chorus |
| espressivo |
• expressively |
| etude |
• a musical composition or study written to improve technique and often performed for artistic interest |
| euharmonic |
• resulting in perfect harmony |
| exposition |
• the first section of a movement written in sonata form, introducing the melodies and themes |
| expressionism |
• atonal and violent style used as a means of evoking heightened emotions and states of mind |
| F |
• the fourth note of the diatonic scale of C major / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| fa |
• the fourth note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to fah) |
| fah |
• see fa |
| falsetto |
• a style of male singing where by partial use of the vocal chords, the voice is able to reach the pitch of a female |
| fermata |
• a hold or pause |
| fifth |
• the interval between two notes: three whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes |
| figurate |
• florid |
| finale |
• movement or passage that concludes the musical composition |
| flat |
• a symbol indicating that the note is to be diminished by one semitone |
| form |
• the structure of a piece of music |
| forte |
• loud / loudly / a loud passage |
| fortepiano |
• loud with immediate relapse into softness |
| fortissimo |
• very loud / a very loud passage |
| fortississimo |
• as loud as possible |
| forzando |
• see sforzando |
| forzato |
• see sforzando |
| four-four |
• with four crotchets to the bar |
| four-four time |
• the time signature indicating four crochets to the bar |
| fourth |
• the interval between two notes: two whole tones and one semitone make up the distance between the two notes |
| free-reed |
• Having a reed that does not touch the side of the aperture |
| fugue |
• a composition written for three to six voices: beginning with the exposition, each voice enters at different times, creating counterpoint with one another |
| furioso |
• furiously |
| G |
• the fifth note of the diatonic scale of C major / the key or scale having that note for its tonic |
| G clef |
• see treble clef |
| galliard |
• music written for a lively french dance for two performers written in triple time |
| gavotte |
• a 17th century dance written in quadruple time, always beginning on the third beat of the measure |
| giocoso |
• in a lively or humorous manner |
| giusto |
• suitable / regular / strict/ in strict time / at a reasonable speed |
| glee |
• vocal composition written for three or more solo parts, usually without instrumental accompaniment |
| glissando |
• sliding between two notes |
| grandioso |
• grand or noble style |
| grave |
• very slow and solemn / in a solemn manner |
| grazioso |
• gracefully |
| gregorian chant |
• singing or chanting in unison without strict rhythm: collected during the reign of pope gregory viii for psalms and other other parts of the church service |
| harmony |
• pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played: harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions |
| heptatonic |
• consisting of seven notes |
| homophony |
• music written to be sung or played in unison |
| hymn |
• a song of praise and glorification: most often to honor god |
| hyperdorian |
• [Greek music] above the Dorian mode / applied in ancient Greek music to a mode having as its lower tetrachord the upper tetrachord of the Dorian (as: b c d e; e f g a; b) |
| hypophrygian |
• [Greek music] below the Phrygian mode / applied in ancient Greek music to a mode having as its upper tetrachord the lower tetrachord of the Phrygian (as: g; a b c d; d e f g), and in old church music to a plagal mode extending from b to b, with e for its final |
| Iastic |
• [Greek music] Ionian |
| Iastic mode |
• [Greek music] the Ionian, hypophrygian or hyperdorian mode of ancient Greek music |
| imperfect |
• (in mensural notation) a note value containing two of the next lower note values |
| impromptu |
• a short piano piece, often improvisational and intimate in character |
| in altissimo |
• in the octave beginning on the G two octaves and a fifth above middle C |
| instrumentation |
• arrangement of music for a combined number of instruments |
| interlude |
• piece of instrumental music played between scenes in a play or opera |
| intermezzo |
• short movement or interlude connecting the main parts of the composition |
| interpretation |
• the expression the performer brings when playing his instrument |
| interval |
• the distance in pitch between two notes |
| intonation |
• the manner in which tones are produced with regard to pitch |
| introduction |
• the opening section of a piece of music or movement |
| key |
• system of notes or tones based on and named after the key note |
| key signature |
• the flats and sharps at the beginning of each staff line indicating the key of music the piece is to be played |
| keyed |
• set to a particular key |
| klangfarbenmelodie |
• the technique of altering the tone color of a single note or musical line by changing from one instrument to another in the middle of a note or line |
| la |
• the sixth note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to lah) |
| labial |
• sounded by the impact of air on a lip-like projection, such as an organ flue pipe |
| lacrimoso |
• plaintive or plaintively |
| lagrimoso |
• plaintive or plaintively |
| lah |
• see la |
| larghetto |
• slow, but not as slow as largo |
| largo |
• very slow and broad |
| leading note |
• the seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic |
| legato |
• smooth and connected |
| leitmotif |
• a musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera |
| lentamente |
• slowly, in slow time |
| lentando |
• slowing |
| lentissimo |
• very slow or slowly |
| lento |
• slow / slowly |
| libretto |
• a book of text containing the words of an opera |
| ligature |
• curved line connecting notes to be sung or played as a phrase |
| l’istesso |
• the same |
| ma non troppo |
• but not too much |
| madrigal |
• a contrapuntal song written for at least three voices, usually without accompaniment |
| maestoso |
• majestically |
| maestro |
• refers to any great composer, conductor, or teacher of music |
| major |
• one of the two modes of the tonal system: music written in major keys have a positive affirming character |
| mancando |
• fading away |
| marcato |
• marked, with emphasis |
| march |
• a form of music written for marching in two-step time: originally the march was used for military processions |
| martellato |
• played with a hammering touch, or with short quick detached strokes of the bow |
| marziale |
• martial |
| me |
• see mi |
| measure |
• the unit of measure where the beats on the lines of the staff are divided up into two, three, four beats to a measure |
| medley |
• often used in overtures, a composition that uses passages from other movements of the composition in its entirety |
| meno |
• less |
| meno mosso |
• not so fast |
| mensurable |
• having a fixed relative time-value for each note |
| mensural |
• measurable |
| mesto |
• sad |
| mezza voce |
• with medium volume or tone / played or sung in this style / singing in this style |
| mezzo |
• medium, half |
| mezzo |
• voice between soprano and contralto |
| mezzo-forte |
• moderately loud / moderately loudly |
| mezzo-piano |
• moderately soft / moderately softly |
| mezzo-soprano |
• voice between soprano and contralto / a person possessing such a voice |
| mi |
• the third note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to me) |
| microtone |
• an interval less than a semitone |
| minor |
• one of the two modes of the tonal system: the minor mode can be identified by the dark, melancholic mood |
| minuet |
• slow and stately dance music written in triple time |
| moderato |
• moderately / at a moderate speed / a movement or passage to be played at this speed |
| modes |
• either of the two octave arrangements in modern music: the modes are either major or minor |
| modulation |
• to shift to another key |
| molto |
• very |
| monotone |
• repetition of a single tone |
| morendo |
• dying away, in speed and tone |
| mosso |
• motion, movement |
| motif |
• primary theme or subject that is developed |
| movement |
• a separate section of a larger composition |
| musette |
• a boroque dance with a drone-bass |
| musicology |
• the study of forms, history, science, and methods of music |
| natural |
• a symbol in sheet music that returns a note to its original pitch after it has been augmented or diminished |
| neoclassical |
• movement in music where the characteristics are crisp and direct |
| nocturne |
• a musical composition that has a romantic or dreamy character with nocturnal associations |
| non troppo |
• not too much |
| nonet |
• a composition written for nine instruments |
| notation |
• first developed in the 8th century, methods of writing music |
| obbligato / obligato |
• an extended solo, often accompanying the vocal part of an aria |
| octave |
• eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends |
| octet |
• a composition written for eight instruments |
| once-accented |
• marked with one accent, applied to the octave beginning with middle C |
| open |
• unstopped / without use of valve, crook or key |
| opera |
• a drama where the words are sung instead of spoken |
| operetta |
• a short light musical drama |
| opus |
• a musical work, especially one numbered in order of publication, e.g. opus 28 (abbreviated op 28) |
| oratorio |
• an extended cantata on a sacred subject |
| orchestra |
• a large group of instrumentalists playing together |
| orchestration |
• arranging a piece of music for an orchestra: also, the study of music |
| ornaments |
• tones used to embellish the principal melodic tone |
| orthian |
• high-pitched |
| ostinato |
• a repeated phrase |
| overture |
• introduction to an opera or other large musical work |
| parallel |
• having a constant interval (major and minor being reckoned alike |
| parlando |
• in declamatory style / recitative |
| parody |
• a composition based on previous work: a common technique used in medieval and renaissance music |
| part |
• a line in a contrapuntal work performed by an individual voice or instrument |
| partial |
• a harmonic given off by a note when it is played |
| partita |
• suite of baroque dances |
| pastoral |
• a composition whose style is simple and idyllic; suggestive of rural scenes |
| pedal |
• each of a set of two or three levers on a piano, particularly (also sustaining pedal) one which, when depressed, prevents the dampers from stopping the sound when the keys are released; the second is the soft pedal; a third, if present, produces either selective sustaining or complete muffling of the tone / a foot-operated lever on other musical instruments, such as an organ |
| pedal note |
• the lowest or fundamental note of a harmonic series in some brass and wind instruments / also see pedal point |
| pedal point |
• an organ point / (also pedal note) a tone or tones (usu tonic and dominant) sustained normally in the bass, while other parts move independently |
| pentatonic |
• consisting of five tones or notes, applied esp to a scale, a major scale with the fourth and seventh omitted |
| pentatonic scale |
• a musical scale having five notes: for example: the five black keys of a keyboard make up a pentatonic scale |
| perdendo / perdendosi |
• slowing and softening at the same time |
| pesante |
• heavy / weighty |
| phrase |
• a single line of music played or sung: a musical sentence |
| Phrygian mode |
• [Greek music] (in ancient Greek music) a mode of two tetrachords with a semitone in the middle of each and a whole tone between the tetrachords (eg: d e f g; a b c d; but reckoned downwards by the Greeks) |
| Phrygian mode |
• [Greek music] a mode of ancient Greek music consisting of two tetrachords with a semitone in the middle of each and a whole tone between the tetrachords (eg: d e f g; a b c d; but reckoned downwards by the Greeks) |
| piacevole |
• in a pleasant or playful manner |
| pianissimo |
• very softly / a very soft passage |
| pianississimo |
• as soft or softly as possible |
| piano |
• soft / softly / a soft passage |
| pianoforte |
• soft then loud |
| pitch |
• the frequency of a note determining how high or low it sounds |
| più |
• more |
| più mosso |
• quicker |
| pizzicato |
• string instruments that are picked instead of bowed |
| plagal |
• of a Gregorian mode, having the final in the middle of the compass instead of at the bottom (cf authentic) |
| poco |
• a little |
| poco a poco |
• little by little |
| polyphony |
• combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies: also known as counterpoint |
| polytonality |
• combination of two or more keys being played at the same time |
| portamento |
• a mild glissando between two notes for an expressive effect |
| prelude |
• an introduction to or first movement of a suite, or a movement preceding a fugue; a short independent composition with a recurring motif, especially for the piano |
| prestissimo |
• very fast, more so than presto |
| presto |
• very fast |
| progression |
• the movement of chords in succession |
| pulsatile |
• played by percussion |
| pythagorean |
• of a diatonic scale perfected by Pythagoras, with its intervals based on mathematical ratios |
| quadrille |
• a 19th century square dance written for 4 couples |
| quartet |
• a set of four musicians who perform a composition written for four parts |
| quintet |
• a set of five musicians who perform a composition written for five parts |
| rallentando |
• gradually slower / becoming slower / a passage played in this way |
| ray |
• see re |
| re |
• the second note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to ray) |
| recapitulation |
• a reprise |
| recital |
• a solo concert with or without accompaniment |
| recitative |
• a form of writing for vocals that is close to the manner of speech and is rhythmically free |
| reed |
• the piece of cane in wind instruments: the players cause vibrations by blowing through it in order to produce sound |
| refrain |
• a repeating phrase that is played at the end of each verse in the song |
| register |
• a portion of the range of the instrument or voice |
| related |
• (of a key) sharing notes with another key or keys |
| relative |
• having the same key-signature |
| relative major and minor |
• the major and minor keys that share the same notes in that key: for example: a minor shares the same note as c major |
| relative pitch |
• ability to determine the pitch of a note as it relates to the notes that precede and follow it |
| religioso |
• in a devotional manner |
| renaissance |
• a period in history dating from the 14th to 16th centuries: this period signified the rebirth of music, art, and literature |
| reprise |
• to repeat a previous part of a composition generally after other music has been played |
| requiem |
• a dirge, hymn, or musical service for the repose of the dead |
| resonance |
• when several strings are tuned to harmonically related pitches, all strings vibrate when only one of the strings is struck |
| rhythm |
• the element of music pertaining to time, played as a grouping of notes into accented and unaccented beats |
| ricercar |
• elaborate polyphonic composition of the boroque and renaissance periods |
| rigaudon |
• a quick 20th century dance written in double time |
| rinforzando |
• with sudden accent |
| ripieno |
• supplementary, reinforcing / for all, or nearly all, the orchestra or choir / a supplementary instrument or performer / a passage for the whole orchestra or choir, or its rendering (also tutti) |
| risoluto |
• with emphasis, boldly |
| ritardando |
• gradually slower / with diminishing speed / a passage played in this way / another term for rallentando |
| ritenuto |
• a steady pace, but slower than preceding tempo / restrained, indicating a sudden slowing-down of tempo / a passage played in this way |
| rococo |
• a musical style characterized as excessive, ornamental, and trivial |
| romantic |
• a period in history during the 18th and early 19th centuries where the focus shifted from the neoclassical style to an emotional, expressive, and imaginative style |
| rondo |
• a musical form where the principal theme is repeated several times: the rondo was often used for the final movements of classical sonata form works |
| root |
• the principal note of a triad |
| round |
• a canon where the melody is sung in two or more voices: after the first voice begins, the next voice starts singing after a couple of measures are played in the preceding voice: all parts repeat continuously |
| rubato |
• temporary irregularity of time, lengthening certain notes |
| scale |
• successive notes of a key or mode either ascending or descending |
| scherzando |
• in a playful manner |
| scherzo |
• pertaining to the sonata form, a lively busy movement in triple time, usually with a trio, |
| sciolto |
• in a free manner |
| scordato |
• put out of tune |
| scordatura |
• the retuning of a stringed instrument in order to play notes below the ordinary range of the instrument or to produce an usual tone color |
| scorrendo |
• gliding |
| segno |
• the sign |
| semitone |
• half a tone, one of the lesser intervals of the musical scale, as from B to C |
| semplice |
• simple or simply, without embellishments |
| sempre |
• always, continuously |
| senza |
• without |
| senza sordino |
• (of an instrument) played without a mute |
| septet |
• a set of seven musicians who perform a composition written for seven parts |
| sequence |
• a successive transposition and repetition of a phrase at different pitches |
| serenade |
• a lighthearted piece, written in several movements, usually as background music for a social function |
| serial |
• using series as the basis of composition |
| sextet |
• a set of six musicians who perform a composition written for six parts |
| sforzando |
• forced, with sudden emphasis / a sforzando note / also sforzato, forzando, forzato |
| sforzato |
• see sforzando |
| sharp |
• a symbol indicating the note is to be raised by one semitone |
| si |
• the seventh note of the scale in sol-fa notation, superseded by ti |
| simile |
• the same, continue in same manner |
| simple |
• in or relating to simple time |
| simple time |
• any measure or time in which there are two, three or four beats to the bar, each divisible by two |
| slide |
• a glissando or portamento: also refers to the moving part of a trombone |
| slur |
• a curve over notes to indicate that a phrase is to be played legato |
| smorzando / smorzato |
• with a gradual fading away / growing slower and softer |
| soh |
• see sol |
| sol / so |
• the fifth note of the scale in sol-fa notation (anglicised to soh) |
| sol-fa |
• a system of syllables (do or ut, re, mi, fa, sol or so, la, ti or si) representing and sung to the notes of the scale |
| solfeggio |
• an exercise in sol-fa syllables |
| soli |
• more than one performer in unison |
| solito |
• in the usual manner |
| solo |
• a composition or passage for one performer |
| sonata |
• music of a particular form consisting of four movements: each of the movements differ in tempo, rhythm, and melody; but are held together by subject and style |
| sonata form |
• a complex piece of music: usually the first movement of the piece serving as the exposition, a development, or recapitulation |
| sonatina |
• a short or brief sonata |
| song cycle |
• a sequence of songs, perhaps on a single theme, or with texts by one poet, or having continuos narrative |
| sopra |
• above |
| sopranino |
• (of an instrument) higher than the corresponding soprano / such an instrument |
| soprano |
• the highest female voice / a person possessing such a voice / a part for such a voice / in a group of instruments of the same type but of different sizes, that with the range close to the range of a soprano voice |
| sordamente |
• gently, softly |
| sordino |
• a mute or damper to soften or deaden the sound of an instrument |
| sordo |
• muted / dampened |
| sostenuto |
• sustained |
| spiccato |
• with staccato bowing / a passage played in this way |
| spinto |
• denoting a voice (or the music written for it) having dramatic lyrical qualities |
| spiritoso |
• with spirit |
| staccato |
• separated, detached style / with each note detached or disconnected / a passage played in this way |
| staff |
• made up of five horizontal parallel lines and the spaces between them on which musical notation is written |
| strepitoso |
• noisy, boisterous |
| stretto |
• pertaining to the fugue, the overlapping of the same theme or motif by two or more voices a few beats apart |
| string quartet |
• a group of 4 instruments, two violins, a viola, and cello |
| stringendo |
• (played) with increasing speed |
| subito |
• suddenly |
| suite |
• a loose collection of instrumental compositions |
| supposed |
• placed below, or having a note below, the fundamental of the chord |
| symphony |
• three to four movement orchestral piece, generally in sonata form |
| syntonic / syntonous |
• tuned together |
| system |
• a combination of two or more staves on which all the notes are vertically aligned and performed simultaneously in differing registers and instruments |
| tablature |
• a system of notation for stringed instruments: the notes are indicated by the finger positions |
| tacet |
• silently |
| tanto |
• so much, too much |
| te |
• see ti |
| temperament |
• refers to the tuning of an instrument |
| tempered |
• to tune the notes on (a piano or other keyboard instruments) so that the intervals between them are correct, or to adjust the pitch of the notes of (a scale) |
| tempo |
• time, speed |
| tenor |
• the adult male voice intermediate between baritone and alto / a person who sings tenor / of the tenor range / an instrument of corresponding range |
| tenor clef |
• the clef on which middle C is placed on the fourth line of the stave |
| tenuto |
• sustain full value / sustained / a sustained note or chord |
| tessitura |
• the range of an instrumental or a vocal part |
| tetrachord |
• [Greek music] a series of four sounds, forming a scale of two tones and a half / a four-stringed instrument |
| theme |
• a melodic or, sometimes a harmonic idea presented in a musical form |
| thetic |
• (of a song) having different music for each verse |
| three-four |
• with three crotchets to the bar |
| three-four time |
• the time signature indicating three crochets to the bar |
| through-composed |
• (of a song) having different music for each verse |
| ti |
• the seventh note of the scale in sol-fa notation, a substitute for si (anglicised to te) |
| timbre |
• tone color, quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another: it is determined by the harmonies of sound |
| time signature |
• a numeric symbol in sheet music determining the number of beats to a measure |
| tonal |
• pertains to tone or tones |
| tonality |
• the tonal characteristics determined by the relationship of the notes to the tone |
| tone |
• a major second, one of the larger intervals between successive notes in the scale, as between C and D |
| tone |
• the intonation, pitch, and modulation of a composition expressing the meaning, feeling, or attitude of the music |
| tone less |
• unmusical, without tone |
| tongue |
• to produce or play by tonguing / to practise tonguing |
| tonguing |
• articulation to separate the notes in playing wind instruments |
| tonic |
• the first tone of a scale also known as a keynote |
| tonic sol-fa |
• a system of naming the notes of the scale (usually do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, ti) used especially to teach singing, with do as the keynote of all major keys and la as the keynote of all minor keys |
| transient |
• passing |
| treble |
• the playing or singing the upper half of the vocal range: also the highest voice in choral singing |
| treble clef |
• the clef in which the G immediately above middle C is placed on the second line of the stave |
| tremolando |
• played with a tremolo effect / a piece in this style |
| tremolant |
• tremolo |
| tremolo |
• quick repetition of the same note or the rapid alternation between two notes at least a third apart |
| triad |
• three note chords consisting of a root, third, and fifth |
| trill |
• rapid alternation between notes that are a half tone or whole tone apart |
| trio |
• a composition written for three voices and instruments performed by three persons |
| triple time |
• time signature with three beats to the measure |
| triplet |
• three notes played in the same amount of time as one or two beats |
| tritone |
• a chord comprised of three whole tones resulting in an augmented fourth or diminished fifth |
| troppo |
• too much |
| tune |
• a rhythmic succession of musical tones, a melody for instruments and voices |
| tuning |
• the raising and lowering a pitch of an instrument to produce the correct tone of a note |
| tutti |
• passage for the entire ensemble or orchestra without a soloist |
| twelve-tone music |
• music composed such that each note is used the same number of times |
| two-four |
• with two crotchets to the bar |
| two-four time |
• the time signature indicating two crochets to the bar |
| unaccompanied |
• having no instrumental accompaniment |
| unison |
• two or more voices or instruments playing the same note simultaneously |
| ut |
• the first note of the scale in sol-fa notation, superseded by do |
| veloce |
• with great rapidity |
| verismo |
• a form of italian opera beginning at the end of the 19th century: the setting is contemporary to the composer’s own time, and the characters are modeled after every day life |
| vibrato |
• creating variation pitch in a note by quickly alternating between notes |
| virtuoso |
• a person with notable technical skill in the performance of music |
| vite |
• quickly |
| vivace |
• vivacious, lively |
| vivamente |
• in a lively manner |
| vivo |
• lively |
| voice |
• one of two or more parts in polyphonic music: voice refers to instrumental parts as well as the singing voice |
| volante |
• moving lightly and rapidly |
| waltz |
• a dance written in triple time, where the accent falls on the first beat of each measure |
| well-tempered |
• tuned in equal temperament |
| Werke ohne Opuszahl |
• works (by Beethoven) without an opus number (prefixed to assigned number) |
| whole note |
• a whole note is equal to 2 half notes, 4 quarter notes, 8 eighth notes, etc |
| whole-tone scale |
• a scale consisting of only whole-tone notes: such a scale consists of only 6 |
| zeloso |
• with fervour |
| zoppa |
• syncopated, usually in phrase alla zoppa, with syncopation |
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