Musical Terms - Concerto D'amore

Musical Terms

Musical terms.

Basic Musical Terms

Tempo Musical Terms (Grades1 to 3)

Dynamics. Dynamics in music refers to how loud or soft is the music. It is that simple! But, because musicians and composers like to make things interesting, and sometimes difficult, there are lots of different musical terms that can be used to describe what the dynamics are in a piece of music. Usually, the music terms used to describe dynamics are called “Italian terms”. Many, many years ago, when music in the Western European tradition started to become systematized, it was decided that all musical information written on the musical score would be in a common language – Italian. Dynamics in Music Definitions In the chart you can see all the basic dynamics terms commonly used in music today. Essentially, dynamics fall into two main categories – loud or soft. The dynamic music definitions will go from the softest to the loudest Italian terms. In real life, music that is performed very, very soft or “pianississimo” would be almost at a whisper. Whereas music performed very, very loudly or “fortississimo” would be music that is deafening and as loud as possible for the instrument or ensemble as a whole. Pianississimo – very, very soft Pianissimo – very soft Piano – soft Mezzo piano – a little soft Mezzo forte – a little loud Forte – loud Fortissimo – very loud Fortissimo – very, very loud

A piece that’s sung as opposed to played. Answer: Cantata A hymn tune of the Lutheran church. Answer: Chorale A part for keyboard (harpsichord or organ) and cello or bass. The keyboard player reads the cello line and provides an accompaniment based on the figured Bass. Answer: Basso continuo The numbers written under the cello part indicating chords and their positions to the keyboard player. Answer: Figured Bass A piece for choir. Answer: Chorus A style of singing that is more related in pitch and rhythm to speech than song. In the 18th Century it was used extensively in Opera as “Dialogue” between Characters. Answer: Recitative (Dry) Accompanied only by continuo. Answer: Recitativo secco More expressive and accompanied by the orchestra. Answer: Recitativo stromentato Contrapuntal device whereby a motif or phrase is presented successively by different voices. Answer: Imitation To turn a motif or phrase “up-side down”. Answer: Inversion A song for 1 or more voices, popular in Opera and Cantata as a contrast with Recitative. Answer: Aria A type of piece that was written as a set of variations on an Ostinato. Answer: Chaconne A musical idea repeating many times. Answer: Ostinato A sustained or repeated note over which the harmonies change. Answer: Pedal Point Point of rest. Answer: Cadence Change of key. Answer: Modulation Where the composer gives prominence or illustrates words in musical terms. Answer: Word Painting A motif that has more than 1 note per syllable is said to be melismatic. Often used as word painting. Answer: Melisma Where 1 note per syllable is used. Answer: Syllabic A polyphonic composition in which a part is imitated by 1 or more parts so that successive statements of the melody overlap. Answer: Canon Any rhythmically independent movement between parts. Answer: Polyphony A combination of 2 or more independent melodies. Answer: Counterpoint A structure consisting of 3 sections-ABA. Answer: Ternary Form Back to the beginning as in the Da Capo Aria. Answer: Da Capo (D.C.) Back to the sign. Answer: Dal Segno (D.S.) A motif which is repeated at a different pitch in the same part. Answer: Sequence

Musical Texture Texture Musical texture is the element of music that analyzes musical layers in terms of number and function. The most basic texture is called monophonic. Oh mama, I'm in fear for my life from the long arm of the law. Monophonic texture has only one layer, a melody. With monophony, it doesn't matter how many instruments and or voices are present if they are all singing or playing the same thing at the same time. It also doesn't matter if the voices or instruments are on the exact same frequency, or if they are singing in octaves. An octave is the distance between two musical pitches that sound almost the same, but one is higher and one is lower. It also doesn't matter if drums are present or not. In most cases, drums, the rhythmic layer, are neither melody nor harmony, and therefore are generally not considered when determining texture type. Too much monophony can be boring, so most music has another kind of layer, harmony. When a melody is supported by a harmony, the texture is homophonic. No one may ever know the feelings inside my mind. All the lines I ever write are running out of time. One layer grabs your attention, and the other layer is just hanging out in the background. Most popular music is homophonic. Notice how there was only one instrument in the previous example, a piano, but there were two different things happening on that instrument, a melody, and a harmony. What if a piece of music has multiple independent layers happening at the same time, and you're not sure which one is the melody? This is called polyphony. Polyphony can occur if you take the same melody but start it at staggered intervals. This is called a round. ♪ The last texture is called heterophony. Heterophony is relatively rare in Western music but is very common in non-Western music. It occurs when there are two or more versions of the same melody happening at the same time. Usually, one of the melody lines has more notes than the other, a kind of musical decoration, and or a slightly different rhythmic pattern. Songs will often use a variety of textures to keep the piece interesting. Come on, I need you, I swear, at this moment, you need everything. Come on, I need you, I swear, at this moment, you need everything. Start trying to identify the musical textures in your favorite music.

Type A operational definition can be constructed in terms of the operations performed to cause the phenomenon to occur. Examples: o Fear is a state produced by exposing an individual to an object highest in his or her hierarchy of objects to be avoided. o Conflict is a state produced by placing two or more individuals in a situation where each has the same goal but only one can obtain it. 2. Type B operational definition can be constructed in terms of how the particular object or thing operates. Examples: o Monitor is a television receiver used in a studio to select or verify the picture being broadcast from a particular camera. o Keyboard is a set of keys on a piano or similar musical instrument. 3. Type C operational definition can be constructed in terms of what an object or phenomenon looks like

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