diminution
process of shortening note values in a melody
dolce
Italian term: sweetly
dominant
the 5th note of a scale; a 3-note chord built on the 5th note of a scale
dominant seventh
a four-note chord built on the 5th note of a scale, including the 1st, 3rd, 5th, and 7th notes
double bar line
two vertical lines placed at the end of a section or composition to indicate its conclusion
duple meter
meter that organizes pulses into groups of two
dynamics
markings or symbols in a piece of music that indicate volume
electrophones
instruments that generate sound using electricity
elements of music
musical organizers (melody, rhythm, harmony, form, and expressive controls)
embellishment
a note that ornaments a melody, usually indicated with a small note or symbol
ensemble
a group of musicians performing together; the manner in which a group of musicians perform together
expressivo
Italian term: expressively
exposition
the opening section in sonata form, in which the main themes are presented; the opening section of a fugue
expressionism
movement that appeared at the end of the 19th century; emphasized the expression of the artist’s or composer’s inner feelings and ideals
expressive controls
the elements of music that control its expressive qualities; dynamics, form, articulation, tempo, etc.
fantasia
a composition with no set form, in which a composer develops an often well-known theme
fermata
a symbol that tells a musician to sustain a note longer than the note would normally last
figured bass
in musical notation, a bass line harmonized with numerals rather than with notes on a staff; prominent during the baroque era
finale
the final movement of a symphony or sonata, the final piece of music on a program
fine
Italian term: the end
flat
a symbol indicating the a note is lowered one half-step
folksong
a song that is passed on through several generations by word of mouth
form
the order or design of a composition
forte
Italian term: loudly
fortissimo
Italian term: very loudly
frottola
an Italian song form of the 15th and 16th centuries
fugue
a polyphonic composition in which a theme (subject) is stated by successive voices and developed contrapuntally (using counterpoint)
fundamental
the root note of a chord; the lowest pitch in an overtone series
gavotte
a French dance originating in the 17th century; usually four-four meter and beginning and ending each phrase in the middle of a measure
genre
a specific category of art, music, or literature characterized by a special style, form, or content
giocoso
Italian term: in a joyful and playful manner
glissando
rapid succession of consecutive pitches that the performer “slides” through rather than articulating several pitches
ground
a composition in which a short melodic phrase (the ground bass) is repeated over and over as the bass line; during each repetition the melody and/or harmony above the bass is varied; a popular form during the baroque era
ground bass
a short phrase for a low instrument repeated over and over while the upper parts play variations on each repetition
half step
the smallest distance possible between two pitches in a major or minor scale; the distance from one key immediately to the next on a piano keyboard
harmonic
a pitch in a overtone series
harmony
two or more pitches played or sung at the same time
home tone
the first note of a scale