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Music Vocabulary
Everyday music words: melody, harmony, rhythm, texture and form.
0 of 68 known
68 cards
- MelodyWordThe tune; a series of notes that makes a musical idea
- HarmonyWordNotes sounded together that support the melody
- RhythmWordPattern of long and short sounds in time
- BeatWordThe steady pulse in music
- TempoWordThe speed of the music
- PitchWordHow high or low a sound is
- DynamicsWordHow loud or soft the music is
- TimbreWordThe special tone color of a voice or instrument
- TextureWordHow many layers of sound are heard at once
- FormWordThe structure or plan of a piece
- PhraseWordA musical sentence
- MotifWordA short musical idea that repeats and develops
- ThemeWordThe main melody of a piece
- VariationWordA changed version of a theme
- VerseWordA part of a song with the same melody but new words
- ChorusWordThe repeated part of a song with the same words
- BridgeWordA contrasting section in a song, usually after the second chorus
- RefrainWordA repeated line or section
- IntroductionWordThe opening section of a piece
- CodaWordA closing section
- InterludeWordA short piece played between sections
- OstinatoWordA short pattern repeated again and again
- DroneWordA long, steady note held under a melody
- RoundWordA song in which groups enter one after another with the same melody
- CanonWordStrict imitation of a melody entering at different times
- Call and responseWordOne voice asks and another answers
- UnisonWordEveryone playing or singing the same notes
- SoloWordOne performer alone
- DuetWordTwo performers
- TrioWordThree performers
- QuartetWordFour performers
- QuintetWordFive performers
- EnsembleWordA group of musicians
- A cappellaWordSinging without instruments
- OrchestraWordA large group of string, wind and percussion players
- ConductorWordThe person who leads an orchestra or choir
- ChoirWordA group of singers
- SopranoWordHighest female voice
- AltoWordLower female voice
- TenorWordHigher male voice
- BassWordLowest male voice
- BaritoneWordMale voice between tenor and bass
- Mezzo-sopranoWordFemale voice between soprano and alto
- Binary formWordA B form, two contrasting sections
- Ternary formWordA B A form
- RondoWordA form where the main theme returns between contrasting sections, like A B A C A
- Theme and variationsWordA form that changes a theme again and again
- MovementWordA major section of a longer work like a symphony
- OvertureWordOrchestral piece that opens an opera, ballet or play
- LullabyWordA soothing song for sleep
- MarchWordMusic with a strong, steady beat for walking
- WaltzWordA dance in 3/4 time
- MinuetWordA graceful dance in 3/4 time
- SonataWordA work for one or two instruments
- EtudeWordA study piece to practice a skill
- PreludeWordAn introductory piece
- NocturneWordA dreamy piece suggesting night
- LiederWordGerman art songs
- AriaWordA solo song in an opera
- LibrettoWordThe text of an opera
- IntervalWordThe distance between two pitches
- OctaveWordEight notes apart, the same name higher or lower
- TonicWordThe home note of a key
- ResolutionWordMoving from tense notes to rest notes
- TransposeWordMove music into a different key
- ImproviseWordMake up music while performing
- EmbouchureWordHow a player shapes lips and face on a wind instrument
- VibratoWordA slight, quick wavering of pitch to make a note richer
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