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Mus10
Mus10 Midterm 1 Study Terms
25
Music
Undergraduate 1
10/29/2009

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Term
Polyphony
Definition
having more than one voice .
Term
Monophony
Definition
having a single voice.
Term
Heterophony
Definition
a type of texture characterized by the simultaneous variation of a single melodic line.
Term
Homophony
Definition
- musical texture based primarily on chords, in contrast to polyphony, which results from combinations of relatively independent melodies. In homophony, one part, usually the highest, tends to predominate and there is little rhythmic differentiation between the parts, whereas in polyphony, rhythmic distinctiveness reinforces melodic autonomy.
Term
Modulation
Definition
process of moving from one key area to another.
Term
Counterpoint
Definition
manner in which two or more melodic lines are combined and juxtaposed to produce pleasing and technically correct intermingling.
Term
Cadence
Definition
arrival at harmonic rest.
Term
Recitative
Definition
in opera and related genres, a vocal passage imitating the rhythms and inflections of speech often a recitative is followed by an aria. When crisply delivered and accompanied by simple chords in the continuo, the recitative is considered secco(dry); with orchestra it is accompagnato.
Term
Aria
Definition
composition for solo voice, usually a movement for a larger work.
Term
Opera seria
Definition
Opera seria built upon the conventions of the High Baroque era by developing and exploiting the da capo aria, with its A-B-A form. The first section presented a theme, the second a complementary one, and the third a repeat of the first with ornamentation and elaboration of the music by the singer. As the genre developed and arias grew longer, a typical opera seria would contain not more than thirty musical movements.
Term
Timbre
Definition
tone color that distinguishes the character of an instrumental or vocal sound.
Term
Alberti bass
Definition
accompanimental figure for the left hand in keyboard music, named after the composer Dominic
Term
Basso continuo
Definition
in Baroque music, a continuously sounding bass part over which the rest of the composition is built.
Term
Melisma
Definition
group of several pitches sung to a single syllable.
Term
Passacaglia
Definition
work built on an ostinato bass (or ground bass), often a descending chromatic bass.
Term
Cadenza
Definition
passage of improvisatory display for the soloist, especially in a concerto.
Term
Word-painting
Definition
(also known as tone painting or text painting) is the musical technique of writing music which reflects the literal meaning of a song.
Term
Dissonance
Definition
unpleasantness or instability perceived in certain intervals and chords.
Term
Consonance
Definition
musical stability as perceived in certain intervals and chords.
Term
Chorale
Definition
congregational hymn of the Lutheran church.
Term
Ritornello
Definition
recurring passage.
Term
Canon
Definition
musical procedure where a second voice is generated by following a rule
Term
Secco
Definition
dry. Recitativo secco is recitative delivered rapidly in speech rhythms and accompanied by the continuo force or a keyboard instrument.
Term
Accompagnato
Definition
accompanied
Term
Sarabande
Definition
a slow, stately Spanish dance in triple time.
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