Conducting Vocab 1

music written without instrumental accompaniment

accelerating, getting gradually faster in tempo

prominence given to a syllable by stress or pitch

accompanied (where accompanist follows singer, varying tempo when singer does)

In slow tempo

As much or as often as necessary or desired

In an agitated manner

Depending on chance (like throwing a die); random

A time signature indicating 2 or 4 half-note beats in a bar

In a manner that is slower and slower, and often also fuller in tone

At a fairly brisk tempo

at a brisk (not fairly brisk) tempo

At a moderately slow tempo

With a soft sound or tone gradually fading to nothing

In an animated manner

A song or hymn of praise or gladness

Sung recited, or played alternately by two groups

A grace note performed before a note of the melody and falling on the beat

A note in string instrument musical notation indicating that the bow is to be used in the usual way, usually following a passage that is played pizzicato

a long accompanied song for a solo voice, typically one in an opera or oratorio

Vocal music that is more melodic than recitative but less formal than an aria

Any chord that is played one note at a time

“very” - used with tempo direction in music (“allegro assai”)

Return to original tempo of piece

Without definitive key or mode

attack at once- used to show that movements one and two should end and begin without pause (or movements 3 and 4, literally any movement groups)

An accompanying part that includes a bassline and harmonies, typically played on a keyboard instrument (for mostly baroque music)

Reference tuning pitch intended to imitate those used in the baroque period, usually with the A above middle C tuned to four-hundred and fifteen Hz, but sometimes as low as three-hundred and ninety-two Hz (woah)

Basic rhythmic unit of a measure

Lyrical style of operatic singing using a full, rich, broad tone and smooth phrasing

Two-part musical form in which the first part modulates to the dominant or relative minor and the second returns to the tonic

Wordless humming - “at closed mouth”

A shallow one-sided Irish drum typically played with a short two-headed drumstick

A pair of small, long-bodied drums typically held between the knees and played with the fingers

Section of a song that’s intended to provide contrast to the rest of the composition

Directive to perform the indicated passage with vigor, vivacity or spirit as in “con brio” - with vigor

Two-chord progression that occurs at the end of a phrase (usually V to I)

Unaccompanied bravura passage introduced at or near the close of a movement of a composition and serving as a brilliant climax, particularly in solo concerti of a virtuoso character

break, pause, or interruption in the normal tempo of a composition

One musician offers a phrase and a second answers with a direct commentary or response to the offered phrase

Melodic ornamental tone following a principal tone by a skip, usually of a third above or below, and progressing by a step

Leader opens a statement, then a second group begins at a different measure but using the beginning statement (y’all know what a canon is we’re fine)

In a singing manner, often used as a direction

Musical composition intended to be sung, as opposed to a sonata (now, loosely means any work for voices and instruments)

Trained vocalist and member of the clergy (typically in Judaism) who leads the congregation in song and prayer, teaches music to both children and adults, and officiates major life cycle events

Preexistent melody that forms the basis of a larger musical work

A song of religious joy, usually associated with a given season (especially Christmas); a late medieval English song on any subject

Male soprano or contralto voice of great range, flexibility, and power, produced as a result of castration before puberty

Orchestral percussion instrument resembling a small upright piano

Lyric-driven French song, usually referring to the secular polyphonic French songs of late medieval and Renaissance music

Musical composition (or part of one) consisting of or resembling a harmonized version of a simple, stately hymn tune

A pair of sticks that play the “key” or repeating rhythmic pattern in a piece