GLOSSARY
Dynamics Differences in volume
of a piece or section of music; also
refers to the notation system of
markings on sheet music that
instruct players on volume.Flat A note that has been lowered
by a half step (B lowered by a half
step is B-flat); also describes an
instrument or voice that is out
of tune by being lower than the
intended pitch.Fugue From the Italian fuga,
“to chase”; a highly structured
contrapuntal piece, in two or more
parts, popular in the Baroque era.
The separate voices or lines enter
one by one imitatively.Harmony The simultaneous
playing of different (usually
complementary) notes. The basic
unit of harmony is the chord.Interval The difference in pitch
between two notes, expressed
numerically to show how many half
steps apart they are; can be called
“major,” “minor,” or “perfect,” for
example, a “minor third” is an
interval of three semitones, while
a “major third” is an interval of four.Key The tonal center of a piece of
music, based on the first note (or
tonic) of the scale.Key signature A written indication
of which key to play in, shown by
a group of accidentals— sharps or
flats—at the beginning of a staff.
Rather than writing in a sharp for
each F and C in a piece in D major,
for example, the two sharps would
be included on the staff.Leitmotif Literally “leading motif”
in German; a short musical phrase
that recurs through the pieceto indicate the presence of its
associated character, emotion,
or object.Libretto The text of an opera or
other vocal dramatic work.Lied Traditional German song,
popularized by Schubert.Madrigal Secular “a cappella”
song that was popular in
Renaissance England and Italy;
often set to a love poem.Major A term applied to a key
signature or any chord, triad, or
scale in a major key. The intervals
in a major key consist of two whole
steps followed by a half step, then
three whole steps followed by a half
step. Major keys are often described
as sounding happy, while minor
keys are subdued and sad.Mass Main service of the Roman
Catholic Church, highly formalized
in structure, comprising specific
sections—known as the “Ordinary”—
performed in the following order:
Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus with
Hosanna and Benedictus, and
Agnus Dei and Dona nobis pacem.Measure A segment of musical
time containing a fixed number
of beats, depending on the time
signature; measures are visualized
by vertical lines on a score.Melody A series of notes that
together create a tune or theme.Mezzo-soprano Literally “half
soprano”; the lowest soprano voice;
one tone above contralto.Minimalism A predominantly
American school of music from the
mid-20th century, which favored asound-world involving
an almost hypnotic texture of
repeated short patterns.Minor A term applied to a key
signature or chord, triad, or scale
in a minor key; has a relative major
key. Different to its relative major in
that the third note (and sometimes
sixth and seventh) are flatted,
leading to a darker sound.Mode Seven-note scale inherited
from Ancient Greece via the Middle
Ages, in which they were most
prevalent; they survive today in
folk music and plainsong.Modulation A shift from one key
to another—for example, from C
major to A minor.Monody Vocal style developed in
the Baroque period with a single,
dominant melodic line; can be
accompanied or unaccompanied.Monophonic Describes music
written in a single line, or melody
without an accompaniment.Motet A polyphonic choral
composition based on a sacred
text, usually unaccompanied.Movement A self-contained
section of a larger work; so called
because each has a different,
autonomous tempo indication.Musique concrète Electronic
music comprising instrumental
and natural sounds, often altered or
distorted in the recording process.Natural A note that is neither
sharp nor flat. A natural symbol
can be used following a sharp or
flat introduced earlier in a measure,
to indicate that the player not flat341
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