key signature:A series of sharps or flats (or lack of both) at the beginning of
each staff following the clef.lead sheet:A scaled-down, notated melody with chord symbols, usually for
rock or jazz music, on which a musical performance is based.leitmotiv: A melody, chord, or rhythm used in musicals, opera, cinema,
and other visual arts that reoccurs throughout the production to identify a
place, object, idea, or character. This compositional technique builds famil-
iarity for the audience.libretto: The text of an opera or other dramatic works.measure: Also called a bar. A segment of written music, contained within two
vertical bars, that contains as many beats as the top number of the key signa-
ture indicates.medley: A composition that strings a group of well-known tunes together to
form a new composition.melody:A succession of musical tones, usually of varying pitch and rhythm,
that together have an identifiable shape and meaning.meter: The organization of rhythmic patterns in a composition in such a way
that a regular, repeating pulse of beats continues throughout the composition.metronome: A device that maintains a steady beat at varying speeds. It is
common for composers to use metronome markings at the beginning of a
piece to indicate how fast the piece should be played.middle C:The C note located right between the two musical staffs in the grand
staff (numbered as C4).modulation: Transition from one key to another.notation:The use of written or printed symbols to represent musical sounds.note:A symbol used to represent the duration of a sound and, when placed
on a music staff, the pitch of the sound.octave:Two tones that span eight different diatonic pitches that have the
same pitch quality and the same pitch names in Western music.orchestration: The art of composing or arranging for orchestra.pick-up notes:Introductory notes placed before the first measure in a piece
of music.314 Music Composition For Dummies
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