Music Terminology

Tells how many beats per measure and what type of note equals one beat

• time signature

• recitative

• timbre/tone color

• round (canon)

has a main theme (A) which returns throughout the work, alternated with other themes to form a composition

• tempo

• opera

• harmony

• rondo

usually used for higher pitched voices or instruments

• bass clef

• decrescendo

• crescendo

• treble clef

main theme or part of a musical composition, the "tune"

• harmony

• melody

• tempo

• rhythm

degree of loudness and softness

• decrescendo

• variation

• crescendo

• dynamics

simple melody performed by different groups of singers starting at different times

• time signature

• round (canon)

• call and response

• recitative

a basic musical idea repeated over and over

• tempo

• form

• theme

• opera

instruments such as the drums or xylophone

• brass family

• percussion family

• string family

• woodwind family

includes the flute, clarinet, saxophone

• percussion family

• woodwind family

• brass family

• string family

accompanying parts or musical lines that are not the melody; blend with/support the melody

• harmony

• melody

• rondo

• variation