Interval
distance and relationship between 2 pitches
Pitch
highness or lownes of a tone, depending on the frequency
range
distance between the lowest and highest tones of a melody, an instrument, or a voice
conjunct
smooth, connected melody that moves principally by small intervals
disjunct
disjointed or disconnected melody with many leaps
phrase
musical unit;often a component of a melody
cadence
resting place in a musical phrase;music punctuation
countermelody
an accompanying
beat
regular puslation; a basic unit of length in musical time
meter
organization of rhythm in time; the gropuing of beats into larger, regular patterns, notated as measures.
measure
rhythmic group or metrical unit taht contains a fized number of beats, divided on the musical staff by bar lines.
duple meter
basic metrical pattern of 2 beats to a measure
triple meter
basic metrical pattern of three beats to a measure
quadruple meter
basic metrical pattern of 4 beats to a measure. also common time.
upbeat
last beat of a measure, a weak beat which anticipates the downbeat
syncopation
deliberate upsetting of the meter or pulse through a temporary shifting of the acent to a weak beat or an offbeat
chord
simultaneous combination of 3 or more tones that constitute a single block of harmony
scale
series of tones in ascending or describing order:may present the notes of the key
octave
interval between 2 tones seven diatonic pitches apart;the lower note vibrates half as fast as the upper and sounds an octave lower
triad
common chord type, consisting of 3 pitches built on alternate tones of the scale
tonic
the first note of the scale  or key
tonality
principle of organization around a tonic, or home, pitch, based on a major or minor scale
major scale
scale consisting of seven different tones that copmrise a specific patter of whole and half steps it differs from a minor scale primarily in that its 3rd degree is raised half a step
minor scale
scale consiting of 7 difereent tones that comprise a specific pattern of whole and half steps.  It differs from the major scale primarily in that its 3rd degree is lowered half a step.
diatonic
melody or harmony built from the 7 tones of a major or minor sclae. a diatonic scale ecompasses patterns of 7 whole tones and semitones.
chromatic
melody or harmony built from many if not all twelve semitones of the octave.  A chromatic scale consists of an ascending or descending sequence of semitones
dissonance
combination of tones that sound discordant and unstable, in need of resolution
consonance
concordant of harmonious combination of tones that provides a sense of relaxation and stability in music
monophonic
single-line texture, or melody without accompanient
polyphonic
two or more melodic lines combined int a multivoiced texture, as distinct from monophonic 
homophonic
texture with principal melody and accompanying harmony as distinct from polyphony
counterpoint
the art of combinig in a single texture two or more melodic lines
imitation
melodic idea presented in one voice and then restated in another, eac part continuing as others enter.
canon
type of polyphonic composition in which one musical line strictly imitates another at a fixed distance throughout
variation
the compositional procedure of altering a preexisting musical idea
improvisation
creation if a musical compposition while it is being performed
binary form
two-part (A-B) form with each section normally repeated
ternary form
three-part (A-B-A) form based on a statement (A), contrast or depature (B) and repetition
theme
melodic idea used as a basic building block in the construtcion of a composition
sequence
restatement of an idea or motive at a different pitch level
motive
short melodic or rhythmic idea; the smallest fragment of a theme that forms a melodic-harmonic -rhythmic unit
movement
complete, self-contained part within a larger musical work
whole step
interval consisting of 2 half steps, or semitones
half step
smallest interval used in the western system; the ocatave divides into 12 such intervals ;distance between any 2 adjacent keys whether black or white
chromatic scale
melody or harmony built from many if not all 12 semitiones of the octave; consists of ascending or descending sequence of semitones
sharp
musical symbol that indicates raising a pitch by a semitone
flat
musical symbol indicates loweering a pitch by a semitone
key
defines the relationship of tones witha  common center or tonic. Also a lever on a keyboard or woodwind instrument
grave
solemn;very, very slow
largo
Broad; very slow
adagio
Quite slow
andante
moderately slow or walking pace
moderato
moderate
allegro
fast, cheerful
vivace
lively
presto
very fast
pianissimo
very soft
piano
soft
mezzo piano
moderately soft
mezzo forte
moderately loud
forte
loud
fortissimo
very loud
embouchure
the placement of the lipss, lower facial muscles, and jaws in playing a wind instrument
string instruments
bowed and plucked instruments whose sound is produced by the vibration of one or more strings
woodwind instruments
instrumental family made of wood or metal whose tone is produced by a column of air vibrating within a pope that has holes along its length
brass instruments
wind instrument with a cup-shaped mouthpiece, a tube that flares into a bell, and slides or valves to vary the pitch. made with brass or silver
percussion
instrument made of metal, wood, stretched skin, or other material that is made to sound by striking, shaking, scarping, or plucking
timbre (pron. tamber)
the quality of a sound that distinguishes one voice or instrument from another
register
specific area in the range of an instrument or voice
range
distance between the lowest and highest tones of a melody, an instrument, or a voice
a capella
choral music performed without instrumental accompaniment
chamber music
ensemble music for up to about ten players, with one player to a part
orchestra
performing group of diverse instruments in various cultures; in western art musi, an ensemble of multiple strings with various woodwind, brass, and percussion instruments
symphony
large work for orchestra, generally in three or four movements
genre
general term describing the standard category and overall character of a work
style
characteristic manner of presentation of musical elements (melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, form, etc..)
plainchant/plainsong/gregorian chant
monophonic melody with a freely flwogin, unmeasured vocal line;liturgical chant of the roman catholic church
syllabic
melodic style with one note to each syllable of text
neumatic
melodic style with 2 to 4 notes set to each syllable
melismatic
melodic style characterized by many notes sung to a single text syllable
mass
central service of the roman catholic church
organum
earliest kind of polyphonic music, which developed from the vustom of adding voices above a plainchant
motet
polyphonic vocal genre, secular in the Middle ages but sacred or devotional thereafter
minstrels
a class of musicians who wandered among the courts and towns
secular music
nonreligious music;when texted usually in the vernacular
chanson
French monophonic or polyphonic song, especially of the Middle Ages and renaissance, set to either courtly or popular poetry
word painting
musical pictorialization of words from the text as an expressive device;a prominent feature of the Renaissance madrigal
cantus firmus
“fixed melody” usually of very long notes, often based on a fragment of Gregorian chant that served as the structural basis for a polyphonic composition, particularly in the Renaissance
counter-reformation
after the reformation-the protestant revolt lead by Martin Luther- the Catholic church responded with its own reform movement focused on a return to true Christian piety.-strove to recapture loyality of its people
Council of Trent
a council of the Roman Catholic church that convened in Trent, Italy, from 1543-1565 and dealt with Counter-reformation issues, including reform of liturgical music
Middle Ages
400-1450
Renaissance
1450-1600
Baroque
1600-1750
Classical
1750-1825
Romantic
1820-1900
Twentieth Century
1900-2000