MUSIC GLOSSARY

 Alberti Bass - a special type of broken chord accompaniment where the chord is played in this order: lowest note
highest note - middle note - highest note then repeats the pattern to create a smooth, sustained, flowing sound.

 Allegro - quickly, in a brisk lively manner

 Andante - in a moderately slow tempo

 Cadenza - an improvised passage or ornamentation performed by a soloist or group of soloists that allows a
display of virtuosity often placed near the end of a piece.

 Cantata - a choral composition with instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements.

 Classical era - the period from 1750-1820 called the Age of Reason.

 Concerto- a major instrumental work for solo instrument with orchestral accompaniment

 Crescendo - gradually becoming louder

 Diminuendo - gradually becoming softer

 Development - middle part of the sonata-allegro form wherein themes are being developed

 Exposition - the first part of a composition that introduces the themes that will be developed through the piece

 Homophonic - a melody accompanied by chords

 Largo - a very slow tempo.

 Minuet - a slow, stately ballroom dance for two in triple time.

 Opera - a drama set to music

 Opera buffa - opera in Italy that is full of fun and frivolity

 Opera comique - comic opera in France,

 Opera Seria - an opera based on a serious plot that usually revolves around mythological beings such as gods
and goddesses

 Recapitulation - a part of a musical piece, found usually near the end, that repeats the earlier themes

 Rondo - a musical form that alternates the main theme and its contrasting themes usually found in the final
movement of a sonata or concerto

 Scherzo - a vigorous, light, or playful composition comprising a movement in a symphony or sonata.

 Singspiel - 18th century German musical comedy featuring songs and ensembles interspersed with dialogue.

 Sonata - any instrumental composition that has several movements with variation in key, mood, or tempo

 Symphony - a musical composition for the whole orchestra generally in four movements; also a sonata for
orchestra.

 Theme and Variation - a musical form where the theme is presented in a simple unadorned manner then repeats
the theme several times with ornamentations