APPENDIX 2
GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS
adagio Slow tempo.
Agnus Dei Last section of the Mass, âLamb of Godâ.
allegretto Quite fast
allegro Fast.
alto Low female voice.
andante At walking tempo.
aria Song.
baritone Male voice between tenor and bass.
baroque Elaborate music of period 1600-1750.
bass Lowest male voice.
Benedictus Section of the Mass, âBlessed is he that comethâ
brass Term covering trumpet, trombone and tuba families of instruments.
cadenza Solo instrumental section of a movement.
canon Music where a theme is repeated to create overlapping between voices or instruments.
cantabile Singing style.
cantata Choral work, usually with orchestra.
chamber music Music of a scale to be performable in a room.
chamber orchestra Small orchestra.
chorale Traditional German hymn style.
classical Describes era and formal style of composition predominant in the last half of the 18th century.
clavier Early keyboard instrument.
coda Ending.
concerto Work for solo instrument(s) and orchestra, usually in three movements.
continuo. Accompaniment, usually on a keyboard instrument and using the bass-line.
contralto Lower female voice.
cor anglais Woodwind instrument, lower range than the oboe.
crescendo Increasingly loud.
Credo Third section of the Mass, âI believe in one God.â
cycle Set of works to be performed together.
development Section of a movement (middle) where themes are transformed.
Dies Irae Section of Requiem Mass, âthe Day of Wrathâ.
diminuendo Increasingly soft.
divertimento Light-hearted work for small number of players.
dolce Sweetly.
Dona nobis pacem Section of the Mass, âGive us peaceâ.
Dorian mode Scale on white piano keys from D.
duet Combination of two performers.
ensemble A small group of performers or an operatic piece for several performers.
forte Loud.
fortissimo Very loud
forte-piano Early Italian name for the pianoforte (piano).
fugue Work where a number of parts follow each other at regular intervals in the same theme.
furiant Fast Czech dance.
Gloria Second section of the Mass, âGlory to God on highâ.
grave Slow.
impromptu Small work implying improvisation.
improvise/extemporise Play spontaneously.
Jubilate Psalm that opens âO be joyfulâ.
Kapellmeister Musical director, originally master of the chapel- music.
Kyrie Opening section of the Mass, âLord have mercyâ.
landler Austrian dance, like a slow waltz.
largo Slow.
libretto Text for an opera.
maestoso Majestic.
Mass Catholic religious service set to music, consisting usually of the Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus and Agnus Dei.
metronome Mechanical and adjustable device for setting tempo.
minuet Dance in triple time used mainly in the 18th century.
moderato Moderate speed.
molto Very.
motet Short religious choral work.
motto Recurring theme.
movement Main and separate part of many types of composition, including the symphony, sonata, concerto.
octet Eight performers, or a work for eight performers.
opera Stage work with words which are sung to orchestral accompaniment.
opus A specific work.
orchestra A significant group of different instrumentalists, usually with a traditional mix between them.
orchestration The process of translating themes into the desired parts for each orchestral instrument.
overture Introductory orchestral piece for an opera, occasionally just a short orchestral work.
partita Set of variations.
Passion Musical setting of the story of the Crucifixion, traditionally performed at Easter.
piano Softly.
pianissimo Very softly.
pizzicato Plucked (strings).
postlud...