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Florida Vocal Association All-State Musicianship High School Terms 2017-18 [OUTDATED]

Terms in this set (80)

a cappella
without instrumental accompaniment
a tempo
return to the original tempo after some deviation
accent mark
symbols that indicate a note is strongly played or sung
accidentals
symbol used to raise or lower a given pitch by 1 or 2 semi-tones, or to cancel a previous sign or part of a key signature
al fine
to the end, generally used after a repetition
allargando
slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece
allegretto
slightly slower than allegro, often implying lighter texture and character as well
allegro con spirito
fast tempo with spirit
amabile
sweet, loveable
andante
rather slow, at a moderate walking pace
arpeggio
the notes of a chord played in succession to one another, rather than simultaneously; a broken chord
atonal
music that lacks a tonal center; absence of key
augmented
raised or enlarged. Generally refers to the raising of a pitch by one half-step
bel canto
beautiful singing; an Italian Opera term
binary form - AB
form of a composition that has two distinct sections
cadenza
an improvised or written-out ornamental passage performed by a soloist usually near the final cadence
caesura
grand pause; an interruption or break in the line
cantabile
in a singing style; singable
chromatic
motion by half steps; also describes harmony or melody that employs some of the sequential 12 pitches (semi-tones) in an octave
coda
a passage that brings a piece of music to its conclusion; an ending.
concerto
composition for instruments in which a solo instrument is set against an orchestral ensemble.
D.C. or Da Capo
repeat from the beginning of the composition
diminished
lowered, or reduced; generally refers to the lowering of a pitch chromatically by one half step
diminuendo
gradually reduce volume, getting softer
divisi
performers singing the same part are divided to sing different parts.
dolce
sweetly, usually also softly
espressivo
to play or sing with expression
falsetto
type of vocal phonation that enables the singer to sing notes beyond the normal vocal range.
fermata
a pause or hold
fortissimo (fortessimo?)
very loud
grave
solemn, with dignity
grazioso
graceful
half-step
a semi-tone. There are 12 half-steps in an octave.
harmonic minor
a minor scale with a raised 7th
interval
the relationship between two pitches, the distance between an upper and a lower pitch
key signature
sharps or flats at the beginning of each staff to indicate which pitches are to be raised or lowered from their natural state during the piece
largo
very slow and broad
leading tone
the seventh degree of the diatonic scale, when it is only a half-step below the tonic, gives the feeling of wanting to move up a half-step to the tonic
legato
to play or sing in a smooth, connected manner
leggiero
lightly
lunga
a long pause that is determined by the performer or director
marcato
marked, stressed
meno mosso
less motion
meter
indicated by a time signature, can be simple or compound
mezzo forte
medium loud
mezzo piano
medium soft
misterioso
play or sing in a mysterious manner
motif
a short musical idea or melodic theme, usually shorter than a musical phrase
niente
dying away to nothing
octave
an interval eight diatonic scale degrees above/below a pitch. Two notes this distance apart have the same letter name, and form the most consonant interval possible.
opera
a major vocal work that involves theatrical elements
opus
a creative work, numbered to designated the order of the composer's works
oratorio
large scale musical composition on a sacred subject.
perdendosi
gradually dying away, softer and slower
pesante
heavy, ponderous
phrase
a single musical idea or element which is often defined by a repeated rhythmic pattern or a melodic contour
poco piu mosso
a little more motion
portamento
special manner of singing where the voice glides from one tone to the next through all the intermediate pitches
presto
very fast, faster than allegro
primo
first or upper part
rallentando (rall.)
gradually slowing down
rondo form
ABACA-form of a composition that has a recurring A section
rubato
making the established pulse flexible by accelerating and slowing down the tempo, an expressive device
senza
without
sequence
the repetition of a phrase at different pitch levels using the same or similar intervals
sforzando (sf or sfz)
strongly accented, forced
simile (sim.)
continue to perform in a similar manner
slur
curved line that indicates to sing or play in a legato manner; without separation
solfege
a system used for teaching sight singing (do-re-mi)
sostenuto
in a sustained manner
sotto voce
softly; with subdued sound; performed in an undertone
staccato (stacc.)
detached, crisply played
strophic
describes a song where the stanzas are all sung to the same music
subito
suddenly, quickly
tempo primo
the original speed
tenuto (ten.)
fully sustained, occasionally even a bit longer than the note value requires
tessitura
most widely used range of pitches in a piece of music
triad
3 note chord consisting of the root, third, and fifth
tutti
in a choral work would indicate all voices
vivace
lively, briskly
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