Musical Terms
Terms
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- buffo
- A comic operatic bass vocalist
- polyphony
- With tow or more lines of melody
- libretto
- The text of an opera
- allegro
- Fast tempo, not as fast as presto
- staccato
- the playing or singing of tones or chords marked by short, clear-cut sounds
- rondo
- a musical piece of alternating and contrasting themes
- diminuendo (decrescendo)
- Gradually become softer
- alto
- The singing range between tonor and soprano
- mezzo forte
- Moderately loud volume
- timbre
- the quality that allows tones to be discerned from each other
- tempo
- the pace at which music is played
- dissonance
- Discord brough about in tone or playing
- aria
- A solo song for voice in an opera or oratorio
- piano
- soft volume
- chord
- Two or more notes played simultaneously
- baroque
- Predominately 17th-century movement characterized by flourish and ornamentation
- jazz
- Distinctly American form of music with a basis in African American folk traditions
- adagio
- Slow tempo, or a slow movement
- etude
- A musical piece written to display of specific talent or technique
- crescendo
- Gradually become louder
- consonance
- Comfort brought about in tone or playing
- bass
- Lowest male vocal range
- coda
- The conclusion; the concluding portion of a musical composition
- mezzo piano
- Moderately soft volume
- nocturne
- A composition, especially for piano, of a slow and dreamy nature
- sonata
- A piece written for more than one soloist and usually consisting of three or more movements
- concerto
- A classical piece written for an orchestra and one of more soloists, most often in three movements
- grave
- Extremely slow and moody
- fortissimo
- Extremely loud volume
- madrigal
- Musical piece utilizing poetry and stanzas
- pianissimo
- Exceptionally soft volume
- oratorio
- Religious music composed for orchestra, chorus, and soloists
- presto
- very fast tempo
- largo
- Extremely slow tempo
- symphony
- A musical composition for full symphony orchestra; an orchestra with full wind and brass accompaniment
- soprano
- Highest female vocal range
- contralto
- Lowest female vocal range
- tenor
- Highest adult male vocal range
- vivace
- uptempo and upbeat
- andante
- Moderate tempo
- lento
- Slower tempo
- forte
- Loud volume