Texture
The basic setting of the music: monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic.
Mass
1) Holy Communion in the Roman Catholic Church. 2) The musical setting of the Ordinary of the Mass.
Word Painting
Trying to paint a picture with the music.
Basso Continuo
A bass line for keyboard and other instruments in which the player is given only a succession of single notes and other symbols from which to fill out the remainder of the harmony.
Tutti
The larger group performing music.
Libretto
The text of an opera or oratorio.
Chorus
1) A sizable group of singers that sings choral music. 2) A section of an opera, oratorio, or cantata sung by a chorus.
Sonata
1) A Baroque multi movement work for solo instrument. 2) A multi movement work for piano and other instrument, or piano alone.
Monophony
One melodic line without any accompaniment.
Organum
The name for early polyphonic music of medieval times.
A Capella
Unaccompanied choral music.
Movement
A large independent section of an instrumental composition.
Subject
The main theme of a fugue.
Aria
An accompanied solo song, usually of some length and complexity, in an opera, oratorio, and cantata.
Suite
1) A collection of group of stylized pieces of dance music. 2) A collection of parts of a larger work such as a ballet or opera.
Cantata
A vocal composition in several movements for solo voices, instruments, and usually a chorus; it is usually based on a religious text,
Homophony
The texture consisting of a line of melody with accompaniment,
Estampie
An instrumental dance during the Middle Ages.
Motet
Sacred
Terraced Dynamics
Abrupt changes in levels of loudness,
Duet
Two people singing.
Chorale
A stately hymn tune used in the German Lutheran Church.
Polyphony
Music in which two or more melodic lines of approximately equal importance are sounded at the same time,
Madrigal
Secular, vernacular
Fugue
A composition in which the main theme is presented in imitation in several parts.
Opera
A drama set to music in which the lines of text are sung to orchestral accompaniment.
Gregorian Chant
The monophonic chant originally sung unaccompanied, in Latin by monks and priests in the Roman Catholic Church.
Ritornello Form
The orchestral form in which themes at the beginning of a concerto grosso return later in the movement.
Countersubject
The secondary theme in a fugue.
Oratorio
A sizable work for chorus, soloists, and orchestra, usually on religious topic, that is performed without costumes, scenery, or acting.
Concerto Grosso
A multi movement work contrasting a small instrumental group with a large group.