Download - Melodic Concept

Higher Music Concepts (Int2 / Higher) : 2009 DMG

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MELODIC :RUGVLQWKLVVHFWLRQGHVFULEHZKDWLVKDSSHQLQJLQWKHPHORG\RUWXQH The melody can move in a variety of ways:- ASCENDING Moving in an upward direction DESCENDING Moving in a downward direction STEPWISE Moving by step to the note directly above

or below LEAPING Jumping between high notes and low notes The melody can move in patterns:- REPETITION Musical idea heard more than once in exactly

The same way by exactly that same Instrument / voice

IMITATION Musical idea played by one instrument / voice

And then repeated exactly the same way by another instrument / voice

SEQUENCE A pattern of notes repeated higher or lower PHRASE Short musical idea, part of the melody THEME A clear recognisable melody which is the

main idea for a composition QUESTION An opening phrase in a melody ANSWER Reply to an opening phrase or musical answer


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The melody can be measured in distance:- INTERVAL The distance between 2 notes

SEMITONE The shortest distance in music half a tone C to C# or B to Bb, etc TONE An interval of 2 semitones, eg from

C to D or F to G etc

BROKEN CHORD Notes of the chord played separately MICROTONE * An interval smaller than a semitone. Used in Eastern European music and also Indian Music. Sometimes found in music of the 20th Century. TRITONE * Interval made up from three whole tones Eg: F - B

The melody can be decorated in order to make it more interesting:- VARIATION When the main theme is developed by

adding extra notes or changing the speed or tonality

ORNAMENT A decoration added to the melody using

different or additional notes GRACE-NOTE A type of ornament played quickly before

the note. Used mainly as a decoration


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TRILL A rapid repeated movement between

2 notes

TURN * An ornament 4 notes turn around the main Note.

Played as : the note above the main note the note below the main note again.

MORDENT * An ornament.

Played as : the main note the note above the main note again. (inverted mordent mordent)

ACCIACCATURA * An ornament which sounds like a

FUXVKHGQRWH7KHQRWHLVSOD\HGYHU\TXLFNO\ on or before the note.

APPOGGIATURA * $QRUQDPHQWZKLFKVRXQGVOLNHDOHDQLQJQRWH It takes on half the value of the main note

that follows it. Eg 1 minim becomes 2 crotchets.


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Melodies can be played using different scales:- MODE * Usually refers to an early form of scale or

in reference to a major mode (major key) or minor mode (minor key).

MAJOR SCALE A row of notes built on an order of tones

and semitones. Major scales can be described as bright and happy

MINOR SCALE A row of notes built on an order of tones

and semitones. Two main types Melodic Minor and Harmonic Minor. Minor scales can be described as sad and dull.

HARMONIC MINOR * Scale sharing the same key signature as its relative major but raises the 7th note by one

semitone.

MELODIC MINOR * Scale sharing the same key signature as its relative major but raises the 6th and 7th notes

by one semitone ascending and similarly lowers them when descending.

CHROMATIC A scale built entirely on semitones

PENTATONIC A scale based on 5 notes. Very popular in folk Music


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WHOLE TONE SCALE A scale built entirely on tones. Popular in 20th Century music and sometimes sounds strange to the ear.

BLUES SCALE A scale used in BLUES music. In the scale of

C the main blues scale uses the notes C, Eb, F, Gb, G, Bb, and high C.

TONAL Music based on a Major or Minor key. ATONAL Music based on no particular key. Sounds

dissonant and is hard to listen to. Very popular in 20th Cent.

MODULATING Moving from a higher key to a lower key and

vice versa RELATIVE MAJOR A change from a minor key to the major

key with the same signature. The major key is found 3 semitones higher eg, D Minor to F Major

RELATIVE MINOR A change from the major key to the minor

key with the same key signature. The minor key is found 3 semitones lower eg, C Major to A Minor


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TONE ROW * The 12 notes found in a chromatic octave are arranged in a particular order appearing once only in the row. Each note is as important as the other. Found in Serialism.

In vocal music we can describe the word setting of melodies as follows:- SYLLABIC One note for each syllable.

MELISMATIC Several notes sung to one syllable

WORD PAINTING The music can illustrate the word or the

SKUDVHHJWKHZRUGVUXQQLQJGRZQWKHKLOO may be sung as a descending scale

SCAT SINGING Nonsense words and sounds made up by a

singer usually found in JAZZ music.


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HARMONIC Words in this section describe what is happening in the harmony Harmony can be split into two areas of TONALITY:- MAJOR The music sounds in a major key bright and

happy sounding MINOR The music sounds in a minor key sad and

dull sounding

POLYTONALITY * Two or more keys played at the same time. Eg : 1 part in C Major / 1 part in F Major. Sounds strange to the ear! Harmony is built in the following way:- CHORD Two or more notes sounding together CHORD CHANGE Moving from 1 chord to a different chord DISCORD A chord in which certain notes clash producing

an unpleasant sound. Popular in 20th Century music

CONSONANCE Notes which sound well together, pleasant on

the ear DISSONANCE Notes which do not sound pleasant when

played together INTERVAL The distance between 2 notes


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SUSPENSION An effect created when a note from 1 chord is held over to the next chord creating a discord. The note is then resolved

PASSING NOTE A note moving between 2 notes from the

same chord, eg D is the passing note between C and E

VAMP A rhythmic accompaniment with a bass

note played on the strong beat and a chord played off the beat.

Chords :- DOMINANT 7th * Chord built upon the dominant (5th) note of

the key which adds the 7th note above the root (the 7th note of the scale). Eg In the scale of F Major (C-E-G-Bb)

DIMINISHED CHORD * A chord built from two Minor 3rd intervals. Sometimes used as a scary effect! Eg C-Eb-Gb DIMINISHED 7th * A chord built from three Minor 3rd intervals

one on top of the other. The interval between the lower note and the top note is a diminished 7th.

AUGMENTED CHORD * Chord formed from the Major chord where the 5th is raised a semitone.

Sometimes used as a suspence effect!


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ADDED 6th * Chord made up from a Major chord with the 6th note added to the top.

6RPHWLPHVJLYHVDMD]]\effect!

Harmony changes in the following way:- MODULATION A change of key MODULATION TO THE A change from the major key to the minor RELATIVE MINOR key with the same key signature. The minor

key will be 3 semitones lower eg C Major to A Minor

Concepts affecting harmony are:- PERFECT CADENCE 2 chords at the end of a phrase.

Chord V to chord I the dominant to the tonic.

PLAGAL CADENCE * 2 chords at the end of a phrase. Chord IV to chord I. Sounds finished and is NQRZQDVWKH$PHQHIIHFW


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IMPERFECT CADENCE 2 chords at the end of a phrase. Chord I to chord V the tonic to the dominant. This cadence has an unfinished feel

INTERRUPTED CADENCE * 2 chords at the end of a phrase. Chord V to chord VI (minor chord). Known as WKHVXUSULVHFDGHQFHDVLWLQWHUUXSWVWKHIORZ of the music. (always ends in a minor chord!)

TIERCE DE PICARDIE The final chord in a piece of music played in

the minor key is changed to major DRONE One note held on or repeated in the bass. Commonly found on a bagpipe.


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RHYTHMIC Words in this section describe what is happening in the rhythm and tempo Rhythm falls into 2 areas:- SIMPLE TIME Music with 2, 3 or 4 beats in the bar.

Each beat is usually 1 crotchet COMPOUND TIME Each beat is divided into groups of

3 pulses Speed changes are described in the following way:- ACCELERANDO Music gets gradually faster RALLENTANDO Music gets gradually slower RUBATO The performer plays in a very

free way and is able to pull the music about to suit the situation

Rhythm effects can be described in the following way:- ON THE BEAT The main accents are on the beat OFF THE BEAT The main accents are on the weak

beat or against the beat SYNCOPATION Accented notes playing off or against

The beat. Same as above SCOTCH SNAP A rhythmic figure with a short

accented note followed by a longer note. Mostly found in a Strathspey


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CROSS RHYTHMS Effect where 2 notes are played against 3

DOTTED RHYTHMS Long notes followed by short notes

and vice versa giving a jolty effect TRIPLETS Group of three notes played in the

space of 1 beat DOWN BEAT The first beat of each bar, which

The conductor would show with a downward stroke

UP BEAT The last beat in the bar, which the

conductor would show with an upward beat

ANACRUSIS Notes which appear before the first

strong beat of the bar. Almost like a very short lead-in.

THREE AGAINST TWO * One line or part playing quavers in

groups of two while another part plays triplets.

Concepts affecting the rhythm:- DRUM FILL A rhythmic decoration played on the drumkit BEAT/PULSE The basic pulse you hear in music.

The pulse may be in groups of 2, 3 or 4 with an accent or stress on the first beat of each bar


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PAUSE The musical flow / rhythm is held

up by a long note or silence ACCENTED Notes that are slightly stressed

sounding louder than others.

HEMIOLA * Often appears in Baroque music where music which has three beats in a bar moves to two beats and creates a cross rhythm over a bar line. This often happens to emphasise a cadence. Almost gives a Rallentando effect.

AUGMENTATION * The note values are increased

affecting the length of the notes. The music sounds slower when repeated.

DIMINUTION * The note values are decreased. The

music sounds faster when repeated. TIME CHANGES * Changes in time signature. IRREGULAR METRES * Regular time changes.


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STRUCTURAL Words in this section describe how a piece of music is put together or constructed All music falls into one of 3 categories MONOPHONIC One single line or part POLYPHONY Texture consisting of two or more melodic

lines which weave independently of each other CONTRAPUNTAL Similar to above HOMOPHONY Texture where all the parts move together rhythmically These categories are either ACCOMPANIED One or more instruments / voices support the

main melody UNACCOMPANIED The melody is not supported by any other instruments or voices Music is constructed in the following ways SINGLE LINE One musical part SOLO Single line / performer UNISON / OCTAVE Two or more parts performing the same

named note at the same pitch or 8 notes apart


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HARMONY Two or more parts performing different notes at the same time

ENSEMBLE Group of musicians performing together CLUSTER A group of notes played on a keyboard

instrument with the palm of the hand. A 20th Century technique harsh on the ear

DESCANT Another melody above the main tune,

mainly in vocal music COUNTERMELODY A melody played against the main melody OBBLIGATO A prominent solo instrument part in a

piece of vocal music. Almost like an instrumental descant

CONTRARY MOTION Two parts moving in opposite directions Eg one ascending, one descending PEDAL A note which is held or repeated

continuously in the bass part while the harmony changes over it

INVERTED PEDAL A note which is held or repeated

continuously in the upper part while the harmony changes below it

CHORD Two or more notes sounding together ARPEGGIO Notes of the chord played one after the

other can be spread beyond an octave ANTIPHONAL * One group of voices or instruments answers

another. Like an ehco effect. INVERSION * The music is mirrored or turned upside down RETROGRADE * To go backwards a musical section is

played from the end to the beginning.


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SUBJECT * The main theme in a composition or the main themes in Sonata Form or the main theme on which a Fugue is based.

COUNTERSUBJECT * Found in a Fugue. After the subject or

answer has been played, the continuation on that same voice or instrument is called the countersubject.

REAL ANSWER * Found in a Fugue after the subject is played,

the same tune appears in another voice or part in the dominant key. This is called the answer. If the intervals are exactly the same as the subject then this is called a Real Answer.

TONAL ANSWER * Found in a Fugue. If the intervals in the

answer are not exactly the same as the subject then this is a Tonal Answer.

EPISODE * A section linking two appearances of the

same material. In a fugue, an episode can be used as a modulating link between entries of the subject.

STRETTO * Where the voices or parts enter very quickly

one after another as in a Fugue. Music is also constructed using different sections REPETITION A section repeated in exactly the same

way by exactly the same instrument OSTINATO / RIFF A short musical pattern repeated many times BINARY A form where the music is made up from 2 sections A & B TERNARY A form where the music is made up from 3 sections A B A


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RONDO A form in music where the first section comes back after each contrasting section

A B A C A D A E A etc THEME AND VARIATIONS A form in music where each section

changes the main theme through speed, tonality, time signature or rhythm

ROUND Each part sings or plays the melody

entering one after the other CANON Strict imitation where one part sings or

plays the melody with another part entering shortly afterwards with exactly the same melody

MINUET & TRIO A dance with 3 beats in the bar. The trio

is a contrasting minuet after which the first minuet returns

PROGRAMME Music which tells a story or describes a

scene or picture MIDDLE 8 Modulating 8 bars connecting 2 related

sections STROPHIC Music / song with a recurring verse and

Chorus THROUGH COMPOSED Music / song that does not have a chorus

or repeat CODA The concluding section at the end of a

movement or section to give a final effect. CADENZA A show-off passage in a Concerto where the

soloist performs a solo passage showing how well they play the instrument.

LEITMOTIV * A recurring theme throughout a work

which represents a person, event or idea.


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RITORNELLO * Returning passage. In a Concerto Grosso

it is the main theme played by the orchestra. SONATA FORM * Often describes the form of the first

movements of sonatas, symphonies and overtures. Falls into 3 sections : Exposition Development Recapitulation.

EXPOSITION * The first section of a movement in

Sonata Form or the first section of a Fugue. BRIDGE * A link between 2 themes. In sonata form

the transition or bridge passage links the first subject group to the second subject group and also modulates to the key of the second.

TRANSITION * Similar to above. Bass lines can be constructed in different ways WALKING BASS A moving bass line with notes of the same

value. They usually move in step GROUND BASS A theme repeated in the bass many times

while the upper parts are varied ALBERTI BASS Broken chords played in the left hand

while the right hand plays the melody. Usually found only on piano


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BASSO CONTINUO * Found in Baroque Music. Consists of a Bass Line usually played by cello, bass, viola or bassoon in addition to a keyboard part harpsichord or organ. The players would fill in missing harmonies.


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TIMBRE Words in this section describe instruments, ensembles and how they are used Voices are as follows:- SOPRANO The highest range of female voice MEZZO-SOPRANO Female voice range lying between a

soprano and alto ALTO The lowest female voice COUNTERTENOR Male adult voice range higher than a tenor.

Can sometimes sound like a female. Sound is produced by singing in what is called WKHKHDGYRLFH

TENOR A high adult male voice BARITONE Male voice range lying between a tenor

and a bass BASS The lowest male voice Concepts describing vocals are:- A CAPPELLA Unaccompanied singing LEAD VOCALS The main singers in a group BACKING VOCALS Singers who support the main singer

usually by singing in harmony in the background


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CHORAL Music for voices with more than one singer on each part

COLORATURA * Term used to describe highly decorative,

florid, vocal singing involving scales and ornaments. The singer would sometimes exceed their vocal range.

SPRECHGESANG * Technique used in vocal music where the

singer is required to use the voice in an expressive manner half way between singing and speaking. 20th C. technique.

Sections of the Orchestra:- STRINGS Consisting : Violin, Viola, Cello,

Double Bass and Harp WOODWIND Consisting: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, Clarinet, Saxophone and Bassoon BRASS Consisting: Trumpet, Trombone, Horn and Tuba PERCUSSION Consisting: Tuned Glockenspiel,

Xylophone, Marimba, Metalophone etc Consisting : Untuned Drumkit, Timpani, Triangle, Cymbals, Tambourine etc Each section has concepts associated with them:- STRINGS:- BOWING When strings are played with a bow ARCO Another word for Bowing PLUCKING Using fingers to pick the strings


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PIZZICATO Sound made by plucking the strings with fingers

STRUMMING Sound produced by drawing fingers or

a plectrum across the strings

SLAPPING Method of playing a bass guitar where the thumb is used to hit the strings

DOUBLE STOPPING Sound produced by bowing more than

one string at a time COL LEGNO Sound produced by bouncing the wooden

side of the bow on the strings gives a clicking sound

TREMOLANDO Trembling, quivering effect TREMOLO Rapid up and down movement on the

strings creating an agitated effect. Can also be produced by playing different notes at least a 3rd apart on piano or wind instruments

VIBRATO A rapid but minute fluctuation in pitch to

give an expressive quality to a note. HARMONICS * The high eerie like sounds produced on a

bowed string instrument by lightly touching the string at certain points. On a guitar this ZLOOVRXQGEHOOOLNH

WOODWIND:- BLOWING Sound produced by blowing into or across

the mouth piece FLUTTER TONGUING A method of tonguing in which the player

UROOVWKHOHWWHUU,WLVSDUWLFXODUO\ effective on flute but also used on brass


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BRASS:- BLOWING Sound produced by blowing into or across

the mouth piece MUTED Using a device which reduces the volume

or alters the sound of an instrument CON SORDINO Musical term for muted PERCUSSION:- STRIKING Sound is produced by hitting an instrument ORCHESTRA SECTIONS:- CONSORT * An old English word, from the Renaissance

and early Baroque periods for a group of instruments or chamber ensemble. A Whole consort applies to one family of instruments such as Viols or Recorders, while a Broken consort applies to mixed families.

RIPIENO * The main, larger group of instruments in a

Concerto Grosso.. CONCERTINO * The smaller, solo, group of players in a

Concerto Grosso Scottish Instruments:- ACCORDION Instrument with a keyboard in which the

sounds are produced by squeezing bellows with the arms

FIDDLE Another name for the violin PIPES Short for Bagpipes


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Instrumental effects:- BENDING Changing the pitch of a note for example By pushing a guitar string upwards. ROLLS A very fast repetition of a note on a

percussion instrument like snare drum or timpani.

DISTORTION An electronic effect used in rock music

to colour the sound of the electric guitar REVERB An electronic effect which can give the

impression of different hall acoustics DELAY An electronic effect which repeats a note or a phrase General instrumental concepts:- GLISSANDO Rapid sliding up or down the notes Popular on piano, harp and trombone SUSTAINED When the sound is held on STACCATO Short, crisp, detached notes LEGATO Notes played smoothly CRESCENDO Getting louder DIMINUENDO Getting quieter Individual instruments:- ELECTRIC GUITAR Guitar which requires an amplifier to

produce sound ACOUSTIC GUITAR A guitar which does not require an

amplifier to produce the sound


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12-STRING GUITAR A guitar that is double strung having

2 notes per pitch SLIDE GUITAR A method of playing a guitar whereby

the player uses a metal tube or bottleneck around his finger and slides it across the frets to change the pitch

FRETLESS BASS GUITAR A bass guitar with no frets closer in

tone to a double bass DRUMKIT Percussion instrument were tuned skins

are hit with sticks ELECTRONIC DRUMS Drumkit where the sounds are

electronically recreated along with other percussion sounds

PIANO Keyboard instrument where the sound

is produced by hammers hitting sticks ORGAN A keyboard instrument usually found in

churches often more than 1 keyboard SYNTHESISER Keyboard instrument capable of making

new and unusual electronic sounds RECORDER Early woodwind instrument sound

produced by blowing four types, descant, treble, tenor and bass

PAN PIPES Pipes which are graded in size and bound

together with the sound produced by blowing across the top of the pipes

SITAR A string instrument from India. In

addition to melody strings it has a drone and strings which vibrate with each other

TABLA Two Indian drums tuned to different

pitches and often used to accompany a sitar


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Bands and ensembles:- BRASS BAND A band containing brass instruments

and percussion CEILIDH BAND A band containing fiddles, drums and accordion.

Mainly used to accompany dancing MILITARY BAND A band containing woodwind, brass and

percussion PIPE BAND A band containing Bagpipes and drums ROCK BAND A band containing guitars, bass guitars,

drums and vocals STEEL BAND A West Indian band containing

instruments made out of oil drums. Each drum is hammered into panels to make different pitches

SCOTTISH DANCE BAND A band containing fiddle, accordion,

piano and drums WIND BAND A band containing woodwind, brass and percussion

instruments. Usually intended for performance in a Concert Hall

FOLK GROUP A group of instrumentalists and singers

performing songs from a particular country JAZZ GROUP A group which performs jazz containing,

drumkit, piano and trumpet POP GROUP A group of instrumentalists and singers

performing modern day popular music GHANAIAN DRUM West African percussion instruments ENSEMBLE drums, bells and shakes which are played together LATIN PERCUSSION A set of percussion instruments playing ENSEMBLE music from Latin America, Brazil and Cuba


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CHAMBER MUSIC Music written for a small instrumental

ensemble with one player to a part .


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STYLES / FORMS Words in this section describe the original form /style of the music in relation to the history of music Musical periods:- BAROQUE Music written between 1600-1750. Popular

composers were Bach and Handel CLASSICAL Music written between 1750-1810. Popular

composers were Mozart, Haydn and Beethoven

ROMANTIC Music written between 1810-1900. Popular

composers were Chopin, Schubert and Tchaikovsky

LATE ROMANTIC * Music of the late 19th Century and early

20th Century which retains the dramatic intensity of the earlier 19th C. Music contains vast instrumental forces and large scale compositions.

NATIONALIST * A term used to describe music which

incorporates elements of folk music of WKHFRPSRVHUVFRXQtry. It emerged around the second half of the 19th Century.

Vocal styles/forms:- HYMN TUNE A simple melody used in the church OPERA A secular drama set to music featuring

vocals with orchestral accompaniment


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ORATORIO A musical setting of a biblical story featuring vocals and orchestra. No acting or staging

RECITATIVE Vocal writing found in Opera, Oratorio and

Cantata following the rhythm or speech. It is often half sung / half spoken in order to move on the story or plot

ARIA A song found in an Opera, Oratorio and

Cantata usually with orchestral accompaniment

DA CAPO ARIA * An aria in ternary form. The 3rd section is

not written out but the instruction Da Capo (from the beginning) is given instead. The first section is repeated in a highly ornamented fashion.

CHORUS A group of singers with several voices to each part.

Used in Opera, Oratorio and Cantata PLAINCHANT * Also known as Plainsong. Unaccompanied

melody set to words of the Roman Catholic liturgy such as the Mass. Plainchants are Modal and have no regular metre. Sung in Latin.

CHANT * Unaccompanied vocal music to which the

words of psalms are sung in the Church Of England.

MASS * From Renaissance period, a large scale sacred

choral work featuring a Latin text and polyphonic texture. Usually performed a cappella. Listen for eg, Kyrie, Benedictus, Gloria, etc.


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MOTET * From the Renaissance period, a religious choral composition, usually unaccompanied ( a cappella ) for the Roman Catholic Church in Latin and is the equivalent of the Anthem of the reformed church.

ANTHEM * Short sacred choral work sung in English. Sometimes unaccompanied but sometimes

accompanied by organ. MADRIGAL * From the Renaissance period, a non-religious

work, polyphonic in style and using imitation. The text is sung in English.

BALLETT * $PDGULJDOHDVLO\UHFRJQLVHGE\LWV

)DK-la-ODFKRUXV CANTATA A small scale Oratorio PASSION Type of Oratorio describing the Crucifixion.

Sung in German and features a Chorale CHORALE German Hymn tune written in four parts

for Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass. Usually Homophonic in texture

MUSICAL Popular musical play featuring vocals

and orchestra LIED * From the Romantic period, music for

solo voice and piano sung in German. SONG CYCLE * A group of songs linked by a common

theme or with a text written by the same author usually accompanied by piano or sometimes small ensembles or full orchestra.


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Instrumental styles/forms:- PAVAN * A Renaissance court dance linked with the

Galliard. The pavan is slow and stately with 2 beats in the bar. (Remember PA-VAN 2syllables)

GALLIARD * A Renaissance court dance which follows

a Pavan. The Galliard is quick and lively and has 3 beats in the bar. (Remember GALL-I-ARD 3 syllables)

OVERTURE * A piece of orchestral music which introduces

a large-scale work such as an opera, oratorio or musical.

SONATA * A work for solo piano of solo instrument

and piano. SUITE * A set of dances or a collection of pieces

that stand on their own or are part of a larger scale work.

CONCERTO A work for solo instrument and orchestra CONCERTO GROSSO * From the Baroque period, a concerto in

which a group of soloists (concertino) is combined and contrasted with a larger group (ripieno).

FUGUE * A contrapuntal piece based on a theme

(subject) announced in one part alone and then imitated by others in close succession.

CHORALE PRELUDE * An extended work for organ based on a chorale

melody. Usually found in the Baroque era. SYMPHONY A large work for orchestra in four movements


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FANFARE A short piece played on trumpets usually indicating an important occasion or event

SCHERZO A lively movement in triple time often found

in a symphony, sonata or chamber music AIR * A song or simple melody, sometimes the

title of a movement or suite. SYMPHONIC POEM * A full symphonic work in one movement which

tells a story in sound, often called a tone poem. 20th Century.

CHACONNE * A vocal or instrumental composition in slow,

stately three-beat time with a Ground Bass. Popular in the 17th Century in keyboard music

PASSACAGLIA * Originally a slow stately dance of the 17th

century, this term now applies to a piece with a theme which is continually repeated, but not necessarily in the bass like a Chaconne.

Scottish styles/forms:- BOTHY BALLAD Folk song with many verses telling a story of

rural or farming / working life GAELIC PSALMS Unaccompanied songs sung in gaelic.

One member of the congregation starts and the rest follow

MOUTH MUSIC Gaelic nonsense words sung in imitation of

the sound of bagpipes as an accompaniment to dancing

SCOTS BALLAD A slow Scottish song telling a story WAULKING SONG Gaelic work song sung by women. One woman

leads and the others follow. The sound of WKHWZHHGEHLQJZDXONHGRUKLWDJDLQVW the work surface is heard in the background


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JIG A fast Scottish dance in compound time MARCH Music with a strong steady pulse with two

or four beats in the bar STRATHSPEY A Scottish dance with four beats in the

bar featuring dotted rhythms and a Scotch Snap

REEL A fast Scottish dance in simple time with

two or four beats in the bar. WALTZ A dance in simple time with three beats

in the bar PIBROCH Classical music for the solo bagpipe usually in

variation form SLOW AIR * A slow traditional song usually played on the

fiddle or the bagpipes Jazz styles/forms:- BLUES Music written in 4/4 time and mostly

patterned in a 12-bar structure and on a scale where some notes are flattened the blues scale

BOOGIE-WOOGIE Blues style for the piano where the left

had plays an Ostinato with the right hand improvising freely

DIXIELAND Performed by a small group of players

where group improvisations and solos are popular

IMPROVISATION Music made up on the spot by the performer RAGTIME A style of dance music popular at the end

of the 19th Century. Often played on the piano and featuring a strongly syncopated melody in the right hand against a steady vamp in the left hand


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SWING $MD]]VW\OHVWDUWHGLQWKHVXVXDOO\

performed by Big Bands JAZZ FUNK * A combination of Jazz improvisation and

the amplified instruments and character of rock.

Latin American styles/forms:- SAMBA Very lively, syncopated dance with 2 beats

in the bar featuring a set of percussion instruments as the foundation

SALSA A musical style originating in Cuba.

An important element is the rhythm provided by a large percussion section

20th Century styles/forms:- IMPRESSIONIST A term borrowed from painting in which

musical ideas merge to create a rather blurred and vague outline. Debussy was an important composer of this style

MINIMALIST A 20th Century development where simple

rhythmic and melodic figures are repeated very slight changes each time

ALEATORIC Chance music. Players have a free choice as

to the rhythm and pitch of the music. No two performances will be exactly the same.

NEO-CLASSICAL * Music written from 1929 onwards as a

reaction to Romanticism. Composers returned to the structures and the styles of the earlier period but included dissonant, tonal and atonal harmonies.


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SERIAL * Method of composition in which the twelve notes of the chromatic scale are organised into a series or tone row. The row can be transposed, inverted or played in retrograde.

MUSIQUE CONCRETE * Recorded natural sounds which are

transformed using simple editing techniques such as playing backwards, slowing or speeding.

General styles/forms:- COUNTRY An American style of popular music

featuring banjo, guitar, drums and sometimes vocals

GHANAIAN Music from West India INDIAN Music from India using instruments such

as the sitar and tabla INDONESIAN Type of percussion instruments from GAMELAN Indonesia. The instruments are usually metal

and tuned and the music is built up in layers POP Popular music performed by a group of

musicians. Usually music that has been in the charts

ROCK Popular music with a steady driving beat SOUL Afro-American popular music including

elements of blues, gospel and conveying strong emotions.