“Beautiful singing” 18th century singing style that emphasized the beauty and virtuosity of the voice.
Bel Canto singing
Setting of a well known poet’s work to music by a serious composer.
Setting of a well known poet’s work to music by a serious composer.
A virtuosic singing style, including rapid runs, elaborate ornamentation and extremely high pitches.
Colaratura
Studies or “exercises” based on specific pianistic techniques
Etudes
The term Belioz used for the melody representing the loved one in his Symphonie fantastique.
Idee Fixe
Character pieces of an improvisatory character
Impromptu
Reccuring melodic fragment or chord bearing dramatic or emotional significance, introduced by Wagner in dramas.
Leitmotif
German art songs
Leider
Piece expressing the “character” of night.
Nocturnes
Instrumental music that purports to tell a story or describe a scene, idea or event.
Programmatic Music
Multimovement orchestral work whose form is based on programmatic concepts.
Program Symphony
Mass for the dead
Requiem
Romantic technique of “robbing” from tempo at some points and “paying back” at others.
Rubato
“Joke” A movement, often the third, of a multimovement piece. The form is ABA, with a trio inserted between the scherzo and its repeat.
Scherzo
Set of songs by one composer, often using texts all by the same poet.
Song cycle
One-movement orchestral piece whose form is based on programmatic principles.
Symphonic/Tone Poem
Variation of thematic or melodic material for programmatic purposes. Sometimes called metamorphisis.
Thematic Transformation
Containing new music throughout
Through-composed music
Realism in opera
Verisimo
Arrangement of a piece so that it may be played by a different instrument or ensemble from that which it was written.
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