Up on the Housetop Song Sheet for Language Arts Meter

Desire to know the divergence between a Picardy Tertiary and a Neapolitan Sixth? Ringlet through our musical terms (which nosotros are always updating) to detect out!

Pro tip: apply CTRL-F or CMD-F to search for a term!

8vb

Abridgement for ottava bassa or "at the octave below." This indication is found below specific notes on a staff and indicates that those notes should be performed ane octave lower than written.

          Written                                                                    Performed

12 Bar Blues

The about common form of the dejection, information technology is a twelve-bar chord progression that is repeated throughout the song. A great instance of a 12 Bar Blues song is "Tutti Frutti" by Little Richard.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LVIttmFAzek

A Capella

Group or solo singing without instrumental accessory. Some groups use their voices to emulate instruments, while others are more than traditional and focus on harmonizing. I of the nearly pop a capella groups is Pentatonix. Check out this video of one of their near popular songs, "Mary Did You Know."

A Tempo

A directive to return to the original tempo after a deliberate departure.

Ad Libitum

Probably more recognizable as "ad lib", it means "at the discretion of the performer." It gives the performer control over the passage, for case, irresolute the tempo of a particular passage, or a part that may be omitted if desired.

Anacrusis

Also known every bit a pickup, it is a notation or sequence of notes which precedes the first downbeat in a bar in a musical phrase.

Arpeggio

When the notes of a chord are performed i after the other instead of all at the same time.

Chord vs. Arpeggio

Atonal

A generalizing term used to define music that seems to lack a articulate tonal centre.

Aubade

Morning music; a morning concert in the open air performed for a specific individual. This is dissimilar from a serenade, which is performed in the evening.

Bandmaster

A generic term used to designate the leader of a band. Although this term can exist applied to whatever person that leads a band, information technology is most often associated with the leader of a armed services band, concert band symphonic band, or marching ring. The bandmaster is more often than not the director or conductor of the ring and can also responsible for the administrative aspects of the arrangement.

Bagatelle

Used as the title of a brusk light-hearted piece of music, it was employed nigh notably past Beethoven in a serial of such compositions for piano. The descriptive title was thereafter used by a number of other composers.

Bal Musette

A style of French music and trip the light fantastic toe that starting time became popular in Paris in the 1880s, usually accompanied by accordions.

Baritone

The Baritone is the second lowest singing range, and overlaps both Bass and Tenor. The typical baritone range is from A2 to A4, and might extend down to F2 or up to C5. The baritone phonation type is the most common type of male person voice.

Baroque

A fashion of European architecture, music, and art demonstrated from near 1600 – 1750 (following The Renaissance) that is characterized by ornate particular. During this time music became tonal (as opposed to modal) and saw the nascency of new forms, including the Opera, Sonata, Oratorio, Suite, Fugue, and Concerto. A few of the major composers during this time include Vivaldi, Bach, Handel, Purcell, Scarlatti, and Pachelbel.

Browse Baroque Sheet Music.

Bass

The lowest singing range and typically lies betwixt E2 to E4. In the lower and upper extremes of the bass vox, some basses can sing from C2 to G4.

Binary Class

Describes the construction of a piece of music that is divided into ii different sections. The 2 sections are usually labeled A and B.

Cake Chords

Also referred to every bit 'locked hands' information technology is a fashion of piano playing where both hands are 'locked' together, playing chords in parallel with the melody, usually in fairly close position. It is a technical procedure requiring much practice and can audio dated if the harmonies are not advanced enough.

Melody

Melody with Block Chords

Blue Annotation

A flatted note, especially the third or seventh scale degree, recurring frequently in blues or jazz as a characteristic feature.

Blues Calibration

A Pentatonic scale with one more note (added in the scale). This note is known as a blue note and it is the flattened 5th in the instance of the Pocket-sized Pentatonic Scale or the flattened third in the case of the Major Pentatonic Calibration.

C Major Blues Scale

A Small Blues Scale

Bongo Drums

A pair of permanently attached small unmarried-headed drums the larger of which is tuned near a fifth beneath the smaller drum.

Borrowed Chord

Also called style mixture and modal interchange, it is a chord borrowed from the parallel fundamental (minor or major calibration with the same tonic). For example, a song in C Major could "borrow" chords from C Minor.

Primal of C Major

Parallel Key = C Minor

In C Major, there are no sharps or flats, so the Fm Chord is being "borrowed" from C Minor to create a unlike sound.

Borrowed Division

The practice of "borrowing" the subdivision of one meter into another meter. For example, borrowing the subdivision of simple fourth dimension and inserting it into compound time, or vice versa.

Jiff Mark

As well known equally a luftpause, it is a symbol used in musical notation. Information technology directs the performer of the music passage to take a breath or to brand a slight pause. This pause is commonly intended to shorten the duration of the preceding notation and not the tempo; in this function, it tin be thought of like a grace rest. It is unremarkably indicated by a comma-similar symbol.

Breve

A notation lasting ii times as long as a whole notation (a double whole note). It is usually indicated as:

Caesura

A break or intermission in music, notated by two diagonal lines ( // ). The break can be of any length at the discretion of the usher.

Cadence

A progression of at least ii chords that concludes a phrase, section, or piece of music.

Cajon

A box-shaped percussion musical instrument originally from Republic of peru, played by slapping the forepart or rear faces (generally thin plywood) with the hands, fingers, or sometimes various implements such every bit brushes, mallets, or sticks.

Canon

A compositional technique, based on the principle of strict imitation, in which an initial tune is imitated at a specified time interval by one or more parts, either at the aforementioned pitch or at another pitch.

The oldest known type of Canon is called a Circular. We are going to demonstrate it with the melody of "Row, Row, Row, Your Boat". Observe how the same tune is repeated on each line (ii bars afterward the previous entrance) so that the parts are overlapping. Catch some friends and try to sing or play through it!

Cappriccio

A quick, improvisational, spirited slice of music.

Chromatic Scale

A musical scale with twelve pitches, each a semitone above or below another.

Clefs

A symbol that is placed at the left-hand cease of a staff, indicating the pitch of the notes written on information technology. There are many types of clefs, merely the four most mutual are Treble, Bass, Alto, and Tenor.

Treble Clef

• Also known as the G Clef
• Notates the higher registers of music

Bass Clef

• Likewise known as the F Clef
• Notates the lower registers of music

The Treble Clef and Bass Clef are the two most unremarkably used past all instrumentalists and vocalists

Alto Clef

• Places Middle C (C4) on the 3rd line
• Besides known every bit the Viola Clef
• Used for the viola, the viola da gamba, the alto trombone, and the mandala

Tenor Clef

• Places Heart C (C4) on the 2d line
• Used for the upper ranges of the bassoon, cello, euphonium, double bass, and trombone

Circle Of Fifths

The relationship among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their respective primal signatures, and the associated major and minor keys. Circumvolve of Fifths progressions are considered to be harmonically very strong, in the sense that they pull our ears toward one chord being the tonic.

Larn more most the Circle of Fifths and how to use information technology.

Common Time / Cutting Time

Common Fourth dimension is the same thing as four/4 Fourth dimension. It can be referred to by a "C" symbol, only it is more common to see 4/iv. Cut Time, nonetheless, is usually indicated by the symbol "C" with a slash in the centre of it. This means that it is actually 2/four Time notated and executed like 4/iv Fourth dimension, except with the beat lengths doubled.

Mutual Time Symbol

Cutting Time Symbol

Compound Meter

Any time signature in which the upper figure is a multiple of 3, such as 6/8, 9/8, 12/8, etc. Beats are divided into three notes, equally opposed to Elementary Meter, where they are divided into two.

                 Simple Meter                  Chemical compound Meter

Contralto Vocalism

A type of classical female singing voice whose vocal range is the lowest female person voice type. The contralto'due south vocal range is fairly rare; similar to, but different from the alto, and almost identical to that of a countertenor, typically between the F below centre C (F3) to the second F above middle C (F5), although some voices reach across.

Contrary Movement

The motility of ii melodic lines in contrary directions.

Da Capo

Used every bit a direction in music, it is a musical term in Italian significant "from the beginning". It is often abbreviated as "D.C."

Deceptive Cadence

A chord progression that seems to pb to resolving itself on the final chord; merely does not.

In this detail phrase, you would await the V7 Chord to resolve to I.

The Cadence is "Deceptive" considering information technology resolves on the Small-scale vi chord instead.

Decibel

Normally abbreviated as "dB", information technology is a logarithmic unit for measuring the intensity of sound which corresponds to the listener'due south perception of loudness.

Judge Typical Audio Levels

Diphthong

A sound formed by the combination of two vowels in a single syllable, such equally in the globe "loud" or "money." Singers must exist enlightened of diphthongs in solo vocal music, but even more so enlightened in vocal or choral ensembles. Fifty-fifty for the most experienced directors, getting a choir to sing a diphthong in unison is a very tricky task!

Dissonance

Harsh, discordance, and lack of harmony.

Ascendant

The 5th tone or degree of a diatonic scale or the triad build upon this degree. For example, in the key of C Major, the Ascendant Scale Caste would be 1000, and the Dominant Chord would be Chiliad Major.

The strongest harmonic progression in tonal music is from the dominant chord to the tonic triad.

In the key of C Major, K is the 5th Calibration Caste, making information technology the Dominant.

The following excerpt displays the Ascendant CHORD.

Discover the G Chord has an added 7th, which gives information technology an fifty-fifty stronger sound and desire to resolve to the tonic.

Dolcissimo

Used every bit a management in music, significant "sweetly, softly, with tender emotion".

Doloroso

A directive to musicians to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a sorrowful, mournful or plaintive manner.

Doppio Movimento

A directive to play a specific passage twice equally fast. Often used in conjunction with common time changing to cutting time.

Dynamics

The variation in loudness between notes or phrases. The most usually used dynamics are: pianissimo, pianoforte, mezzo piano, mezzo forte, forte, and fortissimo.

Enharmonic

Referring to notes, intervals, or key signatures having the same pitch but written in dissimilar notation.

Each grouping of two notes is an example of Enharmonic Notes. Although they expect similar unlike pitches, the accidentals heighten or lower them to the be the same.

Ensemble

A group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music, with the ensemble typically known past a distinct proper name. Some music ensembles consist solely of instruments, such as the jazz quartet or the orchestra, while others consist solely of singers, such equally choirs and a cappella groups.

Étude

A short musical limerick, typically for one musical instrument, designed as an exercise to improve the technique or demonstrate the skill of a player.

Exposition

The initial presentation of the thematic material of a musical composition, movement, or section.

Centre Music

Music that is pleasing or puzzling to the eye, regardless of how it sounds to the ear. In some cases, the music may make no sense to the ear but has a hush-hush puzzle or bulletin when visually analyzed. This music was most common in the Middle Ages and Renaissance periods.

Faux Book

A drove of musical lead sheets (mostly used in jazz) intended to help a performer quickly acquire and perform new songs. Each song in a simulated book contains the melody line, basic chords and sometimes lyrics – the minimal information needed by a musician or small group to brand an impromptu, extemporized arrangement of a song, or "fake it".

Family unit

A group of instruments which produce sound in the same fashion and are constructed in the aforementioned way simply in different sizes such every bit the clarinet family unit, the saxophone family, the violin family and so on.

Fermata

A symbol that allows a note or residual to exist held for as long as desired.

Fieramente

A directive to a musician to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a proud, haughty, or noble manner.

Figured Bass

A bass line with the intended harmonies indicated past "figures" rather than written out as chords, typical of continuo parts in Baroque music.

Fortepiano

A sudden dynamic modify used in a musical score, to designate a section of music in which the music should be played loudly (forte), then immediately softly (pianoforte). It is usually indicated by the following abbreviation:

Fugue

A compositional technique characterized past the systematic imitation of a principal theme (called the subject) in simultaneously sounding melodic lines (counterpoint). One of the most popular fugues is Bach'south Toccata and Fugue in D Minor.

Ghost Note

A musical note with a rhythmic value, but no discernible pitch when played. In musical note, this is represented by an "X" for a note head instead of an oval, or parentheses effectually the note head.

Glissando

A continuous slide up or downward between two notes.

Grace Annotation

An extra note added every bit an embellishment and not essential to the harmony or melody.

Grazioso

Graceful, smooth or elegant in style – used equally a management in music.

Gregorian Dirge

A monodic and rhythmically free liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church that developed mainly in Western and Central Europe during the 9th and tenth centuries.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?5=Dlr90NLDp-0

Güiro

A Latin percussion instrument consisting of a gourd with grooves cut around its circumference and large holes in the bottom. It is classified as a scraped idiophone. The performer holds the instrument with the holes in the bottom while scraping across the grooves with a stick in a rhythmic fashion.

Habanera

A Cuban dance from Havana subsequently introduced to Spain. One of the most famous examples is found in Bizet's Castilian opera Carmen, where Carmen herself sings a seductive habanera.

Half Cadence

Run across: Cadence. A Half Cadence is whatsoever cadence ending on the 5 Chord. Because it sounds incomplete or suspended, the half cadence is considered a weak cadence that calls for continuation.

Cardinal of C Major

Hand Bells

A percussion instrument, handbells come up in various sizes (each size sounding a separate pitch) and are usually played in a set up ranging in number from six to sixty. They are unremarkably performed by a group of musicians, either each holding a bell in each manus, or lifting them from a table.

Harmonic Minor Scale

A minor scale that differs from a natural pocket-sized scale in that the seventh note is raised i semitone both ascending and descending.

Harpsichord

An early on stringed keyboard musical instrument that produced tones by means of plucking strings with quills rather than by striking them with hammers, as in the modernistic pianoforte. The range of the harpsichord is more often than not virtually iv octaves; it was near popular in the Renaissance and Baroque eras, in the classical era it was eclipsed by the piano.

Haupstimme

German language or "Primary Vocalisation", it is used to bespeak that a certain instrument or part is carrying the melody. in opposition to Nebenstimme. Nebenstimme (German for secondary voice) or Seitensatz is the secondary part (a secondary contrapuntal or melodic part, always occurring simultaneously with, and subsidiary to, the Hauptstimme). The practise of marking the master voice within the musical score/parts was invented past Arnold Schoenberg.

Haute-Contre

A rare type of high tenor vox, predominant in French Baroque and Classical opera until the latter office of the eighteenth century. In range, it is equivalent to the alto and was usually written in the alto clef.

Hemiola

In music, Hemiola is the ratio iii:ii.  In pitch, Hemiola refers to the difference betwixt 2 strings that create the interval of a perfect fifth. In rhythm, Hemiola refers to three beats of equal value in the fourth dimension commonly occupied by two beats.

Hocket

A technique used in medieval music in which two or three vocalism parts are given notes or short phrases in rapid alternation, producing an erratic, hiccuping effect. The notes from each part make up the overall tune, though they are non sung at the aforementioned time.

Improvisation

As well called Extemporization, it is the creative activity of firsthand, "in the moment" musical composition.

Incalzando

A directive to a musician to perform the indicated passage of a composition in a pressing or chasing mode.

Interval

The difference between two pitches. Intervals tin can be classified as: Major, Minor, Augmented, Macerated, and Perfect.

• Major and Pocket-sized intervals are the intervals created by the key signatures in Major or Pocket-size Keys without any added augmentation or diminished tones.
• Perfect Intervals are used when referring to Unison, 4ths, 5ths, and Octaves. These intervals are very potent and are given the name "Perfect" considering whether they key signature is Major or Minor, these intervals stay the same.
• Augmented Intervals are wider by one semitone (one-half-step) than perfect or major intervals.
• Macerated Intervals are smaller by one semitone (one-half-step) than perfect or minor intervals.

Though these intervals can exist used in various ways, Augmented 4ths and Diminished 5ths are the most mutual uses of Augmented/Diminished Intervals.

Key of C Major

Inversions

The rearrangement of notes in a triad or seventh chord and so that unlike scale degrees are in the lowest position of the chord. See: Seventh Chord

Triad Inversions

• Root Position: The Root or Scale Degree 1 is in the Bass
• 1st Inversion: The 3rd Scale Degree is in the Bass
• 2nd Inversion: The 5th Scale Degree is in the Bass

Key of C Major

The numbers next to the Roman Numerals indicate inversions.

six = First Inversion

6/4 = 2d Inversion

Seventh Chord Inversions

• Root Position: The Root or Scale Degree 1 is in the Bass
• 1st Inversion: The 3rd Calibration Degree is in the Bass
• 2nd Inversion: The 5th Scale Caste is in the Bass
• tertiary Inversion = The 7th Scale Degree is in the Bass

Key of A Minor

7 = Root Position

6/5 = First Inversion

4/iii = Second Inversion

iv/2 = Third Inversion

Irato

A directive to a musician to perform the indicated passage of a composition in an agitated fashion, as if irate, angry, or passionate.

Isorhythm

A musical technique using a repeating rhythmic blueprint, chosen atalea, in at least i vocalization role throughout the composition.

Isorhythm in the Treble Clef.

Jitterbug

A lively, improvisational, able-bodied style of dancing performed to syncopated music which originated in New York in the 1940s and 1950s.

Jive

A lively style of dance popular especially in the 1940s and 1950s, performed to swing music or rock and roll.

Klangfarbenmelodie

High german for tone-colour melody, it is a musical technique that involves splitting a musical line or melody between several instruments, rather than assigning information technology to merely one instrument, thereby adding colour and texture to the melodic line. Listen to the offset infinitesimal of the slice to hear a demonstration.

Leading Tone

Too referred to as subtonic, information technology is the seventh note of the scale where there is a strong desire to resolve on the tonic. See: Scale Degrees.

Ledger Lines

The brusque, horizontal lines added to the elevation or the bottom of a staff for the indication of notes likewise high or too low to be represented on the staff.

Legato

In a smooth, flowing manner, without breaks betwixt notes. Standard annotation indicates legato either with the give-and-take legato or past a slur (a curved line) under notes that grade one legato grouping.

Leitmotif

See: Motif. A short, constantly recurring musical phrase associated with a particular person, place, or idea.

For example, if you've ever seen Lord of the Rings, in that location is a theme associated with the Hobbits that occurs throughout all iii movies, and fifty-fifty into 'The Hobbit' series besides.

"Concerning Hobbits" – Lord of the Rings

Libretto

The text on an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata, or musical.

Lied

German for "song". Lieder in the plural is used more specifically to point songs in the great German tradition of songwriting exemplified by the work of Schubert, Schumann, Brahms, Hugo Wolf, Richard Strauss, and others.

Lieto Fine

Italian for "happy ending" the Lieto fine was a major characteristic of Opera in the 17th and 18th centuries.  During this fourth dimension period, information technology would accept been extremely rare to find an Opera catastrophe in tragedy.

Lute

An musical instrument popular in the Medieval and Renaissance eras. The lute is a plucked string instrument of the guitar family, information technology has a short, fretted neck, a rounded dorsum, and a big body something between oval and pear-shaped.

Lydian Way

The fashion represented by the natural diatonic scale F–F (containing an augmented 4th). It can also be thought of every bit a major scale with a raised fourth scale caste.

F Lydian Scale

C Lydian Calibration

Madrigal

A vocal music form that flourished in the Renaissance. Mostly written for four to half-dozen voices, madrigals are unremarkably set to short love poems. The madrigal is characterized by discussion-painting and harmonic and rhythmic contrast. In the madrigal, each line has its own tune, rather than the unabridged composition having a single tune with harmonic accompaniment.

Marcato

A musical management indicating a note, chord, or passage is to be played with strong accentuation.

Melodic Minor Scale

A minor scale modified by raising the sixth and seventh scale degrees when ascending, and then restoring them to their original pitches when descending.

Melomaniac

One with an abnormal fondness of music; a person who loves music.

Messa Di Voce

A musical technique that involves a gradual crescendo and diminuendo while sustaining a single pitch.

Mezzo-Soprano

The heart-range vox type for females. It lies between the soprano and contralto ranges. The typical range of this phonation is betwixt A3 to A5, though some voices may reach even further. Although this voice overlaps both the contralto and soprano voices, the tessitura of the mezzo-soprano is lower than that of the soprano and college than that of the contralto.

Minuet

A irksome, stately ballroom dance for two in triple fourth dimension. Originating in France, it was a popular dance amidst European aristocracy until the stop of the 18th century.

Fashion

Refers to a type of scale, coupled with a ready of characteristic melodic behaviors. Modes can exist confusing and difficult to master, so we've written a separate Guide to Musical Modes | Tip and Tricks to Memorize Each Way.

Modulation

The act or procedure of changing from one cardinal to another.

Monochord

An ancient instrument used for performing and teaching as well as tuning and experimentation. It consists of a single cord stretched between two stock-still bridges. A third movable span is placed betwixt the two fixed bridges which tin can adjust the length of the vibrating string, thus irresolute the pitch produced by plucking the cord.

Motif

A short musical idea.

This idea volition appear often in a piece of music, sometimes exactly the aforementioned and sometimes inverse. When a motif returns, information technology can be slower or faster, or in a unlike key. It may return "upside downward" (with the notes going upwardly instead of down, for case), or with the pitches or rhythms altered.

Natural

A symbol [♮] that cancels the upshot of a sharp or a flat.

Neapolitan Chord

A major chord built on the lowered second (supertonic) scale caste. Information technology can also be chosen a Phrygian II, since in Minor Scales the chord is built on the notes of the corresponding Phrygian manner. Information technology most unremarkably occurs in first inversion then that it is notated either as ♭II6 or N6 and is usually referred to as a Neapolitan 6th chord.

Neutral Clef

A symbol located at the beginning of a musical staff used to point that none of the instruments reading the note have a definite pitch.

Nocturne

A short composition of a romantic or dreamy character suggestive of night, typically for piano.

Nocturne in Eb Major, Opus nine, No. 2 – Frederic Francois Chopin

Nonharmonic Tone

A tone or annotation that is not a part of the chord that is sounding. For case, the F in the excerpt below would exist considered a nonharmonic tone considering it does non belong in the C Major Chord that is sounding.

At that place are many unlike types of nonharmonic tones, depending on how the notes are approached and delivered. The traditional types are every bit follows (each has an abbreviation information technology is associated with):

• Passing Tone (p). Ex. 1 Approached by a stride and so continues by pace in the same direction. This nonharmonic tone is usually unaccented (not occurring on the beat).
• Neighbor Tone (due north). Ex. 2 Approached past a footstep and resolved past a step. This nonharmonic tone is usually unaccented (not occurring on the beat).
• Incomplete Neighbor (in). Ex. iii Approached by a rest (or by nothing) and resolves by a stride.This nonharmonic tone is normally unaccented (not occurring on the beat).
• Suspension (southward). Ex. 4 A annotation that is repeated or held from the previous chord and then resolves downwards past stride to a chord tone. This nonharmonic tone is usually accented (occurring on the shell). *Encounter Pause
• Retardation (r). Ex. five A note that is repeated or held from the previous chord and then resolves up past step to a chord tone. This nonharmonic tone is usually absolute (occurring on the beat out).
• Apprehension (an). Ex. half dozen Approached by a pace then remains the same. It is essentially a note from the 2nd chord played early. This nonharmonic tone is usually unaccented (non occurring on the trounce).
• Pedal Tone (ped) Ex. 7 A repeating tone that unremarkably occurs in the bass, and unremarkably changes between harmonic and nonharmonic. This nonharmonic tone is usually accented (occurring on the beat).
• Appoggiatura (ap). Ex. 8 Approached past leap and resolves stepwise (normally in the reverse direction). This nonharmonic tone is usually absolute (occurring on the beat).
• Escape Tone (e) Ex. 9 Approached by step; then resolves by leaping (normally in the opposite direction). This nonharmonic tone is usually unaccented (not occurring on the beat).
• Cambiata or Irresolute tones (cam). Ex. 10A  pair of notes separated by the interval of a tertiary, approached by stride and resolved by step (normally to the note in-between the third). This nonharmonic tone is commonly unaccented (non occurring on the trounce).

Oblique Motility

The movement of two melodic lines where one vocalism is stationary as the other vocalisation moves in either direction.

Ocarina

The ocarina is an aboriginal wind musical musical instrument—a type of vessel flute. Variations exist, but a typical ocarina is an enclosed infinite with four to twelve finger holes and a mouthpiece that projects from the body. It is traditionally fabricated from dirt or ceramic, but other materials are also used—such as plastic, woods, glass, metal, or bone.

Octatonic Scale

Whatever 8-note musical scale.

Ode

A song written in commemoration and celebration of a particular event, object, or person. Purcell and Handel were important composers of odes in English Baroque music. Ane of the duties of the Principal of the King'southward Musick (the near important royal ensemble in England during the Baroque Era) was to compose odes for special occasions such as New year's Day, birthdays, deaths, etc.

Oliphant

An ivory horn of Medieval Europe, ordinarily ornately decorated and primarily used as a sign of status and wealth rather than every bit a musical musical instrument.

Opera

A drama set to music, usually sung throughout, originating in 17th century Italy. Opera is a combination of music, drama, scenery, costumes, trip the light fantastic, etc., to create a complete art form.

Ornaments

Tones used to embellish the main melodic tone.

The symbols in this excerpt indicate ornamentation.

The symbol in measure two is called amordent, and the symbol in measure iii is called aplough.

This is what the ornamentation looks similar when notated.

In that location are many unlike types of ornamentation; we merely picked ii classic types for this example (a mordent and a turn). You tin also embellish melodies with your own written decoration!

Ostinato

A musical rhythm or phrase that is repeated over and over over again. There is an ostinato in the bass clef of this excerpt:

Overture

An orchestral piece at the commencement of an opera, suites, play, oratorio, or other extended composition. A very famous instance is Rossini's "William Tell Overture".

This piece has been used in countless films and television shows, including the Looney Tunes!

https://www.youtube.com/sentinel?v=kj6fkrYr_ts

Parallel Motion

When two voices movement in the same management so that they keep the aforementioned interval betwixt them.

An example of parallel 6ths.

When information technology comes to writing or arranging music, here are a few kinds of Parallel Motion that you generally want to avert: Parallel 5ths and Parallel Octaves. Though many famous composers take broken this rule, parallel 5ths and parallel octaves are usually avoided past the fact that theyweaken the overall harmonic construction.

An example of parallel fifths (measure 1) and parallel octaves (measure two).

Parody

A limerick based on a preview work. This was a common technique used in Medieval and Renaissance music only has as well fabricated a presence in the 21st  Century with artists like Weird Al Yankovic.

"A Musical Joke" – Mozart

"Consume It" – Weird Al Yankovic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZcJjMnHoIBI

Pedal Betoken

A sustained note during which the harmony higher up it changes in some fashion then that the overall audio becomes dissonant.

Notice how the harmony changes in the upper three voices, but the bass stays the same.

Pentatonic Scale

A scale consisting of five notes within 1 octave.

Major Pentatonic Scales use scale degrees: 1, 2, 3, 4, and six.

C Major Pentatonic Calibration

Pocket-size Pentatonic Scales utilize scale degrees: one, iii, four, v, and vii.

A Minor Pentatonic Scale

Perdendosi

A directive to perform the indicated passage of a limerick in a fashion that the sound dies abroad, gradually diminishing in book, rhythm, and tone.

Perfect Accurate Cadency

A cadence ending in V – I, where both chords are in root position, and the tonic scale degree is the highest note of the concluding I chord.

Perfect Pitch

The ability to recognize the pitch of a note or to produce any given annotation without the benefit of a reference tone.

Picardy Third

A major chord of the tonic at the cease of a musical department that is either modal or in a minor key.

Central of Due east Minor

Find that the M# in the last measure makes the final chord major.

Piccolo

A minor flute whose range is an octave higher than that of an ordinary flute.

Pin Chord

Used for a shine modulation, information technology is a chord that is mutual to the current key, and the 1 beingness modulated into.

Plagal Cadency

Meet: Cadence. A cadence in which the tonic chord is preceded past the subdominant chord (Four-I).

C Major

Poco a poco

An Italian phrase that ways "little by picayune," and is used with other musical commands to make their efforts slow and gradual.

Polytonality

The combination of 2 or more than keys being played at the same time.

Polyrhythm

A rhythm that makes utilize of two or more different rhythms simultaneously.

Prima Donna

Italian for "first woman," the prima donna is the main female singer in an opera or concert system. The respective term for the male atomic number 82 is primo uomo, which is Italian for "get-go man."

Primary Chords

Chords built on scale degrees 1, iv, and 5. For example, in the fundamental of C Major, the primary chords are C, F, and G.

Quart De Soupir

The French term for a sixteenth rest.

Ragtime

An American style of music characterized by "ragged" or syncopated rhythms. Pop between the 1890's and the 1910's, Scott Joplin was a major exponent of ragtime. By the 1920's ragtime had given way to jazz.

Rallentando

A gradual decrease in tempo containing less certainty and drama than the ritardando.

Real Book

It tin refer to whatsoever of a number of popular compilations of lead sheets for jazz tunes but is generally used to refer to Book 1 of an hush-hush series of books transcribed and collated by students at Berklee College of Music during the 1970s. It got its proper name to distinguish it from the widely available faux books by providing tune lines, while false books printed only chords and lyrics of standard songs.

The Real Book is as well available in different editions to suit B♭, Eastward♭, and C (concert-pitch) instruments, as well as bass clef and voice editions ("low" and "high" voice, with lyrics included). A ring leader tin can conveniently call out page numbers since each edition is also paginated identically.

Recitative

A rhythmically gratis vocal style that imitates the natural inflections of speech. It is most commonly used for dialogue and narrative in operas and oratorios and is many times establish preceding an aria.

Relative Keys

The major and minor scales that share the same key signature. For example, A Small-scale and C Major.

List of Relative Keys

Relative Pitch

The ability of a person to place or re-create a given musical note by comparison it to a reference note and identifying the interval between those two notes. This is unlike from perfect pitch, where no reference note is needed to determine a note.

Remote Keys

Those keys that take few notes in common. For example, the keys of C Major and F Sharp major would be considered remote.

Retrograde

A term pregnant "backward" or "the series is sounded in opposite society." Retrograde reverses the order of the motive's pitches: what was the first pitch becomes the last, and vice versa.

Measure 2 indicates Retrograde.

Riff

A prominent feature in pop and jazz compositions, a riff is a short ostinato (a curt melodic, rhythmic, or harmonic pattern that is repeated throughout an entire limerick or some portion of a composition), two to 4 bars long.

Ritenuto

An indication to of a sudden and temporarily decrease the tempo; to hold back for dramatic upshot. This is unlike from a Ritardando, where the tempo gradually decreases.

Rockabilly

A genre of popular music in America that was an early class of rock n' whorl music in the 1950s. It was derived from hillbilly music (early Land & Western music), western swing, boogie-woogie, and rhythm and blues.

Rondo

A musical form with a recurring leading theme ofttimes establish in the final movement of a sonata or concerto.

Eine Kleine Nachtmusik KV. 525 IV. Rondo: Allegro – Mozart

Root

The fundamental pitch on which a chord is based, from which the chord takes its proper name, and to which the other tones of the chord are referred to (the third, 7th, etc.)

Rudiment

Primal strokes or patterns that are bones to all drum music and technique. There are over forty such patterns used in therudimental mode of snare drumming.

Sarabande

A tiresome dance in triple meter, by and large institute in the Bizarre instrumental suite. The dance seems to take been Latin American in origin, imported from Latin America to Espana in the 16th century.

Scale Degree

Refers to the position of a particular annotation on a scale relative to the tonic (the commencement and principal note of the calibration from which each octave is assumed to begin). Degrees are useful for indicating the size of intervals and chords, and whether they are major or minor.

Calibration Degrees may be identified in several ways. The about common ways are numbers, roman numerals, and names (referring to office).

Numbers (C Major)

Roman Numerals (C Major)

Roman Numerals (A Minor)

Names (C Major)

Roman Numerals are usually used when referring tochords rather than private notes.

Scherzo

A vigorous, low-cal, or playful composition, typically comprising a movement in a symphony or sonata.

Scherzo Ii in Bb Small, Op. 31, No. ii – Chopin

Secondary Dominant

An altered chord having a dominant or leading tone relationship to a chord in a central other than the tonic. For a deep dive into Secondary Dominants, check out our article: Intro to Secondary Dominants: What Are They and How to Use Them.

An altered chord is a chord containing at least one tone that is foreign to the primal.

To give i example, let's start with a common chord progression in the key of C Major.

Now, let's add together a Secondary Dominant before the One thousand Major Chord.

Why G Major? Secondary Dominants are about unremarkably used when approaching Dominant Chords (5 Chords), though they are not leap to them.

The chord we are approaching is G Major, which is the Dominant Chord in our tonic primal (C major). To find the Secondary Ascendant, we need to observe the Ascendant (in G Major) of the Dominant

(in C Major), which is D Major. Notice that D Major also uses an F# instead of the F Natural the central of C Major uses. This is what makes D Major an contradistinct chord in the key of C Major.

Chiliad = V (Dominant) in C Major

D = V (Dominant) in G Major

Remember that 5 is the Roman Numeral used for the 5th scale degree (also called the Ascendant) in any central. That'due south why the Roman Numeral Analysis for Secondary Dominants looks similar a fraction. It is simply saying that this chord is the V of the V Chord.

Finally, let's employ some inversions to give the progression a smoother sound. Give information technology a try!

Retrieve that Secondary Dominants can be used in other ways besides! You can approach other chords also the V (Ascendant Chord). You tin too use the vii diminished chord as Secondary Dominant. Bank check out these examples, and so get to experimenting!

Example in D Major

Example in G Major

Semitone

As well called a half step or a half tone, information technology is the smallest musical interval commonly used in Western tonal music, and information technology is considered the most dissonant when sounded harmonically. Information technology is defined as the interval between 2 adjacent notes in a 12-tone calibration. For example, C is side by side to C♯; the interval between them is a semitone.

Sequence

A melodic or choral figure repeated at a new pitch level.

7th Chords

Chords consisting of a triad plus a notation forming an interval of a seventh above the chord's root. Though there are different types, when not otherwise specified, a "seventh chord" ordinarily means a Dominant Seventh Chord: a major triad together with a minor seventh. However, in that location are several different types of Seventh Chords:

Major 7th Chord Intervals:Major Third, Major Third, Major Tertiary

Dominant 7th Chord Intervals:Major Tertiary, Major Tertiary, Minor 3rd

Minor seventh Chord Intervals:Minor 3rd, Major Third, Minor Third

Half-Macerated seventh Chord Intervals:Minor Third, Modest Third, Major Tertiary

Diminished seventh Chord Intervals:Modest Third, Minor Tertiary, Minor Third

Meet: Inversions.

Sforzando

An indication to make a stiff, sudden accent or emphasis on a notation or chord. It is usually represented past this symbol:

Simple Meter

Meters that divide the vanquish into two equal parts. For example, 4/four Time is an case of simple meter considering a quarter note (The shell) can be divided into two eighth notes.

 Simple Meter                  Chemical compound Meter

Run into: Compound Meter.

Slentando

A directive to perform the indicated passage of a composition with a relaxed tempo, to become slower.

Slur

Indicates to play two or more than notes in ane physical stroke, one uninterrupted breath, or (on instruments with neither jiff nor bow) connected into a phrase as if played in a unmarried breath.

Solfege

An exercise used for sight-reading vocal music in which each scale degree is assigned a coordinating syllable.

• The most standard form of solfege is a Stock-still-Practise System. This means that the syllable "do" is ever coordinated with the first scale degree of whichever key you're in.
• A less common form of solfege is the Moveable-Do System. In this case, the syllables are always assigned to the notes in a C Major Scale (where "C" would be "do"), regardless of the key.

In the case of raised or lowered scale degrees, the solfege syllable vowel changes to an
"i" for sharping, and "east" for flatting. The exception is when flatting "re", in which case y'all become to "ra".

To learn more nearly Solfege, cheque out our commodity: Solfege: What Is It, And How Is It Used?

Sonata

An instrumental musical composition typically containing three or four movements in contrasting forms and keys. I of the well-nigh pop Sonatas of all time is Beethoven's "Moonlight Sonata".

Soprano

The highest female singing vocalization. The typical soprano voice lies between C4 and C6, though many voices can reach beyond.

Sostenuto

A musical management indicating that a note or passage be sustained or diffuse.

Sostenuto Pedal

Larger pianos typically have iii pedals–the sostenuto pedal existence in the centre. This pedal will sustain but those notes that are being held down when the pedal is depressed, allowing futurity notes played to be unaffected. It is commonly abbreviated "South.P."

Spiccato

A bowing technique for string instruments in which the bow appears to bounce lightly upon the string. The term comes from the past participle of the Italian verb spiccare, meaning "to separate".

Sprechstimme

A vocal way that combines elements of song and spoken language.

Staccato

A mode of playing notes in a detached, separated, distinct manner, equally opposed to legato. Staccato is indicated by a dot directly above or beneath the notehead.

Stringendo

A musical direction that indicates progressively quickening in tempo.

Strophic Form

Also called verse-repeating or chorus form, it is the term applied to songs in which all verses or stanzas of the text are sung to the aforementioned music. "Astonishing Grace" would be an case of a Strophic Form song.

Subdominant

The quaternary tone of a major or pocket-sized scale.

Music which modulates ofttimes modulates into the subdominant when the leading tone is lowered by a half step to the subtonic (B to B♭ in the central of C). Modulation into the subdominant primal often creates a sense of musical relaxation; as opposed to modulation into ascendant (fifth scale degree), which increases tension. See: Scale Caste.

Intermission

A ways of creating tension by prolonging a notation while the underlying harmony changes, normally on a strong trounce.

This particular kind of Suspensions is chosen a iv-iii Suspension because the suspended annotation is fourth higher up the bass (M) and information technology resolved to a third higher up the bass (F#).

Syncopation

A disturbance or intermission of the regular flow of downbeat rhythm with emphasis on the subdivision or off-crush.

Observe this extract of music.

Now look at the same excerpt wit the beats fatigued in and notice all of the notes being played exterior of the beat (on the off-beat).

Tam-Tam

A percussion musical instrument like to a gong. Typically thinner than a gong, the tam-tam has a smaller rim and no protrusion in the centre. Either flat or saucer-shaped, the shape and construction produce a not bad deviation in sound. It has no discernable pitch or central note, simply a crash of dissonant frequencies.

Tenor

The tenor is the highest type of male voice, typically comfy betwixt C3 to C5. Tenors generally have greater control over their falsetto (caput voice), allowing them to reach notes well into the female register. Those who can sing higher than the average tenor are often given the title "countertenor."

Tempo

A term indicating how fast or slow to play/sing a piece of music.  The nigh ordinarily used tempo terms (from slowest to fastest) are as follows:

• Larghissimo – very, very slow (24 bpm and under)
• Adagissimo
• Grave – very tedious (25–45 bpm)
• Largo – broadly (forty–lx bpm)
• Lento – slowly (45–60 bpm)
• Larghetto – rather broadly (60–66 bpm)
• Adagio – slow and stately (literally, "at ease") (66–76 bpm)
• Adagietto – slower than andante (72–76 bpm)
• Andante – at a walking pace (76–108 bpm)
• Andantino – slightly faster than andante (although, in some cases, it can exist taken to mean slightly slower than andante) (80–108 bpm)
• Marcia moderato – moderately, in the manner of a march^] (83–85 bpm)
• Andante moderato – between andante and moderato (thus the name) (92–112 bpm)
• Moderato – at a moderate speed (108–120 bpm)
• Allegretto – by the mid 19th century, moderately fast (112–120 bpm)
• Allegro moderato – close to, but not quite allegro (116–120 bpm)
• Allegro – fast, quickly, and vivid (120–168 bpm)
• Animato – animated
• Agitato – allegro plus agitation
• Veloce – with velocity, rapidly
• Vivace – lively and fast (168–176 bpm)
• Allegrissimo or Allegro vivace – very fast (172–176 bpm)
• Presto – very, very fast (168–200 bpm)
• Prestissimo – fifty-fifty faster than presto (200 bpm and over)
• Vivacissimo – very fast and lively (172–176 bpm)

Ternary Form

Sometimes called "song class", is a three-part musical form where the first section (A) is repeated later the second section (B) ends. It is usually schematized equally A–B–A. An instance of a song in Ternary Form would be Chopin'southward "Raindrop Prelude" (Op. 28 No. fifteen).

Tessitura

The general range of pitches found in a tune or vocal part.

Tetrachord

A scale of 4 notes, or a series of four notes (usually played one after the other), where the interval between the first and last note is a perfect 4th.

C Major Tetrachord

Theme and Variation

A song grade consisting of a melody (theme), followed by variations of that tune. Composers ofttimes employ theme and variation to write an entire slice or to write one motion of a larger piece. It is most often used in instrumental music.

Through-Composed Form

A blazon of song form that means that the music is relatively continuous, not-sectional, and/or non-repetitive. A song is said to be through-composed if it has different music for each stanza of the lyrics.

Timbre

The quality of a musical tone that distinguishes voices and instruments.

Time Signature

A set of numbers (one on top of the other) notated later the clef at the beginning of a slice that indicates how many beats are in each mensurate and which note value is equivalent to one vanquish.

• Top Number = how many  beats are in the measure
• Bottom Number = what kind of note gets the beat
  • 1 = Whole Note
  • ii = Half Note
  • 4 = Quarter Note
  • viii = Eighth Note
  • xvi = Sixteenth Note

3/iv Time means in that location areiii beats in a measure and thequarter note gets the beat.

6/8 Time means there are 6 beats in a measure and theeighth note gets the beat.

Tin Whistle

As well referred to as a penny whistle, it is a folk wind musical instrument similar to the recorder, but usually made of tin can. It mostly has half dozen finger holes and is prominent in British and Irish folk music.

Tone Cluster

A musical chord comprising at to the lowest degree 3 adjacent tones in a scale.

Tonic

Also called the keynote, information technology is the get-go note of whatever major or pocket-sized calibration. For example, B is the tonic in B Major. Run into: Scale Degrees.

Tremolo

Quick repetition of the aforementioned notation or the rapid alternation between two notes.

Transposition

A useful tool for musicians, it is the procedure of playing or writing music in a different primal.

Triplet

A grouping of three notes played inside another notation-length; a portion of musical time that'due south been split rhythmically into 3 equal parts.

Tristan Chord

A chord made up of the notes F, B, D#, and K#. More than generally, it can be whatever chord that consists of these same intervals: augmented fourth, augmented sixth, and augmented ninth higher up a bass note.

Though this chord is technically an odd spelling of an F half-diminished chord [F, Ab (One thousand#), Cb (B), Eb (D#)] this particular spelling and use of the notes is particular to Richard Wagner. Information technology is heard in the opening phrase of Richard Wagner's opera Tristan und Isolde equally part of the leitmotif relating to the graphic symbol Tristan, and so it was named after the performance.

Tutti

A passage for the unabridged ensemble or orchestra without a soloist.

Viola

The second highest-pitched member of the violin family unit. The viola is similar to the violin in about respects. However, it is larger and is a fifth lower in range.

Virtuoso

Performing with exceptional ability, technique or artistry.

Vocalise

A song work, whether an exercise or something more musically substantial, that has no words. It is ordinarily used to develop flexibility and command of pitch and tone.

Wagner Tuba

A tuba invented past the composer Richard Wagner to exist used in his operas. It is smaller than the orchestral tuba and has a range betwixt that of the horn and the trombone. Its somber, regal tone has inspired other composers such every bit Strauss, Bruckner, and Stravinsky to include information technology in compositions.

Flit

A ballroom dance that is written in triple fourth dimension with a strong accent on the outset crush.

Well-Tempered

A term applied to an instrument that is voiced and tuned satisfactorily, with the pitches, tone, and timbre have the desired quality of sound.

Whole Tone Calibration

A scale in which each note is separated from its neighbors past the interval of a whole tone.

Yodel

A way of singing or calling that involves switching the registers of the voice apace from caput vocalization to chest voice (or falsetto and natural voice). Forms of yodeling can be found in several cultures, including cowboy singers in the United States such as Roy Rogers and Factor Autry.

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