Melody, Rhythm, Meter, Harmony, Texture, Form , Tempo, Dynamics

interval

"distance" in pitch between two tones

classical style time period

1750-1820

rhythm

<the interrelationship between time and sound> aspects: beat; meter; syncopation; and tempo

theme & variations

a form where the main melody [theme] is followed by a series of an altered version by rhythm, harmony, tone color, etc. (A, A', A'', A''', etc.)

sonata (NOT SONATA FORM)

a multi-movement type of chamber music for a solo instrument OR instruments, with OR without piano accompaniment; usually 3 or 4 movements long

string quartet

a multi-movement type of chamber music for two violins, one viola, and one cello; typically 4 movements long

concerto

a multi-movement type of orchestral music for one or more solo instruments AND the orchestra; typically 3 movements long

symphony

a multi-movement type of orchestral music for the orchestra; typically 4 movements long

sonata form

a multi-section form made up of three (or four) main sections: exposition; development; and recapitulation (and occasionally a CODA, or concluding section)

rondo

a multi-section form where the main melody [theme] returns several times, alternating with other themes PATTERNS: ABACA; ABACABA; ABACADA

melody

a succession of notes and rhythmic patterns perceived by the listener as a complete idea; horizontal dimension of music

syncopation

accenting of a note at an unexpected time

minuet & trio

an example of ternary (ABA) form; the standard dance movement in four-movement works such as symphonies and string quartets; outline: A = |:a:| |:b+a:|; B = |:c:| |:d+c:|; A= |a| |b+c|

CODA

an occasional part of a sonata form that concludes the movement

tempo

basic pace of the music

dynamics

degrees of loudness or softness in music

range

distance between the highest and lowest tones that a voice/instrument can make

ternary form (ABA)

form that can be represented as: the statement (A); the contrast (B); and the return of the statement (A)

sound

generated by voices/instruments aspects: tone color (timbre); range; and dynamics

meter

how beats are grouped

movement

independent peice in a large scale pice

theme

melody that serves as the starting point for an extended piece of music

chamber music

music intended to be played in intimate surroundings by a small group of musicians

orchestral music

music played by a relatively large group of musicians (orchestra), usually consisting of several sections: strings; woodwinds; brass; and percussion

homophonic texture

one main melody accompanied by chords

monophonic texture

one melody without accompaniment

exposition

part of a sonata form that has four sub-sections: first theme; transition; second theme; and conclusion

development

part of a sonata form that has one or more of the previous themes presented in different ways

recapitulation

part of a sonata form that serves as a "review" of the exposition material, which may be modified in several ways

tone color (timbre)

quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another

pitch

relative highness or lowness of a sound

tone

sound that has a definite pitch, or frequency

beat

the basic unit of rhythm

texture

the layering of sound

tonic

the note that is regarded as the most important, and the one that the scale should come back to

form

the organization of musical elements

chord

three of more notes sounded together

consonance

tone combination that is stable and restful

dissonance

tone combination that is unstable and tense

polyphonic texture

two or more melodies of relatively equal interest sounding together

harmony

two or more notes sounding together; involves the way chords are constructed and how they follow each other; vertical dimension of music