Music GCSE Key terms

The first theme of a fugue

The second theme of a fugue

A structure - built on a subject + countersubject that appear frequently, with imitation

The solo instruments

The accompanying instruments

A repeated note at the bottom of the texture

A structure - ABA

A grace note

A concerto with multiple soloists

When a melody comprises of notes close together

When a melody comprises of notes far apart

A repeated idea, either ascending or descending

A structure- comprised of an exposition, development, recapitulation and coda

The opening of Sonata Form

The middle section of Sonata form - explores different keys

The last section of sonata form, usually all in the tonic key

The end of sonata form

Rapidly repeated note or set of notes

A chord e.g. C - Eb - Gb - A

A Texture - block chords

A texture - Unison

Repeated broken chords in the bass

Loud then suddenly quiet

Suddenly Loud

A repeated bass line that outlines the harmony

When the music reflects the words being sung

An ornament - upper or lower - goes up/down one note then returns to the first one

Multiple notes per syllable

One note per syllable

An improvisation based on a figured bass

An accompaniment notation that is signified by numbers

Recording multiple audio tracks to later mix into one

Recording over one’s self

Guitar technique when one plucks the string on the fret

Guitar technique - moving your hand up and down the fretboard whilst playing

Guitar technique - moving the string horizontally across the fretboard so the pitch gets higher

Minutely changing the pitch very fast

Production technique - creates a faint echo

Production technique - gives the affect of instruments being physically surrounding you

Production technique - changes the sound by slightly delaying part of the sound

Production technique - altering the sound wave to change the effect

Vocal technique - singing higher than your vocal range

An effect that changes a guitar to make it sound like wah-wah

Sounds that are not words (la, ba)

A musical idea used to represent a character, theme or place

Harmony based around 4ths

An upbeat

All instruments play the same rhythm

No clear key

Many keys at once

A repeated note at the top of the texture

Uses notes within the hexatonic scale

Slowing down

A repeated sequence of notes or rhythms

Repeating the same sample

An African string instrument with 21 strings

An african drum that can be changed pitch using the elbow

An irish string instrument operated by turning a wheel to create a drone and pressing buttons to change the pitch

Irish bagpipes

An irish drum played with a tipper or the hand

Multiple notes played at once on a string instrument

Not major or minor, but another tonality

In free time

A style of music which is a fusion of samba and american jazz