Ad Libitum
Freedom to improvise or vary the tempo
Alto
In four part harmony, the second highest voice
Aria
A composition for solo voice
Augmented Interval
A Perfect or Major interval that has been increased by a half step
Authentic Cadence
A cadence which progresses from the dominant triad (V) to the tonic triad (I or i)
Augmented Triad
A triad that is built of two Major thirds, a Major third from the root note to the third and a Major third from the third to the fifth (or an augmented 5th from the root note to the 5th)
Bass
In four part harmony, the lowest voice
Chromatic Scale
A twelve-tone scale built only of half steps
Diminished Interval
A Perfect or minor interval that has been decreased by a half step
Diminished Triad
A triad that is built of two minor thirds, a minor third from the root note to the third and a minor third from the third of the triad to the fifth (or a diminished 5th from the root note to the 5th)
Half Cadence
Any cadence which ends on the dominant triad (V)
Harmonic Interval
Two tones played or sung at the same time
Imperfect Authentic Cadence
Any Authentic Cadence (V-I) which is not a Perfect Authentic Cadence (does not have it’s roots in the bass)
Invention
A short contrapuntal piece, with one theme
Melody
An organized group of tones, heard one at a time, which is divided into phrases, a tune
Melodic Interval
Two tones played or sung in succession
Names of Scale
Degrees Tonic (I), Supertonic (II), Mediant (III), Subdominant (IV), Dominant (V), Submediant (VI), Leading Tone/Subtonic (VII)
Opera
A theatrical drama, that is sung. A drama set to music.
Parallel Keys
Major and minor keys that have the same keynote (C Major and c minor)
Perfect Authentic Cadence
An Authentic Cadence (V-I) that has the root of both chords in the bass and the soprano of the I chord
Phrase
Part of a melody which pauses or stops with a cadence
Plagal Cadence
A cadence which progresses from the subdominant triad (IV or iv) to the Tonic triad (I or i)
Prelude
A smaller composition that is usually followed by a larger composition, in the same key
Relative Keys
Major and minor keys that share the same key signature (C Major and a minor)
Semplice
To play simply; without ornament
Soprano
In four part harmony, the highest voice
Tenor
In four part harmony the third highest voice
Whole Tone Scale
A six-tone scale built only of whole tones