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AP Music Theory - Texture

Terms in this set (35)

Alberti bass
Accompaniment figure in keyboard music where the triad notes are ordered lowest, highest, middle, highest
Canon
a contrapuntal compositional technique that employs a melody with one or more imitations of the melody played after a given duration
Canonic
The adjective form of "Canon"
chordal homophony
Musical material is concentrated into chords with relatively little melodic activity
Counterpoint
The relationship between voices that are harmonically interdependent (polyphony) yet independent in rhythm and contour.
Contrapuntal
The adjective form of "counterpoint"
Imitation
The repetition of a melody in a polyphonic texture shortly after its first appearance in a different voice
Imitative polyphony
A musical texture where one voice repeats or mimics the patterns just stated in another voice
Nonimitative polyphony
a musical texture in which two or more independent melodic lines do not share melodic material with one another
Countermelody
A secondary melody that is sounded simultaneously with the principal one
Fugal imitation
Imitation in the manner of a fugue
Heterophony, heterophonic
A type of texture characterized by the simultaneous variation of a single melodic line
Homophony, homophonic
Primary musical texture - chordal, or melody and accompaniment
Chordal homophony
4 part chorale
Chordal texture (homorhythmic)
Another name for Chordal homophony
Melody and accompaniment
The most common musical texture in which one voice, the melody, stands out prominently and the others form a background of harmonic accompaniment
Instrumentation
The particular instruments used in a piece of music
Brass
Wind instruments made of brass involving buzzing lips
Basso Continuo
An accompanying part (in baroque music) that includes a bass line and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument and with other instruments such as cello or lute
Percussion
A family of instruments sounded by striking, plucking, shaking, scraping, etc.
Rhythm section
The part of a pop or jazz group supplying the rhythm, generally regarded as consisting of bass, drums piano and/or guitar
Strings
Section of Orchestra (violin, viola, cello, bass)
Timbre
The character or quality of a musical sound or voice as distinct from its pitch and intensity
Woodwinds
Family of instruments including flutes and reed instruments
Melody
a sequence of single notes that is musically satisfying
Obbligato
An elaborate melodic part accompanying a solo or principal melody and usually played by a single instrument
Oratorio
A large musical composition for orchestra, choir, and soloists
Ostinato
a continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm
Polyphony, polyphonic
Musical texture in which two or more melodic lines are played or sung simultaneously
Register
Range of similar sounding notes in a voice or instrument
Solo, soli
One voice, one section
Tutti
An Italian word literally meaning all or together and is used as a musical term, for the whole orchestra as opposed to the soloist
Tessitura
The most acceptable and comfortable vocal range for a given singer or less frequently, musical instrument, the range in which a given type of voice presents its best-sounding (or characteristic) timbre
Walking bass
A style of bass accompaniment or line, common in Baroque music (1600-1750) and 20th century jazz, blues and rockabilly, which creates a feeling of regular quarter note movement, akin to the regular alternation of feet while walking
Monophony, monophonic
Musical texture consisting of a melody with no accompaniment. The melody can be doubled in different octaves
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