Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Basic Music Terminology
MUS 370 Intro to Conducting
171
Music
Undergraduate 3
09/18/2013

Additional Music Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Abandon, Abbandono
Definition
Free, passionate.
Term
A cappella
Definition
Designation for choral music without instrumental accompaniment.
Term
Accelerando (accel.)
Definition
Increase tempo.
Term
Acoustic
Definition
A non-amplified or non-electric instrument.
Term
Adagio
Definition
A slow tempo, between andante and largo.
Term
A due (a2)
Definition
Both performers. Follows a section with only one performer on the part. A3, a4, etc., are also used.
Term
Ad libitum (ad lib.)
Definition
An indication given the performer to vary from strict tempo, or to add or omit a part.
Term
Afflitto
Definition
Sad, melancholy.
Term
Agitato
Definition
Excited, agitated.
Term
Al fine
Definition
To the end.
Term
Alla breve
Definition
Quick duple time.
Term
Allargando (allarg.)
Definition
Becoming broader, slowing.
Term
Alle
Definition
All.
Term
Allegretto
Definition
Moderately fast.
Term
Allegro
Definition
Quick, rapid tempo, rather fast.
Term
Anacrusis
Definition
Upbeat or pickup.
Term
Andante
Definition
At a walking pace, at a moderate speed.
Term
Animato
Definition
Animated, lively.
Term
Appassionato
Definition
Passionately.
Term
Appoggiando
Definition
Emphasized.
Term
Arco
Definition
Bow with the bow.
Term
Arpeggio (arpeg.)
Definition
Roll the chord in harp style.
Term
ASCAP
Definition
Abbreviation for “American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.”
Term
A tempo
Definition
Resume to the original tempo.
Term
Attacca
Definition
Begin the next section without pausing.
Term
Axe
Definition
Slang for musical instrument.
Term
Ballo
Definition
Dance.
Term
Beat
Definition
Unit of measurement or rhythmic time.
Term
Bellicose
Definition
Warlike, martial.
Term
Bewegt
Definition
Agitated; Bewegter – More agitated.
Term
Blues notes
Definition
The lowered third, seventh and sometimes fifth degrees of a major scale that create the characteristic sound of the blues.
Term
Bouche
Definition
Muted French horn, using hand, indicated +.
Term
Bravura
Definition
Boldness.
Term
Breit
Definition
Broadly, grandly.
Term
Brio
Definition
Vigor, spirit.
Term
Caccia
Definition
Chase or hunt. A two-part canon where the voices chase each other.
Term
Caesura
Definition
A symbol // indicating a sudden pause in the music.
Term
Cadenza
Definition
Solo vocal or instrumental passage.
Term
Cantabile
Definition
Songlike, singing.
Term
Capo
Definition
From the beginning; Da capo al segno – From the beginning to the sign.
Term
Abandon, Abbandono
Definition
Free, passionate.
Term
Abandon, Abbandono
Definition
Free, passionate.
Term
Chiuso
Definition
Muted French horn, using the hand.
Term
Clam
Definition
Slang for a wrong note.
Term
Colla parte
Definition
In unison with another part; for example: col.vln. – With violins. (Commonly used in jazz scores.)
Term
Col legno
Definition
With the stick of the bow.
Term
Con
Definition
with.
Term
Coro
Definition
Chorus.
Term
Crescendo
Definition
Increasing in loudness.
Term
Da capo (D.C.)
Definition
Repeat from the beginning.
Term
Dal Segno (D.S.)
Definition
Go back and play from the sign.
Term
Dampfer
Definition
Mute; Mit Dampfer – With mute; Ohne Dampfer – Without mute.
Term
Decrescendo
Definition
Decrease in loudness.
Term
Diminuendo (dim.)
Definition
Gradually becoming softer.
Term
Divisi
Definition
Indicates that when two or more notes are written on one staff, they are to be
played by separate performers.
Term
Dolce
Definition
Sweetly.
Term
Estinto
Definition
Barely audible, as soft as possible.
Term
Etwas
Definition
Somewhat.
Term
Facile
Definition
Easy.
Term
Fiero
Definition
Fiercely.
Term
Fine
Definition
End, finish.
Term
Flattenzunge
Definition
Flutter tongue. Make a rapid articulation, similar in sound to a rolled r.
Term
Forte (f)
Definition
Loud.
Term
Fortissimo (ff)
Definition
Very loud.
Term
Forza
Definition
with force.
Term
Furioso
Definition
Furiously, wildly.
Term
Gedampft
Definition
Muted.
Term
Gemendo
Definition
Lamenting.
Term
Gestopft
Definition
Muted French Horn, using hand.
Term
Gig
Definition
Slang for a musical job.
Term
Giocoso
Definition
Humorous.
Term
Giusto
Definition
Keeping a strict beat.
Term
Glissando (glissez, glisser)
Definition
Sliding up and down the scale.
Term
Grave
Definition
Slowly, solemnly.
Term
H
Definition
The German name, pronounced “hah,” for B natural.
Term
Hemiola
Definition
The rhythmic relationship of three notes in the time of two, or two notes in the time of three. It is usually the alteration of 6/8 and 3/4 time.
Term
Holz
Definition
Woodwinds.
Term
Immer
Definition
Always; for example: immer in tempo – Always in tempo.
Term
Jeté
Definition
The bouncing of the bow on the string during a down-bow so as to play a series of repeated notes.
Term
Jubiloso
Definition
Jubilant.
Term
Kräftig
Definition
Vigorous.
Term
Labhaft
Definition
Lively.
Term
Langsam
Definition
Slowly.
Term
Largamente
Definition
Broadly.
Term
Largando
Definition
Gradually slowing down.
Term
Larghetto
Definition
A little largo, not as slow as largo.
Term
Largo
Definition
Very slowly.
Term
Leggero, leggiero
Definition
Lightly, delicately.
Term
Lento (lent)
Definition
Slow.
Term
Lesto
Definition
Lively, quickly.
Term
LH
Definition
Left hand.
Term
L’istesso tempo
Definition
The same tempo.
Term
Marcato
Definition
Marked, with emphasis.
Term
Maestoso
Definition
Majestic.
Term
Meno
Definition
Less; Meno mosso – Less movement, slower.
Term
Mesto
Definition
Sad.
Term
Mezzo
Definition
Half; Mezzo voce – At half voice.
Term
Mezzo forte (mf)
Definition
Midway between loud and soft.
Term
MM
Definition
Maelzel metronome; tempo indication; the number of beats per minute, expressed in a specific note value; e.g.: MM = 72
Term
Moderato
Definition
At a moderate pace.
Term
Modo
Definition
Manner, in the manner of.
Term
Modo ordinario
Definition
In the usual manner (usually following a passage in a specific style.)
Term
Molto
Definition
Much, very.
Term
Morendo
Definition
Dying away.
Term
Mosso
Definition
Moving, agitated, animated.
Term
Moto
Definition
Motion, movement; Con moto – with movement.
Term
Muta, mutando
Definition
Change; usually to indicate a change in tuning of an instrument or instruments (such as timpani,) the change of the key of a brass instrument, or a change from one instrument to another (such as flute to piccolo.)
Term
Niente
Definition
Nothing, silence; A niente - fade away to silence.
Term
Ober
Definition
Higher.
Term
Oder.
Definition
Or.
Term
Ohne
Definition
Without.
Term
Ossia
Definition
Otherwise (refers to an alternative part.)
Term
Parlando, parlante
Definition
Sung in a speaking style.
Term
Partials
Definition
Notes of the harmonic series; harmonics.
Term
Pesante
Definition
Heavy.
Term
Petit
Definition
Little.
Term
Peu à peu
Definition
Little by little.
Term
Pianissimo (pp)
Definition
Very soft.
Term
Pianississimo (ppp)
Definition
Very, very soft.
Term
Piu
Definition
More
Term
Più mosso
Definition
More motion; Increase the tempo.
Term
Poco
Definition
Little.
Term
Poco à poco
Definition
Little by little.
Term
Pointillism
Definition
A 20th century compositional style where emphasis is placed on single notes.
Term
Portando, portamento
Definition
To carry the sound.
Term
Presto
Definition
Very quick tempo.
Term
Prestissimo
Definition
The fastest tempo; extremely fast.
Term
Pulse
Definition
A beat.
Term
Rallentando (rall.
Definition
Slowing down. (Same as ritardando.)
Term
Retenu
Definition
Held back.
Term
RH
Definition
Right hand.
Term
Riff
Definition
A short repeated melodic pattern.
Term
Ripeno
Definition
Similar to tutti, it distinguishes the accompanying instruments from the soloist.
Term
Ritardando (ritard, rit.)
Definition
Gradually slowing the tempo.
Term
Ritenuto
Definition
Held back; becoming slower immediately.
Term
Rubato
Definition
Expressive flexibility of tempo; tastefully slowing down and speeding up at the discretion of the performer/conductor.
Term
Ruhig
Definition
Quietly, tranquil.
Term
Sans timbres
Definition
Without snares (percussion.)
Term
Scherzo, scherzando
Definition
Playfully, like a joke, with humor.
Term
Schnell
Definition
Quickly, fast.
Term
Secco, sec
Definition
Dry, simple; in percussion: dampen, do not let ring.
Term
Segue
Definition
Proceed to next section without a break or a pause.
Term
Sehr
Definition
Very.
Term
Sempre
Definition
Always.
Term
Senza
Definition
Without; Senza Sordino - without mute.
Term
Sforzando, sforzato (sf, sfz)
Definition
Forced attack, with emphasis.
Term
Simile (sim.)
Definition
In a similar or same manner.
Term
Smorzando (smorz.)
Definition
Fading away.
Term
Sordino
Definition
Mute; Con sordino - with mute; Senza sordino – without mute.
Term
Sostenuto
Definition
Sustained, in a smooth manner.
Term
Sotto voce
Definition
Under the voice; whispered, barely audible.
Term
Staccato
Definition
Separated.
Term
Steso
Definition
Slow.
Term
Stesso
Definition
Same.
Term
Stimme
Definition
Voice or instrumental part.
Term
Stringendo (string.)
Definition
Quickening of tempo.
Term
Subito (sub.)
Definition
Immediately, suddenly.
Term
Tacet, tacit
Definition
Indication that a particular performer or instrument has no part for a considerable time.
Term
Tempo primo
Definition
Return to the original tempo.
Term
Tenuto (ten.)
Definition
Direction that a note is to be fully sustained, held up to its full written time value.
Term
Tranquillo
Definition
Calmly, quietly, tranquil.
Term
Tremolo
Definition
Quick repetition of the same note, or quick repetition between two different pitched notes.
Term
Trill (tr)
Definition
Even and rapid alternation of two tones a major or a minor second apart. The lower tone is the principal tone.
Term
Troppo
Definition
Too much; Non troppo - not too much.
Term
Tutti
Definition
All, the entire ensemble.
Term
Vamp
Definition
To improvise an instrumental accompaniment.
Term
Vibrato
Definition
A rapid fluctuation of pitch slightly higher or lower than the main pitch.
Term
Vivace, vivo
Definition
Lively, animated, brisk.
Term
Volit subito (V.S.)
Definition
Turn quickly, as in turning a page quickly.
Term
Vorspiel
Definition
German word for prelude or overture.
Term
Zart
Definition
Soft, tender.
Supporting users have an ad free experience!