The Classical Style

Basso continuo (figured bass) Baroque accompaniment made up of a bass part together with numbers (figures) indicating the chords to be played above it. Usually the basso continuo is played by two instruments, a keyboard plus a low melodic instrument.

Contrast Striking differences of pitch, dynamics, rhythm, and tempo that provide variety and change of mood.

Crescendo Gradually louder. (Often abbreviated cresc.)

Decrescendo Gradually softer.

Dynamics Degrees of loudness or softness in music.

Harpsichord Keyboard instrument, widely used from about 1500 to 1775, whose sound is produced by plectra which pluck its wire strings. The harpsichord has been revived during the twentieth century.

Homophonic texture Term describing music in which one main melody is accompanied by chords.

Movement Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

Opera Drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment, usually a large-scale composition employing vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, costumes, and scenery.

Piano Widely used keyboard instrument of great range and versatility, whose sound is produced by felt-covered hammers striking against steel strings.

Polyphonic texture Performance of two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest at the same time.

String quartet Composition for two violins, a viola, and a cello; usually consisting of four movements. (Also, the four instrumentalists.)

Symphony Orchestral composition, usually in four movements, typically lasting between 20 and 45 minutes, exploiting the expanded range of tone color and dynamics of the orchestra.

Sonata Form

Bridge (transition) In the exposition of the sonata form, a section which leads from the first theme in the tonic, or home, key to the second theme, which is in a new key.

Exposition First section of a sonata-form movement, which sets up a strong conflict between the tonic key and the new key; and between the first theme (or group of themes) and the second theme (or group of themes).

Coda In a sonata-form movement, a concluding section following the recapitulation and rounding off the movement by repeating themes or developing them

further.

Development Second section of a sonata-form movement, in which themes from the exposition are developed and the music moves through several different keys.

Motive Fragment of a theme, or short musical idea which is developed within a composition.

Movement Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

Polyphonic texture Performance of two or more melodic lines of relatively equal interest at the same time.

Recapitulation Third section of a sonata-form movement, in which the first theme, bridge, second theme, and concluding section are presented more or less as they were in the exposition, with one crucial difference: all the principal material is now in the tonic key.

Serenade Instrumental composition, light in mood, usually meant for evening entertainment.

Sonata form Form of a single movement, consisting of three main sections: the exposition, where the themes are presented; the development, where themes are treated in new ways; and the recapitulation, where the themes return. A concluding section, the coda, often follows the recapitulation.

Transition See bridge.

Theme and Variations

Countermelody Melodic idea that accompanies a main theme.

Dynamics Degrees of loudness or softness in music.

Harmony How chords are constructed and how they follow each other.

Theme and variations Form in which a basic musical idea (the theme) is repeated over and over and is changed each time in melody, rhythm, harmony, dynamics, or tone color. Used either as an independent piece or as one movement of a larger work.

Minuet and Trio

Chamber music Music using a small group of musicians, with one player to a part.

Da capo From the beginning; an indication usually meaning that the opening section of a piece is to be repeated after the middle section.

Minuet and trio (minuet) Compositional form—derived from a dance—in three parts: minuet (A), trio (B), minuet (A). Often used as the third movement of classical symphonies, string quartets, and other works, it is in triple meter (34 time) and usually in a moderate tempo.

Repetition Reiteration of a phrase, section, or entire movement, often used to create a sense of unity.

Scherzo Compositional form in three parts (A B A), sometimes used as the third movement in classical and romantic symphonies, string quartets, and other works. A scherzo is usually in triple meter, with a faster tempo than a minuet.

Serenade Instrumental composition, light in mood, usually meant for evening entertainment.

Rondo

Rondo Compositional form featuring a main theme (A) which returns several times in alternation with other themes, such as A B A C A and A B A C A B A. Rondo is often the form of the last movement in classical symphonies, string quartets, and sonatas.

Sonata-rondo Compositional form that combines the repeating theme of rondo form with a development section similar to that in sonata form, outlined A B A—development—A B A.

The Classical Symphony

Movement Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

The Classical Concerto

Cadenza Unaccompanied section of virtuoso display for the soloist in a concerto, usually appearing near the end of the first movement and sometimes in the last movement.

Coda In a sonata-form movement, a concluding section following the recapitulation and rounding off the movement by repeating themes or developing them

further.

Concerto Extended composition for instrumental soloist and orchestra, usually in three movements: (1) fast, (2) slow, (3) fast.

Exposition First section of a sonata-form movement, which sets up a strong conflict between the tonic key and the new key; and between the first theme (or group of themes) and the second theme (or group of themes).

Improvisation Creation of music at the same time as it is performed.

Minuet and trio (minuet) Compositional form—derived from a dance—in three parts: minuet (A), trio (B), minuet (A). Often used as the third movement of classical symphonies, string quartets, and other works, it is in triple meter (34 time) and usually in a moderate tempo.

Movement Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

Recapitulation Third section of a sonata-form movement, in which the first theme, bridge, second theme, and concluding section are presented more or less as they were in the exposition, with one crucial difference: all the principal material is now in the tonic key.

Repetition Reiteration of a phrase, section, or entire movement, often used to create a sense of unity.

Scherzo Compositional form in three parts (A B A), sometimes used as the third movement in classical and romantic symphonies, string quartets, and other works. A scherzo is usually in triple meter, with a faster tempo than a minuet.

Classical Chamber Music

Chamber music Music using a small group of musicians, with one player to a part.

Movement Piece that sounds fairly complete and independent but is part of a larger composition.

String quartet Composition for two violins, a viola, and a cello; usually consisting of four movements. (Also, the four instrumentalists.)

Joseph Haydn

Concerto Extended composition for instrumental soloist and orchestra, usually in three movements: (1) fast, (2) slow, (3) fast.

Mass Sacred choral composition made up of five sections: Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, and Agnus Dei.

Oratorio Large-scale composition for chorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra, usually set to a narrative text, but without acting, scenery, or costumes; often based on biblical stories.

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

Concerto Extended composition for instrumental soloist and orchestra, usually in three movements: (1) fast, (2) slow, (3) fast.

Fortepiano Eighteenth-century or early-nineteenth-century piano, which differs from the modern piano in sound and construction.

Opera Drama that is sung to orchestral accompaniment, usually a large-scale composition employing vocal soloists, chorus, orchestra, costumes, and scenery.

Overture (prelude) Short musical composition, purely orchestral, which opens an opera and sets the overall dramatic mood. Orchestral introductions to later acts of an opera are called preludes.

Piano Widely used keyboard instrument of great range and versatility, whose sound is produced by felt-covered hammers striking against steel strings.

Ludwig van Beethoven

Chamber music Music using a small group of musicians, with one player to a part.

Improvisation Creation of music at the same time as it is performed.

Sonata In baroque music, an instrumental composition in several movements for one to eight players. In music after the baroque period, an instrumental composition usually in several movements for one or two players.

String quartet Composition for two violins, a viola, and a cello; usually consisting of four movements. (Also, the four instrumentalists.)