Brief dictionary of musical terms. Musical text: language, sign, signal, symbol Fundamental terms in music

The world of music is multifaceted, several main directions form the basis of the entire musical culture. Classical, symphony, blues, jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, country - there are different genres and styles for every taste and every mood.

Origin

Music as an art emerged at the beginning of the sixteenth century, when the first bowed and plucked instruments appeared. Much earlier, primitive pipes, horns and pipes were invented, which were made from reeds, animal horns and other improvised means. In the seventeenth century, musical culture was already developing at a rapid pace: more and more instruments appeared, musicians began to unite in groups, duets, trios, quartets, and later in orchestras.

Musical notation

Music notation appeared before musical instruments, since singing, the art of vocals required some kind of system, the ability to write down invented melodies on paper and only then perform them. This is how the musical staff and the well-known seven notes appeared. By adding notes in a certain order, it was possible to get a melody that was compositionally simple, since there were no semitones. Then sharp and flat appeared, which immediately expanded the possibilities of the composer. All this concerns the performing skills of musicians who adhere to theoretical foundations in music. But there are many masters who play only by ear, they are not familiar with music theory, they do not need it. These musicians include country. A few memorized chords on the guitar or piano, and the rest is done by natural talent. Nevertheless, these musicians are familiar with the terms directly related to their art, but only superficially.

The emergence of musical terms

In order not to get confused in the styles and directions of music, various instruments and devices, musical terms were invented. Gradually, everything related to music got its name. And since music originated in Italy, almost all musical terms were adopted in Italian and in its transcription. Some song titles are written in French or Latin, depending on their origin. Italian musical terms reflect only the general picture and can be replaced in some cases by other names that are similar in meaning.

Italian origin

Music is a vast layer of world culture that requires a serious systematic approach. Musical terms were approved at the level of committees on linguistics of the leading European countries, including Italy, and thus received official status. The administrative support of musical institutions around the world is based on the use of terms in accordance with their application - for this, reference books and manuals have been created.

Known terms

The most famous musical term is "treble clef", everyone knows it. The value of the most popular names is difficult to overestimate, there is a kind of axiom in their spelling, the same thing happens when we hear a well-known phrase. For example, the most musical term is, of course, "jazz". For many, it is associated with Negro rhythms and exotic variations.

Names and classification

It is impossible to unambiguously define the most famous musical term. The name "symphony", a synonym for classical music, can be attributed to this category. When we hear this word, an orchestra appears before our eyes on the stage, violins and cellos, music stands with notes and a conductor in a tailcoat. Musical concepts and terms help to comprehend what is happening in concert hall and deeper understanding of the essence of the work. A sophisticated audience attending concerts at the Philharmonic will never confuse adagio with andante, since each term has its own definition.

Fundamental terms in music

We present to your attention the most famous musical terms. The list includes titles such as:

• Arpeggio - alternation of notes when sounds line up one after another.
• Aria is a vocal work, part of an opera, performed with the accompaniment of an orchestra.
• Variations - an instrumental piece or its excerpts, performed with various complications.
• Gamma - alternation of notes in a certain order, but without mixing, up or down to an octave repetition.
• Range - the interval between the lowest and highest sound of an instrument or voice.
• Scale - sounds arranged in a row in height, similar to the scale. The scale may be present in or in their excerpts.
• Cantata - a work for concert performance by an orchestra, soloists or choir.
• Clavier - an arrangement of a symphony or opera for interpretation on the piano or for singing with piano accompaniment.
• Opera is the most important musical genre, combining drama and music, music and ballet.
• Prelude - an introduction to the main piece of music. It can be used as an independent form for a small work.
• Romance is a piece for vocal performance with accompaniment. It has a romantic mood, melody.
• Rondo - repetition of the main theme of the work with the inclusion of other accompanying episodes between the refrains.
• A symphony is a work performed by an orchestra in four parts. Based on the principles of sonata form.
• A sonata is an instrumental work of complex form, consisting of several parts, one of which dominates.
• Suite - a piece of music from several parts, different in content and contrasting with each other.
• Overture - an introduction to the work, briefly revealing the main content. Orchestral overtures, as a rule, are an independent piece of music.
• Piano is the unifying name of instruments that act on the principle of hitting a hammer on a string using keys.
• Chromatic gamma - a gamma of semitones, formed by filling intermediate semitones of major seconds.
• Texture is a way of expressing music. Main types: piano, vocal, choral, orchestral and instrumental.
• Tonality is a characteristic of a fret in height. Tonality is distinguished by the key determinants of the composition of sounds.
• Third - a three-step interval. Major third - two tones, minor - one and a half tones.
• Solfeggio - classes on the principle of tutoring with the aim of developing an ear for music and its further development.
• Scherzo is a musical sketch of a light, playful character. May be included in a major piece of music as an integral part of it. It can also be an independent piece of music.

The musical term "allegro"

Certain methods are widespread. An example is the musical term - "fast", "fun", "expressive". It immediately becomes clear that the work contains major expression. In addition, the musical term "allegro" denotes the unusual, and sometimes festive, of what is happening. The style that is characterized by this concept seems to be the most life-affirming. Only in rare cases, the musical term "allegro" denotes a calm and measured development of the plot, performance or opera. But even in this case, the overall tone of the work is cheerful and expressive.

Terms defining style and genres of music

The titles fall into several categories. Tempo, rhythm or speed of performance define certain musical terms. List of symbols:

• Adagio (adagio) - calmly, slowly.
• Ajitato (adgitato) - excited, excited, impulsive.
• - measuredly, slowly, thoughtfully.
• Appassionato (appassionato) - lively, with passion.
• Accelerando (accelerando) - increasing the pace, accelerating.
• Kalyando (calando) - with fading, reducing speed and reducing pressure.
• Cantabile (cantabile) - melodious, singsong, with feeling.
• Con dolcherezza (con dolcherezza) - softly, with tenderness.
• Con forza (con forza) - with force, assertively.
• Decrescendo (decrescendo) - gradually reducing the strength of the sound.
• Dolce (dolce) - gently, with sweetness, softly.
• Doloroso (doloroso) - with sadness, plaintively, with despair.
• Forte (forte) - loudly, with force.
• Fortissimo (fortissimo) - very strong and loud, thunderous.
• Largo (largo) - widely, freely, slowly.
• Legato (legato) - smoothly, calmly, serenely.
• Lento (lento) - slowly, slowing down even more.
• Legiero (legiero) - easily, smoothly, thoughtlessly.
• Maestoso (maestoso) - majestically, solemnly.
• Misterioso (misterioso) - quiet, mysterious.
• Moderato (moderato) - moderately, with arrangement, slowly.
• Piano (piano) - quietly, quietly.
• Pianissimo (pianissimo) - very quiet, muffled.
• Presto (presto) - fast, intense.
• Semper (sempre) - constantly, without changing.
• Spirituoso (spirituozo) - spiritually, with feeling.
• Staccato (staccato) - abruptly.
• Vivache (vivace) - lively, soon, non-stop.
• Vivo (vivo) - the pace, the average between presto and allegro.

Terminology of a technical nature

• The treble clef is a special icon placed at the beginning of the musical scale, indicating that the note of the first octave "salt" is on the second line of the stave.
• Bass clef - an icon confirming the location of the note "fa" small octave on the fourth line of the staff.
• Bekar - an icon indicating the abolition of the action of the signs "flat" and "sharp". It is a sign of alteration.
• Sharp - an icon that indicates a rise in sound by half a tone. It is a sign of alteration.
• Flat - an icon indicating a decrease in sound by a semitone. It is a sign of alteration.
• Double-sharp - an icon indicating a sound increase by two semitones, a whole tone. It is a sign of alteration.
• Double flat - an icon denoting a decrease in sound by two semitones, a whole tone. It is a sign of alteration.
• Zatakt - an incomplete measure that gives rise to a piece of music.
• Signs that reduce musical notation serve to simplify musical notation if it is extensive. The most common: tremolo, reprise sign, melismatic signs.
• Quintole - a form of five notes, replacing the usual group of four notes, the designation is the number 5, below or above the notes.
• A key is an icon that indicates the place where a sound is recorded on a musical scale in relation to other sounds.
• Key signs - accidentals, affixed next to the key.
• Note - an icon placed on one of the rulers of the stave or between them, indicating the pitch and duration of the sound.
• Music staff - five parallel lines for placing notes. Notes are arranged from bottom to top.
• Score - a musical notation, separate for each participant in the performance of a work, taking into account the compatibility of voices and instruments.
• Reprise - an icon indicating the repetition of any part of the work. Repetition of the fragment with some changes.
• Step - designation of the order of arrangement of the sounds of the fret, indicated by Roman numerals.

Music terms for all time

Musical terminology is the basis of contemporary performing arts. Without terms it is impossible to write notes, and without notes professional musician or the singer can neither play nor sing. The terms are academic - they do not change with time and do not become a thing of the past. Invented over three hundred years ago, they are still relevant.

*************************************

***************************************************************************

BRIEF GLOSSARY OF MUSICAL TERMS

Accompaniment(French accompagnement - accompaniment) - musical background to the main melodies, which is of secondary importance in the work.

Chord(it. accordo, fr. accord - agreement) - consonance, the sound of several (at least three) musical tones, taken, as a rule, simultaneously. A. are divided into consonant and dissonant (see. consonance And dissonance).

Act(lat. actus - action) - a relatively completed part of the theatrical performance ( operas, ballet etc.), separated from another of the same part by a break - intermission. Sometimes A. is divided into paintings.

Ensemble(fr. ensemble - together) - 1. The name of a relatively independent musical episodes V opera, representing the simultaneous singing of two or more singers, vocal parts which are not identical; according to the number of participants A. are divided into duets, trio or tercetes, quartets, quintets, sextets etc. 2. Play, intended for joint performance by several musicians, most often instrumentalists. 3. The quality of joint performance, the degree of coherence, unity of the overall sound.

Intermission(French entr'acte - letters, interaction) - 1. Break between acts theatrical performance or branches concert. 2. Orchestral introduction to one of the acts, except for the first (cf. overture)

Arietta(it. arietta) - small aria.

Arioso(it. arioso - like an aria) - a variety arias, characterized by a freer construction, more closely connected with the previous and subsequent musical episodes.

Aria(it. aria - song) - developed vocal episode in opera, oratorios or cantata sung by one singer accompanied by orchestra, which has a wide range melody and completeness of the musical forms. Sometimes A. consists of several contrasting(see) sections. Varieties A. - arietta, arioso, cavatina, cabaletta, canzone, monologue etc.

Ballet(fr. ballet from it. ballo - dance, dance) - a major musical choreographic(cm.) genre, in which the main artistic means is dance, as well as pantomime, presented on the theater stage in a picturesque decorative design, accompanied by orchestral music. B. in the form of independent dance scenes is sometimes part of operas.

Ballad(French ballade, Italian ballare - to dance) - originally the name of the Provencal (France) dance songs; then - literary and poetic genre connected with folk legends or telling about the events of the past. From the beginning of the XIX century. - designation vocal and instrumental plays narrative warehouse.

Baritone(Greek barytono - heavy-sounding) - male voice of the middle between bass And register tenor; Another name is high bass.

Barcarolle(from it. barca - boat, barcaruola - song of the boatman) - genus songs, common in Venice, and also the name vocal and instrumental plays contemplative melodious character with a smooth, swaying accompaniment; size 6/8. Another name for B. is a gondolier (from the Italian gondola, a Venetian boat).

Bass(it. basso - low, Greek basis - basis) - 1. The lowest male voice. 2. Common name for low register of orchestral instruments (cello, double bass, bassoon, etc.).

Bolero(Spanish bolero) - Spanish dance, known since the end of the 18th century, moderately fast movement, accompanied by castanets; size 3/4.

Bylina- a work of Russian folk epic, a story about old days, about the exploits of folk heroes-bogatyrs. B. has the character of a leisurely smooth recitative like a sung speech; sometimes accompanied by playing the harp and other musical instruments.

Waltz(French valse, German Walzer) is a dance that originated from Austrian, German and Czech folk dances. V. is danced in pairs in a smooth circular motion; size 3/4 or 3/8, pace varying from very slow to very fast. Thanks to its special figurative and expressive possibilities, dance became widespread from the middle of the 19th century not only as a dance and concert(cm.) genre but also as an important component of music operas, ballet, symphonies and even chamber — solo And ensemble(see) works.

Variations(lat. variatio - change) - a piece of music based on a gradual change set out at the beginning Topics, during which the original image is developed and enriched without losing its essential features.

Virtuoso(it. virtuoso - lit. valiant, courageous) - a performing musician who is fluent in his instrument or voice, easily, brilliantly overcoming any technical difficulties. Virtuosity is the skill and technical perfection of musical performance. Virtuoso music is music replete with technical difficulties, requiring brilliant, spectacular performance.

Vocal music(from it. vocale - voice) - music for singing - solo, ensemble or choral(see) with accompaniment or without it.

Introduction- the initial section, directly introducing into any vocal or an instrumental piece, painting or Act musical and theatrical performance.

Gavotte(fr. gavotte) - an old French dance folk origin; subsequently, from the 17th century, it entered into court use, in the 18th century it took its place in the dance suite. G.'s music is energetic, moderately fast movement, meter 4/4 with a characteristic two-quarter upbeat.

Harmony(Greek harmonia - proportionality, consistency) - 1. One of the expressive means of musical art, associated with chordal(see) combinations of tones and their sequences accompanying the main melody. 2. The science of chords, their movement and connections. 3. The name of individual chord sound combinations when characterizing their expressiveness (“hard harmony”, “light harmony”, etc.). 4. The general designation of the range of chordal means characteristic of a particular work, composer, musical style(“Mussorgsky's harmony”, “romantic harmony”, etc.).

Hymn(Greek hymnos) - a solemn laudatory chant.

Grotesque(French grotesque - bizarre, ugly, strange) - an artistic device associated with a deliberate exaggeration or distortion of the real features of the image, which gives it a bizarre, fantastic, often caricature-humorous, sometimes frightening character.

Gusli(from Old Russian gusel - string) - an old Russian folk instrument, which is a hollow flat box on which metal strings are stretched. Playing the G. was usually accompanied by the performance of epics. The performer in G. is a harpist.

Declamation- artistic reading of poetry or prose in an emotionally elevated manner. D. musical - correct reproduction in recitative characteristic intonations - rises, falls, accents, etc. - expressive human speech.

woodwind instruments- the general name of a group of instruments that includes a flute (with varieties of flute-piccolo and alto flute), oboe (with varieties of alto oboe, or English horn), clarinet (with varieties of clarinet-piccolo and bass clarinet), bassoon (with variety of contrabassoon). D. d. i. are also used in brass bands, various chamber ensembles And How soloists(see) tools. In the orchestral score group D. d. and. occupies the top lines, placed in the above order.

Decimet(from lat. decimus - tenth) - operatic or chamber ensemble ten participants.

Dialogue(Greek dialogos - a conversation between two) - scene- a conversation between two characters operas; roll call of alternating short musical phrases as if responding to each other.

Divertissement(French divertissement - entertainment, entertainment) - a piece of music built like suites, consisting of several diverse, mainly dance, rooms. D. is also called a separate instrumental play entertaining character.

Dynamics(from the Greek dynamikos - power) - 1. Strength, loudness of sound. 2. Designation of the degree of tension, the effective aspiration of the musical narrative (“the dynamics of development”).

Dramaturgy- Literature that involves the stage incarnation; the science of the laws of construction dramatic play. In the 20th century, the term D. began to be applied also to the musical and theatrical art, and then to large instrumental and symphonic works that were not connected with the stage. D. musical - a set of principles for the construction and development of music operas, ballet, symphonies etc. with the aim of the most logical, consistent and effective embodiment of the chosen plot, ideological concept.

Thought, thought— narrative Ukrainian folk song free recitative-improvisational warehouse with tool support. Usually D. is devoted to the story of historical events, but sometimes it acquires the features of a sincere, sad song of a purely lyrical content.

Brass band— orchestra, consisting of copper And woodwinds And percussion tools. Before. has a powerful, bright sonority.

Wind instruments- instruments, different in shape, size and material, which are a tube or a set of tubes that sound due to the vibrations of the air column enclosed in them. According to the material and method of sound extraction D. and. divided into copper And wooden. Among D. and. belongs also organ.

Duet(from lat. duo - two) - operatic or chamber ensemble two participants.

duetino(it. duettino) - small duet.

Genre(French genre - type, manner) - 1. The type of musical work, determined by various criteria: by the nature of the subject (for example, J. epic, comic), the nature of the plot (for example, J. historical, mythological), the composition of the performers (e.g., F - operatic, ballet, symphonic, vocal(see), instrumental), the circumstances of the performance (for example, J. concert, chamber(see), household), features of the form (for example, Zh. romance, songs, instrumental or orchestral miniatures), etc. 2. Genre (in music) - associated with characteristic features folk household musical genres. 3. Genre scene - everyday scene.

Chorus- Start choral song, performed by one singer - the lead singer.

Singspiel(German Singspiel from singen - to sing and Spiel - game) - kind comic opera, which combined colloquial dialogues with singing and dancing; Z. received the greatest development in Germany and Austria in the 2nd half of the 18th and early. XIX centuries.

Improvisation(from lat. improvisus - unforeseen, unexpected) - creativity in the process of execution, without prior preparation, by inspiration; also a characteristic of a certain kind of musical works or their individual episodes, characterized by whimsical freedom of presentation.

Instrumentation- the same as orchestration.

Sideshow(lat. intermedia - located in the middle) - 1. A small musical play, placed between the more important parts of a large work. 2. Plug-in episode or scene in a major theatrical work, suspending the development of the action and not directly related to it. 3. Binder episode between two Topics V fugue, a passing episode in an instrumental piece in general.

Intermezzo(it. intermezzo - pause, intermission) - play linking more important sections; also the name of separate, mainly instrumental, pieces of various nature and content.

Introduction(lat. introductio - introduction) - 1. Small size opera overture, directly put into action. 2. The initial section of any plays, which has its own pace and the nature of the music.

cabaletta(from it. cabalare - fantasize) - a small opera aria, often of a heroically upbeat nature.

Cavatina(it. cavatina) - a kind of opera arias, characterized by a freer construction, lyrical melody, lack of tempo(see) contrasts.

Chamber music(from it. camera - room) - music for soloists(see solo) instruments or voices, small ensembles designed for performance in small concert halls.

Canon(Greek kanon - rule, pattern) - a kind of polyphonic music based on the alternate entry of voices from the same melody.

Kant(from lat. cantus - singing) - in Russian, Ukrainian and Polish music of the 17th-18th centuries, lyrical songs for a three-part choir without accompaniment; in the era of Peter I, greetings to K. vigorous marching(cm. march) character, performed on the occasion of official celebrations.

Cantata(from it. cantare - to sing) - a great work for singers - soloists, chora And orchestra, consisting of a number of numbers - aria, recitatives, ensembles, choirs. K. differs from the oratorio in the absence of a detailed and consistently embodied plot.

Cantilena(lat. cantilena - chanting) - wide melodious melody.

Canzona(it. canzone - song) - the old name of the Italian lyric songs with instrumental accompaniment; later - the name of the instrumental plays melodious lyric.

canzonetta(it. canzonetta - song) - small canzone, melodious vocal or instrumental play small size.

Painting- 1. In a musical and theatrical work, a part act, separable not intermission, but a brief pause during which the curtain falls briefly. 2. The designation of instrumental-symphonic works, which are characterized by special concreteness, visualization of musical images; sometimes such works belong to genre of program music.

Quartet(from lat. quartus - fourth) - opera-vocal or instrumental (most often string) ensemble four participants.

Quintet(from lat. quintus - fifth) - opera-vocal or instrumental ensemble five participants.

Clavier(abbr. German Klavierauszug - piano extract) - processing, arrangement for piano work written for orchestra or ensemble, and operas, cantatas or oratorios(with preservation vocal parties).

Koda(it. coda - tail, end) - the final section of a musical work, usually of an energetic, impetuous nature, asserting its main idea, the dominant image.

Coloratura(it. coloratura - coloring, decoration) - coloring, variation vocal melodies in a variety of flexible, moving passages, virtuosic decorations.

Coloring(from lat. color - color) in music - the predominant emotional coloring of an episode, achieved using various registers, timbres, harmonic(see) and other expressive means.

Carol- the general name of the Slavic folk ritual songs pagan origin associated with the celebration of Christmas (new year's eve).

Composer(Latin compositor - composer, compiler, creator) - the author of a musical work.

Composition(lat. compositio - composition, arrangement) - 1. Musical creativity, the process of creating a musical work. 2. The internal structure of a musical work, the same as a musical form. 3. A separate piece of music.

Contralto(it. contralto) - the lowest female voice, the same as in choir viola.

Counterpoint(from Latin punctumcontrapunctum - point against point, that is, note against note) - 1. The simultaneous combination of two or more melodically independent voices. 2. The science of the laws of the combination of simultaneously sounding melodies, the same as polyphony.

Contrast(fr. contraste - opposite) - a bright expressive means of music, which consists in the rapprochement and direct opposition of dissimilar, sharply differing in character musical episodes. Musical figurative-emotional K. is carried out with the help of tempo, dynamic, tonal, register, timbre(see) and other oppositions.

Concert(from lat. concertare - to compete, it. concerto - consent) - 1. Public performance of musical works. 2. A large, usually three-part, work for soloist(see) tool with orchestra, brilliant, spectacular, with developed elements virtuosity, in some cases approaching in richness and significance of the ideological and artistic content to symphonies.

climax(from lat. culmen - top, top) - the moment of highest tension in the musical development.

couplet(fr. couplet - stanza) - repeated part songs.

banknote(fr. coupure - clipping, reduction) - reduction of a piece of music by removing, skipping any episode, V opera — scenes, paintings or act.

Lezginka- a dance common among the peoples of the Caucasus, temperamental, impetuous; size 2/4 or 6/8.

Leitmotif(German Leitmotiv - leading motive) - musical thought, melody associated in opera with a certain character, memory, experience, phenomenon or abstract concept that arises in music when it appears or is mentioned in the course of a stage action.

Landler(German: Ländler) is a German and Austrian dance of folk origin, the predecessor of waltz, lively, but not fast movement; size 3/4.

Libretto(it. libretto - notebook, little book) - full literary text operas, operettas; verbal presentation of content ballet. The author L. is a librettist.

Madrigal(it. madrigale) - a European polyphonic secular song of the 16th century, of an exquisite nature, usually of love content.

Mazurka(from Polish mazur - a resident of Mazovia) - a Polish dance of folk origin, lively, with a sharp, sometimes syncopated(cm.) rhythm; size 3/4.

March(fr. marche - walking, procession) - genre, Related to rhythm walking, characterized by a clear, measured, energetic movement. M. is marching, solemn, mourning; size 2/4 or 4/4.

Brass instruments— wind instruments, made of copper and other metals, forming a special group in the symphony orchestra, which includes horns, trumpets (sometimes partially replaced by cornets), trombones and tuba. M. d. and. are the basis brass band. In the symphony score group M. d. and. written under the group woodwind instruments, placed in the above order.

Meistersingers(German Meistersinger - master of singing) - in medieval Germany (XIV-XVII centuries) shop musicians.

Melodeclamation(from Greek melos - song and Latin declamatio - recitation) - expressive reading(most often poetry) accompanied by music.

Melody(Greek melodia - singing a song from melos - song and ode - singing) - the main idea of ​​a musical work, expressed in a monophonic melody, the most important means of musical expression.

Melodrama(from the Greek melos - song and drama - action) - 1. Part of a dramatic work, accompanied by music. 2. A negative characterization of works or episodes, characterized by exaggerated sensitivity, sentimentality, bad taste.

Minuet(fr. menuet) - an old French dance, originally of folk origin, in the 17th century - a court dance, at the end of the 18th century it was introduced into the symphony cycle(cm. symphony). M. is distinguished by smooth and graceful movements; size 3/4.

Mass(fr. messe, lat. missa) - a large multi-part work for chora with instrumental accompaniment, sometimes with the participation of singers- soloists written in religious latin text. M. - the same as the Catholic mass, liturgy.

mezzo-soprano(from it. mezzo - median and soprano) - a female voice, in register occupying an intermediate position between soprano And contralto. mezzo soprano in chore- the same as alt.

Miniature(it. miniatura) - small orchestral, vocal(see) or instrumental piece.

Monologue(from the Greek monos - one, speech uttered by one person) in music - one of the most effective solo vocal forms V opera, which usually captures the process of intense experience or reflection, leading to a decision. M., as a rule, is built from several non-identical, contrasting episodes.

Motive(from it. motivo - reason, motivation, and lat. motus - movement) - 1. Part melodies, which has an independent expressive meaning; a group of sounds is a melody united around one accent - stress. 2. In the common sense - a melody, a melody.

musical drama- originally the same as opera. In common sense, one of genres opera, which is characterized by the leading role of intense dramatic action that unfolds on the stage and determines the principles of musical embodiment.

Musical comedy- cm. operetta.

Nocturne(fr. nocturne - night) - the name of relatively small instrumental instruments that spread in the 19th century (rarely - vocal) plays lyrical-contemplative character with expressive melodious melody.

Number- the smallest, relatively complete, allowing separate, independent execution opera episode, ballet or operettas.

But no(from lat. nonus - ninth) - a relatively rare type of opera or chamber ensemble for nine participants.

Oh yeah(Greek ode) - the name of a piece of music borrowed from literature (more often - vocal) solemn laudatory character.

Octet(from lat. octo - eight) - ensemble eight participants.

Opera(it. opera - action, work, from lat. opus - labor, creation) - synthetic genre musical art, including dramatic action, singing and dancing, accompanied by orchestral music, as well as pictorial and decorative design. The opera is made up of solo episodes — aria, recitatives, and ensembles, choirs, ballet scenes, independent orchestral numbers (see overture, intermission, introduction). O. is divided into acts and paintings. O. as an independent genre spread in Europe in the 17th century, and in Russia from the middle of the 18th century. Further development led to the formation of various national styles and ideological and artistic types of opera (see. O. big french, O.-buffa, O. comic, O. lyrical-dramatic, O. lyrical French, O. beggars, O.-series, O. epic, singspiel, musical drama, operetta). As a result of its diverse historical development, music became the most democratic genre among the complex monumental genres of musical art.

Grand Opera French(French grandopéra) - a variety that became widespread in the middle of the 19th century, which is characterized by the embodiment of historical themes in a monumental, colorful performance rich in effective moments.

opera buffa(it. opera-buffa) - Italian comic opera that emerged in the first half of the 18th century. About. based on everyday stories, often acquiring a satirical coloring. Developed from the Italian folk "comedy of masks" (comediadelarte), O.-b. reflected the progressive democratic tendencies of the end of the 18th and the first half of the 19th century.

Opera comic- the general specific name of the opera genre that arose in Europe from the middle of the 18th century under the influence of democratic ideas as opposed to courtly aristocratic art. O. to. in different countries had different names: in Italy - opera buffa, in Germany and Austria singspiel, in Spain - tonadilla, in England - beggar's opera, or ballad song opera. O. c. is the generally accepted name for the proper French variety of this genre, which is characterized by the inclusion of colloquial dialogues.

Opera lyrical-dramatic- a variety developed in operatic art second half of the XIX century. For O. l.-d. characteristic is the foreground of dramatic, often tragic personal destinies and human relationships, shown against a realistically truthful life background, in-depth attention composer to the mental life of the characters, their feelings, psychological contradictions and conflicts.

French lyric opera- own name French lyric-dramatic opera.

Beggar's Opera(English beggarsopera) - English variety comic opera, in which folk songs were widely used - ballads.

Opera series(Italian operaseria - serious opera, as opposed to comic) - Italian opera of the 18th century, associated with the court-aristocratic environment. Based, as a rule, on mythological and historical-legendary subjects, O.-s. distinguished by the splendor of the production, masterly glitter vocal parts, but in its development was constrained by the conventions of plots, situations and characters.

Opera epic- a kind of classical opera, predominantly developed in Russia, characterized by the use of plots from the folk epic - legends, legends and examples of folk songwriting. Stage action and music of O. e. maintained in the spirit of a majestic, unhurried narrative. TO genre O. e. adjoins also an opera-fairy tale.

Operetta(it. operetta - small opera) - a theatrical performance that combines singing and dancing, accompanied by orchestra with conversational scenes, deriving from comic opera XVIII century. European O. of the 19th century is characterized by an abundance of comedic situations of a satirical or purely entertaining nature. In Soviet musical and theatrical art, O. is more often referred to as musical comedy.

Oratorio(from lat. oratoria - eloquence) - a large vocal and symphonic genre musical art, the works of which are intended to be performed chorus, soloists-singers and orchestra. O. is based on a certain plot that generally tells about the historical or legendary events of folk life, usually with a sublime, heroic coloring. The plot of O. is embodied in a number of completed solo, choral And orchestral(see) numbers sometimes shared recitatives.

Organ(from the Greek organon - instrument, instrument) - the largest of modern musical instruments that has existed and improved over many centuries. O, is a system of pipes that sound due to the blowing of a jet of air into them, produced mechanically. The presence of pipes of different sizes and shapes allows you to extract sounds of different heights and timbre. O. control is carried out using keyboards, manual (up to three manuals) and foot (pedal), as well as numerous switches registers. In terms of power and colorful richness of sound, the O. competes with the symphonic orchestra.

Orchestra(from Greek orchestra - in ancient Greek theater the place in front of the stage on which the choir was located) is a large group of performing musicians intended for the joint performance of musical works. Unlike ensemble, some parties in O. are performed simultaneously by several musicians like a monophonic chora. According to the composition of instruments, orchestras are divided into symphonic, brass, folk instruments, pop, jazz, etc. Opera opera, as well as symphony, consists of four main groups of instruments - groups woodwinds, brass, percussion, strings bowed, and also includes some single instruments that are not included in any of the groups (harp, occasionally piano, guitar, etc.).

Orchestration- creating an orchestral scores, the embodiment of musical thought by means of orchestral expressiveness. O. - the same as instrumentation.

Parody(Greek parodià, from para - against and ode - song, singing, letters, singing vice versa) - imitation for the purpose of distortion, ridicule.

Score(it. partitura - division, distribution) - musical notation ensemble, orchestral, operatic, oratorio-cantata(see) and other music that requires many performers. The number of P. lines is determined by the number of parties included in it - instrumental, solo vocal And choral, which are in a certain order.

The consignment(from lat. pars - part) - part of the music ensemble, operas etc. performed by one or a group of musicians or singers.

Pastoral(from lat. pastoralis - shepherd) - music, musical play or theatrical scene, expressed in gentle, lyrically soft contemplative tones, painting calm pictures of nature and an idealized serene rural life (cf. idyll).

Song- basic vocal genre folk musical creativity and related genre of vocal music in general. P. is characterized by the presence of a clear, convex, expressive and slender melodies, which has a generalized figurative and emotional content, embodying the feelings and thoughts of not an individual, but a people. The combination of these features is included in the concept of songwriting as a special means of musical expression, a special warehouse of musical thinking. Folk music, reflecting the most diverse aspects of the life of the people in an innumerable variety of varieties and genres, is the main source of musical art. In the development of folk P. and its highly artistic refraction national characteristics the greatest merit belongs to the Russians classical composers. In their works, poetry is widely represented as a genre of everyday life; at the same time, song, the song principle was the leading artistic device for them. In the narrow sense, P. is a small vocal piece with or without accompaniment, distinguished by its simplicity and melodically expressive melodiousness, usually in couplet form, as well as an instrumental piece of similar size and character.

subvoice- more or less independent melody accompanying the main tune in polyphonic music. The presence of developed P. — salient feature Russian folk choral(see) music.

Polyphony(from Greek poly - many and phone - voice, letters, polyphony) - 1. Simultaneous combination of two or more independent melodies having independent expressive meaning. 2. The science of polyphonic music, the same as counterpoint.

prelude, prelude(from lat. prae - before and ludus - game) - 1. Introduction, introduction to the play or completed musical episode, opera stage, ballet etc. 2. A common name for small instrumental pieces of various content, character and structure.

Premiere- first show operas, ballet, operettas at the theater stage; the first public performance of a musical work (applies to major works only).

Chorus- Part songs, invariably, together with the same verbal text, repeated after each of its couplet.

Lamentations, lamentations— song- crying, one of the most common in pre-revolutionary Russia genres folk songs; usually has the character of a mournfully agitated recitative.

Prologue(from lat. prae - before and Greek. logos - word, speech) - an introductory part in a drama, novel, opera etc., introducing into the story; sometimes P. introduces the events that preceded the depicted.

musical development- the movement of musical images, their changes, collisions, mutual transitions, reflecting the processes that take place in the mental life of a person or the hero of a musical and theatrical performance, as well as in the surrounding reality. R. m. is an important factor in the musical dramaturgy directing the listener's attention to the most important parts of the story. R. m. is carried out using a variety of compositional and expressive techniques; all means of musical expression are involved in it.

Requiem(from lat. requiem - peace) - a monumental work for chora, soloists-singers and orchestra. Initially, R. is a mourning Catholic mass. Subsequently, in the works of Mozart, Berlioz, Verdi, R. lost its ritual and religious character, turning into a dramatic, philosophically significant musical genre animated by deep universal human feelings and great thoughts.

Recitative(from lat. recitare - read, recite) - musical speech, the most flexible solo form singing in opera, characterized by a large rhythmic(see) diversity and freedom of construction. Usually R. introduces into aria, emphasizing its melodious melody. R. often reproduces the characteristic intonations of living human speech, making it an indispensable tool in creating a musical portrait of the character. The main varieties of R. - R.-secco ("dry", accompanied by rare jerky orchestra chords or chembalo), R.-accompagnato ("accompanied", sounding against the background of a coherent chord accompaniment) and R.-obligato ("mandatory", which indicates the need for an independent melodic thought in the orchestral accompaniment).

Rigaudon(fr. rigodon, rigaudon) - an old Provencal (France) dance of the 17th-18th centuries, a lively, vigorous movement; time signature 4/4 or 2/3 with one-quarter advance.

Rhythm(from the Greek rythmos - dimensional flow) - the organization of musical movement in time, periodic alternation and the ratio of strong and weak parts. A periodically repeating group of strong and weak beats is called a beat. The number of beats in a measure is called the time signature. R. is an important expressive means of musical art, reaching a special richness and variety in dance music associated with the plasticity of the movement of the human body.

Romance(fr. romance) - solo lyrical song with instrumental accompaniment, characterized by an intimate structure of feelings, individualized content, special subtlety and expressive variety accompaniment. Vocal melody R. often includes elements recitative.

Rondo(French rondeau from ronde - round, the name of an old French choral song) - form building a musical plays, consisting of several (at least three) contrasting episodes, separated by a periodically returning first episode (refrain).

Sarabande(Spanish zarabanda) - an old Spanish dance in the nature of a slow majestic procession; size 3/4. Genre S. was often used to create images of deep mournful reflection, a funeral procession.

Seguidilla(Spanish seguidilla) - fast Spanish dance, accompanied by whimsical rhythm castanets; size 3/4 or 3/8.

Sextet(from lat. sextus - sixth) - operatic-vocal or instrumental ensemble seven participants.

Serenade(from Italian sera - evening, letters, "evening song") - originally in Spain and Italy, a love song sung with accompaniment guitars or mandolins under the sweetheart's window. Then - works of a welcoming nature for instrumental ensembles And orchestra. Subsequently, S. is the name of lyrical solo songs with instrumental accompaniment, stylized in the spirit of a guitar accompaniment, as well as the name of the lyrical instrumental or orchestral cycle.

Symphony(from the Greek symphonia - consonance) - a monumental work for the orchestra, genre which took shape in the second half of the 18th century. S., as a rule, consists of four large diverse, contrasting parts, in which a wide range of life phenomena is reflected, a wealth of moods and conflicts is embodied. The first part of S. usually has a conflict-dramatic character and is sustained in fast movement; sometimes it is preceded by a slow introduction. The second is a lyrical chant, imbued with moods of reflection. Third - minuet, scherzo or waltz- in a busy dance move. Fourth - the final, the fastest, often festive, upbeat character. However, there are other principles of construction. The set of parts, united by a common poetic idea, forms a symphonic cycle.

Scherzo(it. scherzo - joke) - a small instrumental or orchestral work of a lively, perky character, which has a sharp, clear rhythm, sometimes acquiring a dramatic coloring. From the beginning of the 19th century, S. entered the symphony cycle, taking place in it minuet.

buffoons- carriers of Russian folk art in the XI-XVII centuries, itinerant actors, musicians and dancers.

Solo(it. solo - one, only) - an independent performance of one performer with a whole play or in a separate episode if the play is written for ensemble or orchestra. Performer S. - soloist.

Sonata(from it. sonare - to sound) - 1. In the 17th century - the name of any instrumental work, in contrast to the vocal one. 2. Since the 18th century - the name of a work for one or two instruments, consisting of three or four parts of a certain nature, which form a sonata cycle, in general terms similar to the symphonic one (cf. symphony).

Sonata Allegro- the form in which the first parts are written sonatas And symphonies, - sustained in fast (allegro) tempe. S.'s form and. consists of three large sections: exposition, development and reprise. The exposition is a presentation of two central, contrasting musical images created in the main and secondary parties; development - development topics the main and side parties, the clash and struggle of their images; reprise - a repetition of the exposition with a new ratio of images of the main and secondary parties, achieved as a result of their struggle in development. S.'s form and. the most effective, dynamic, it creates ample opportunities for a realistic reflection of the phenomena of objective reality and the spiritual life of a person in their internal inconsistency and ongoing development. S.'s form and. developed by the middle of the 18th century and soon became widespread not only in the first parts symphonies, sonatas, quartets, instrumental concerts, but also in one-part symphonic poems, concert and opera overtures, and in some cases in extended opera arias (for example, Ruslan's aria in Glinka's opera Ruslan and Lyudmila).

Soprano(from it. sopra - above, above) - the highest female voice. S. is subdivided into coloratura, lyrical and dramatic.

Style(in music) - a set of features that characterize the work of composers of a certain country, historical period, an individual composer.

Stringed instruments- instruments in which sound occurs as a result of vibration (vibration) of stretched strings. According to the method of sound extraction S. and. are divided into bowed (violin, viola, cello, double bass), keyboard ( piano and his predecessors, cf. chembalo) and plucked (harp, mandolin, guitar, balalaika, etc.).

Scene(Latin scena from Greek skene - tent, tent). - 1. Theatrical stage on which the performance takes place. 2. Part of theatrical performance, separate episode act or paintings.

Scenario(it. scenario) - a more or less detailed presentation of the course of action unfolding on stage in opera, ballet And operetta, a schematic retelling of their plot. On the basis of S. is created libretto operas.

Suite(French suite - series, sequence) - the name of a multi-part cyclic work in which parts are compared according to the principle contrast and have a less close internal ideological and artistic connection than in the symphonic cycle (cf. symphony). Usually S. is a series of dances or descriptive and illustrative pieces of a program nature, and sometimes an extract from a major musical and dramatic work ( operas, ballet, operettas, motion picture).

Tarantella(it. tarantella) - very fast, temperamental Italian folk dance; size 6/8.

The theme is musical(Greek thema - the subject of the story) - the main, subject development a musical thought expressed in a relatively small, complete, embossed, vividly expressive and memorable melody (see also keynote).

Timbre(fr. timbre) - a specific quality, characteristic coloring of the sound of a voice or instrument.

Pace(from it. tempo - time) - the speed of execution and the nature of the movement in piece of music. T. is indicated by the words: very slowly - largo (largo), slowly - adagio (adagio), calmly, smoothly - andante (andante), moderately fast - moderato (moderato), quickly - allegro (allegro), very quickly - presto (presto ). Sometimes T. is determined by reference to the well-known nature of the movement: “at the pace waltz"," at the pace march". From the middle of the 19th century, t. was also designated by the metronome, where the number corresponds to the number of indicated durations per minute. The verbal designation T. often serves as the name of a play or its individual parts that do not have a title (for example, the names of parts in a sonata cycle- allegro, andante, etc., ballet adagio, etc.).

Tenor(from lat. tenere - to hold, direct) - a high male voice. T is subdivided into lyrical and dramatic.

Tercet(from lat. tertius - third) - operatic and vocal ensemble three participants. Another name for T. - trio, also used to denote instrumental ensembles with the same number of performers.

Trio(it. trio from tre - three) - 1. In vocal music, the same as tercet. 2. Instrumental ensemble of three performers. 3. Middle section in march, waltz, minuet, scherzo smoother and more melodious character; this meaning of the term originated in early instrumental music, in which the middle section was performed by three instruments.

Troubadours, trouvers- knights-poets and singers in medieval France.

Overture(French ouverture - opening, beginning) - 1. Orchestral piece performed before the start operas or ballet, usually based on the themes of the work to which it precedes, and concisely embodying its main idea. 2. The name of an independent one-movement orchestral work, often related to program music.

Percussion instruments- musical instruments from which sound is extracted by striking. U. and. there are: 1) with a certain pitch - timpani, bells and bells, celesta, xylophone and 2) with a sound of indefinite pitch - tam-tom, big and snare drums, tambourine, cymbals, triangle, castanets, etc.

Texture(lat. factura - lit. division, processing) - the structure of the sound fabric of a musical work, including melody accompanying her echoes or polyphonic vote, accompaniment etc.

Fandango(Spanish fandango - Spanish folk dance of moderate movement, accompanied by playing the castanets; size 3/4.

Fantasy(Greek phantasia - imagination, fiction in general, fiction) - masterly free forms. 1. In the 17th century improvisational nature of the introduction to fugue or sonata. 2. Virtuoso composition on Topics any operas, the same as transcription (Latin transcriptio - rewriting) or paraphrase (from Greek paraphrasis - description, retelling, paraphrase). 3. An instrumental piece with a whimsical, fantastic character of music.

Fanfare(it. fanfara) - a trumpet signal, usually of a festive solemn nature.

The final(it. finale - final) - the final part of a multi-part work, operas or ballet.

Folklore(from English folk - people and lore - teaching, science) - a collection of works of oral literary and musical folk art.

Musical form(lat. forma - appearance, shape) - 1. Means of embodying the ideological and figurative content, including melody, harmony, polyphony, rhythm, dynamics, timbre, invoice, as well as compositional principles of construction or F. in a narrow sense. 2. F. in the narrow sense - the historically established and developed patterns of the structure of musical works, the layout and relationship of parts and sections that determine the general contours of a musical work. The most common are F. tripartite, couplet, variational, rondo, sonata, as well as F. construction suite, sonata And symphonic(cm.) cycles.

piano(from it. forte-piano - loud-quietly) - the general name of the keyboard string instrument (piano, piano), which allows, unlike its predecessors - the harpsichord, chembalo, clavichord, receive sounds of various strengths. sound range and speakers, expressiveness and colorful variety of sound, great virtuosic and technical capabilities made F. predominantly solo and concert performers (cf. concert) an instrument, as well as a participant in many chamber-instrumental ensembles.

Fragment(from lat. fragmentum - fragment, piece) - a fragment of something.

Phrase(Greek phrasis - turn of speech, expression) - in music, a short relatively complete passage, part melodies, framed by pauses (caesuras).

Fugue(it. and lat. fuga - running) - a one-part work, which is polyphonic(see) exposition and subsequent development one melodies, Topics.

Fugato(from fuga) - polyphonic episode in an instrumental or vocal play, built like fugues, but not finished and turning into music of the usual, non-polyphonic warehouse.

fugetta(it. fugetta - small fugue) - fugue small sizes, with a reduced development section.

Furiant(Czech, lit. - proud, arrogant) - impetuous temperamental Czech folk dance; variable size - 2/4, 3/4.

Habanera(Spanish habanera - letters, Havana, from Havana) - Spanish folk song-dance, characterized by a restrained clear rhythm; size 2/4.

choir(from Greek choros) - 1. A large singing group, consisting of several groups, each of which performs its own party. 2. Compositions for the choir, independent or included in opera, in which they are one of the most important forms, often used in the creation of mass folk scenes.

Chorale(from Greek choros) - 1. Church choral singing to a religious text, common in the Middle Ages. 2. A choral or other work or episode based on a uniform, unhurried movement chords, characterized by a sublimely contemplative character.

Hota(Spanish jota) - Spanish folk dance of temperamental live movement, accompanied by a song; size 3/4.

Music cycle(from the Greek. kyklos - circle, circuit) - a set of parts of a multi-part work, following one after another in a certain order. C. is based on the principle of contrast. The main varieties are the sonata-symphony ts., suite ts. (see. symphony, suite); cyclic also include the forms masses And requiem.

Chembalo(it. cembalo, claviecembalo) is the Italian name for the harpsichord, the forerunner of the modern piano. In the 17th and 18th centuries Ch. was part of operatic or oratorio orchestra accompanying the performance recitatives.

Ecossaise(fr. écossaise - "Scottish") - Scottish folk dance of fast movement; size 2/4.

Expression(from lat. expressio - expression) in music - increased expressiveness.

Elegy(Greek elegia from elegos - complaint) - play sad, thoughtful character.

Epigraph(Greek epigraphe - letters. inscription on the monument) - a figurative name of the initial musical phrase borrowed from literature, Topics or a passage that defines the predominant character, the leading thought of the entire work.

Episode(Greek epeisodion - incident, event) - a small part of the musical and theatrical action; sometimes a section introduced into a piece of music that has the character of a digression.

Epilogue(Greek epilogos from epi - after and logos - word, speech) - the final part of the work, summing up the events, sometimes talking about events that occurred after some time.

Epitaph(Greek epitaphios) - grave word.

*****************************************************************************

************************

.
In Italian terms, language affiliation is not indicated.
AUTHENTIC - 1) authentic cadence in the major-minor system: a sequence of dominant and tonic chords; 2) in the medieval modal system - a mode, the range of which is built from the main tone up an octave.
Adagio (adagio) - 1) tempo designation: slowly (slower than andante, but more mobile than largo); 2) a part of a work or a separate piece at a given tempo.
Adagissimo (adazhissimo) - tempo designation: very slowly.
Ad libitum (ad libitum) - "at will": an indication that allows the performer to freely vary the tempo or phrasing, as well as skip or play part of the passage (or other piece of musical text); abbreviated ad. lib.
Agitato (agitato) - designation of expressiveness: "excitedly".
A cappella (a cappella) is a term referring to choral music intended to be performed without instrumental accompaniment.
ACCOLADA - a curly brace that combines several musical staves.
ACCORD - joint sounding of several interconnected tones.
CHORD SEQUENCE - the movement of chords in accordance with certain principles.
Aleatorics is a modern method of composition based on introducing elements of chance into the structure of a work.
Alla breve (alla breve) - time signature designation (): fast performance of two-part meters, in which the score is kept not in quarters, but in half notes.
Allargando (allargando) - "expanding". A designation referring to both tempo (some slowdown) and expressiveness (emphasis on each sound).
Allegretto (allegretto) - 1) tempo designation: slower than allegro, and faster than andante; 2) a fairly mobile short piece or part of a cycle.
Allegro (allegro) - "fun, joyful"; 1) tempo designation: soon; 2) a piece in allegro tempo, part of a cycle, the first part of a classical sonata-symphony cycle (sonata allegro).
ALLELUJA (ancient Hebrew - "praise God") - an expression often found in sacred music and psalms; sometimes - an independent part of the music in the liturgical cycle;
ALBERTIAN BASSES - an accompaniment to a melody, consisting of "broken", "decomposed" chords, i.e. chords in which sounds are taken not simultaneously, but in turn. The technique is typical of clavier music of the late 18th century.
ALT - 1) the second voice from the top in a four-part choral or instrumental score. Alto was originally performed by a male falsetto - hence the name, literally meaning "high"; 2) a low female voice, often called "contralto"; 3) an instrument corresponding in height to the position of the alto in the score - for example, an alto string instrument, alto saxophone, alto flute, etc.
EMBUSHUR - the position of the lips when playing wind instruments.
Cor anglais - an alto oboe with a fifth-tuning lower than a regular oboe.
Andante (andante) - 1) tempo designation: moderately; 2) a piece in Andante tempo or part of a cycle.
Andantino (andantino) - 1) tempo designation: more mobile than andante; 2) a small piece in andante tempo or part of a cycle.
Animato (animate) - designation of expressiveness: "animately".
ENSEMBLE - 1) combination of voices or instruments (antonym - solo); 2) in an opera, a fragment for two or more soloists or for a soloist(s) with a choir.
Anticipation (English) - 1) a sound performed a little earlier than the rhythmic beat to which it refers; 2) the performance of one of the tones of the chord a little earlier than the chord itself.
ANTIFON - a form that provides for the alternate participation of two groups of performers. The term goes back to the name of one of the genres of ancient liturgical singing - antiphon, which was performed alternately by two choirs.
Appoggiatura is an embellishment or unprepared retention, usually dissonant with respect to the main chord and resolving into one of its constituent tones. The long appoggiatura falls on the strong beat of the bar and resolves on the weak beat. A short appoggiatura (Italian accacciatura, accacatura; in Russian the term "flask" is used) is performed briefly before the strong beat (in the music of the Bach era - also briefly, but on the strong beat).
ARRANGEMENT (arrangement, processing) - adaptation of a musical composition for a different composition of performers than the original one (or than provided by the author).
ARIOSO - a small aria; the adjective "ariose" refers to a vocal style more melodically rich than recitative, but less developed than aria.
Arco (arco) - literally "bow": an indication of coll "arco for string players is to play with a bow, not pizzicato.
ARPEGGIO - a chord in which the tones are taken not simultaneously, but sequentially.
ARTICULATION - a way of making sound when playing instruments or singing, similar to pronunciation in speech communication.
Assai (assai) - "very"; for example, adagio assai is very slow.
Attacca (attack) - 1) an indication at the end of any part, instructing to start the next part without a break; 2) the distinctness, clarity with which the soloist takes the tone, or the accuracy, clarity of the simultaneous entry of members of the ensemble, orchestra, choir.
A tempo (a tempo) - return to the original tempo after changing it.
ATONALITY - the term is applied to music in which there is no specific tonal center and associated consonance ratios.
Affettuoso (affettuoso) - designation of expressiveness: "with feeling".
AEROPHONE, a wind instrument - an instrument in which the sound occurs as a result of the oscillation of a column of air in a tube.
BARITONE - 1) male voice of the middle register, between tenor and bass; 2) an instrument from the group of saxophones with a baritone range.
BAS 1) lower voice of an instrumental or vocal score; 2) male voice of low register; 3) a low-range musical instrument (for example, a bass viol).
Basso continuo (basso continuo) (also general bass, digital bass) - "continuous, general bass": a tradition of baroque music, according to which the lower voice in the ensemble was performed by a melodic instrument of the appropriate range (viola da gamba, cello, bassoon) , while another instrument (keyboard or lute) duplicated this line along with chords, which were indicated in the notes by a conditional digital notation, implying an element of improvisation.
Basso ostinato (basso ostinato) - literally "permanent bass": a short musical phrase in the bass, repeated throughout the entire composition or any section of it, with free variation of the upper voices; in early music this technique is especially typical of the chaconne and passacaglia.
BECAR - a sign indicating that a given tone does not rise or fall; often used as an indication of the cancellation of a previously made rise or fall in tone in a given measure; bekar is only an accidental sign and is never placed at the key.
Bel canto (bel canto) - a style of singing associated with Italian opera; the beauty of sound production and technical perfection prevail in it over dramatic expressiveness.
FLAT (and double-flat) - signs indicating a decrease in sound by a semitone or two semitones, i.e. for a whole tone.
Burden (English) - a refrain or a separate choral work, sung into meaningless syllables.
Beat (English) - rhythmic pulsation, rhythmic accent.
Blue note (English) - in jazz, the performance of the third or seventh step in major with a slight decrease (the term is associated with the blues genre).
Bop (English) is one of the jazz styles: associated with a small ensemble, it was popular in the late 1940s.
BREVIS - note duration, mainly in early music: equal to two whole notes.
Battery (English) - a percussion group in a symphony or brass band.
Variation is a method of composition, consisting in a modified repetition of the previously presented material.
INTRODUCTORY TONE - the seventh step in the scales of major, harmonic and melodic (with ascending movement) minor: a semitone is formed here, which gravitates towards the tonic that is half a step higher (for example, in C major, the B sound gravitates towards the higher one).
VIBRATO - a slight oscillatory change in the pitch or volume of a sustained tone in order to create an additional colorful effect.
Vivace (vivache) - designation of tempo and expressiveness: fast, lively.
A virtuoso is a performer with outstanding abilities and brilliant technique.
VOCALIZE - 1) singing to vowel sounds (exercise); 2) a work for voice (without words) and accompaniment.
VOCAL CYCLE - a concept similar to a poetic cycle: a group of romances or songs, united by a common idea, as well as musical themes. Pitch - the relative pitch, determined by the number of vibrations per second.
GAMMA, SOUND SERIES - a set of sounds belonging to one or another modal system and arranged in a certain order (usually in a progressive ascending or descending movement - in the form of a scale). In everyday usage, the terms "scale" and "scale" are used interchangeably, but the scale need not be written in scale form.
HARMONIC RHYTHM - the speed at which chords succeed each other.
HARMONY - 1) simultaneous sounding - consonance of several tones (chord); 2) connections within chord progressions; 3) the science of the laws of the correlation of chords; 4) the "vertical" (harmonic) aspect of the musical composition interacting with its "horizontal" (melodic) aspect.
Gebrauchsmusik (German) - 1) a direction in music (mainly German) of the 20th century, which consciously focused on the performance and taste needs of amateur music-making; 2) applied, functional music (for example, dance music, theater music, film music, etc.).
Gesammtkunstwerk (German) - "total work of art": a term proposed by R. Wagner and implying the unity of stage action, music and decoration in his musical drama.
Hexachord - a diatonic scale of six tones; used in the theory of Guido d "Arezzo.
HETEROPHONY - a type of polyphony in which the same melody is performed by two or more voices with slight differences. This ancient type of polyphony is characteristic of a number of Asian and African cultures, as well as some genres of Russian folklore and folklore of other European peoples.
Glissando (glissando) - a performing technique when playing instruments, which consists in lightly sliding a finger along the string along the neck of the strings, in sliding one or more fingers on the keyboard (most often on white keys), etc. GOKET - a type of polyphonic technique in medieval music, consisting in the distribution of individual sounds or segments of a melodic line in different voices.
HEAD REGISTER - the highest register human voice, when it is used, the cranium serves as a resonator.
VOICE - 1) sounds produced by human vocal cords; 2) a melodic line or part of the texture of a given composition, instrumental or vocal.
HOMOPHONY - a type of musical writing, in which there is a melodic line and its harmonic accompaniment.
Grave (grave) - designation of tempo and expressiveness: slowly, solemnly.
Grand opera (French) - "big opera": a genre of French opera of the 19th century, distinguished by its large scale, vivid dramaturgy, and entertainment.
GRIGORIAN SINGING - liturgical monodic (monodic) singing of the Western christian church; was named after Pope Gregory I (c. 540-604), who streamlined church singing.
Neck - for a violin and similar instruments - a wooden (or plastic) plate, over which the strings are stretched and on which the performer's fingers are located during the game.
CHEST SOUND - the use of the lower register of the voice, when the chest serves as a resonator for the extracted sound.
GROUPETTO - a type of melisma (decoration) in vocal or instrumental music, consisting in the environment, covering the main tone from below and above: for example, with the main tone to the groupetto, it will look like re - do - si - do. It is designated as (da capo) - "from the beginning"; an indication instructing to repeat from the beginning a fragment or a whole part of the work; D.C. for short.
Dal segno (dal segno) - "starting from the sign"; an indication instructing to repeat a fragment from the sign; D.S. for short.
DOUBLE TRILL - simultaneous trill at two high-altitude levels.
DOUBLE METER - a meter for which two main stresses per bar are typical - a stronger one and a weaker one. For example, in 6/8 time there are two accents: on the first eighth - strong, on the fourth - weak.
DOUBLE TOUCH - a sound production technique on some wind instruments (for example, on a trumpet, horn, flute), in which doubled sounds are extracted by a quick movement of the performer's tongue (similar to the rapid pronunciation of the sounds "t-k").
DOUBLE NOTES - a simultaneous combination of two or more sounds on stringed bowed instruments (for example, on a violin).
JAZZ is one of the musical styles of the 20th century that originated in the USA; jazz is characterized by a large role of improvisation and the complexity of rhythm.
Giocoso (jocoso) - fun, playful.
RANGE - 1) in medieval music theory - an octave; 2) the name of one of the flute pipes of the organ; 3) the sound volume of the voice, instrument, etc.
Diatonic is a seven-tone scale within an octave that does not have altered tones.
Divisi (divisi) - an indication for the members of the ensemble, warning about the division of the party into several independent voices.
SHARP (and double-sharp () - signs indicating a rise in tone by a semitone or two semitones, that is, by a whole tone.
Diminuendo (diminuendo) is a dynamic indication similar to decrescendo.
Dynamic Symbols - Words (eg forte), letter abbreviations (eg f or p), and symbols (eg forks) that indicate the dynamic level of performance and its changes.
DISKANT - 1) a type of polyphony of the 12th-15th centuries; 2) the highest voice in a choir or in a group of instruments (in Russia - in choral score for the boys' choir, sometimes together with the male choir, mainly in sacred music).
DISSONANCE - dissonant, unmerged sound of two or more tones. Dissonance often resolves into consonance. Dissonance, like consonance, is a historically changing concept.
ADDITIONAL RULES - short rulers that are placed above or below the stave to indicate sounds that are above or below the range covered by the stave.
Doloroso (doloroso) - an indication of expressiveness: "mournfully."
Dolce (Dolce) - an indication of expressiveness: "gently", "affectionately".
Dominant - the fifth degree of a major or minor scale (for example, salt in C major).
Decrescendo (decrescendo) - dynamic indication: gradual decrease in volume. Also marked with a fork.
DELAY - one or more chord sounds that drag on while other voices transition into a new chord; retentions usually discord with the new chord and then resolve into it.
ZATACT - one or more sounds at the beginning of a phrase, which are recorded before the first bar line of the composition. The upbeat always falls on the downbeat and precedes the downbeat of the first full measure.
SOUND - direct associative connection of music with text in vocal music; for example, an upward scale movement on the words "and ascended into heaven."
Idee fixe (French) - literally "an obsession": a term associated primarily with the symphonic music of G. Berlioz and denoting the presence in the work of a cross-cutting theme associated with extra-musical concepts (for example, the theme of the beloved in the Fantastic Symphony, the theme of Harold in the symphony Harold in Italy).
IDIOPHONE - an instrument in which the sound source is a vibrating body (for example, a gong, a triangle).
IMITATION - repetition of musical thought, exact or somewhat modified, in different voices of polyphonic texture.
IMPRESSIONISM - an artistic movement in the visual arts and in music that arose at the end of the 19th century; it is typical for him to appeal primarily to feelings, and not to intellect, the desire for brilliance, for the embodiment of fleeting impressions, for a spiritualized landscape. In music, the most prominent representative of impressionism is C. Debussy, as well as authors who were influenced by his style.
IMPROVISATION - the art of spontaneously creating or interpreting music (as opposed to strictly following a pre-recorded text).
INVERSION, conversion - 1) in the melodic sense, the presentation of a motive or theme in reverse motion: for example, instead of do - re - mi * mi - re - do; 2) in the harmonic sense, the construction of one or another chord is not from the first (lower) step, but from some other: for example, the first inversion of the triad do - mi - salt is the sixth chord mi - salt - do.
Instrumentation, orchestration - the art of distributing the voices of a musical texture between the members of an ensemble, see ORCHESTRATING.
INTERVAL - musical and mathematical (acoustic) distance between two tones. Intervals can be melodic, when the tones are taken alternately, and harmonic, when the tones are played simultaneously.
INTONATION - 1) the degree of relative acoustic accuracy with which sounds are reproduced by a soloist or ensemble (vocal or instrumental); 2) the initial melodic motif of medieval psalmody formulas (performing psalms in melodic recitative).
CABALETTA - 1) a small virtuoso opera aria; 2) the final quick section of the opera aria.
CAVATINA - a short lyrical aria of the song type.
CADANCE - the final harmonic sequence of a musical phrase. The main types of cadence are authentic (dominant - tonic), plagal (subdominant - tonic).
CADENCE - in instrumental concert for a soloist with an orchestra - a virtuoso solo section, usually placed closer to the end of the part; cadenzas were sometimes composed by composers, but were often left to the discretion of the performer.
Chamber music is instrumental or vocal ensemble music intended for performance mainly in small halls. A common chamber-instrumental genre is the string quartet. Cantabile (cantabile) - a melodious, coherent style of performance.
CANTILENA - a vocal or instrumental melody of a lyrical, melodious nature.
Cantus firmus (lat.) (cantus firmus) - literally "strong tune": a leading melody, often borrowed, which forms the basis of a polyphonic composition.
Cantus planus (lat.) (cantus planus) - rhythmically even monophonic singing, characteristic of the Gregorian chant.
Castratus - a male voice, soprano or alto, used in Italian opera, mainly of the Baroque era.
Quasi (quasi) - like, like; quasi marcia - like a march.
QUARTET - string quartet: ensemble of two violins, viola and cello; piano quartet: ensemble of violin, viola, cello and piano.
QUARTOL - division of a rhythmic beat into four equal parts.
Quintet - string quintet: an ensemble usually consisting of two violins, two violas and a cello. Some works by Boccherini and Schubert are written for two violins, a viola and two cellos; piano quintet: an ensemble consisting of string quartet(two violins, viola, cello) and piano; Schubert's Trout Quintet is a rare exception to the rule, as it is written for violin, viola, cello, double bass and piano.
QUINTOL - the division of a rhythmic beat into five equal parts.
Quodlibet (quodlibet) - a joke piece of music that combines several well-known melodies, often borrowed from folk or popular songs.
The harpsichord is a stringed keyboard instrument of the 16th-18th centuries, in which, when the keys are pressed, small plectrums hook the strings.
The clavichord is a small renaissance and baroque keyboard instrument in which small metal pins strike the strings when the keys are pressed, producing a soft, gentle sound.
CLAVIR is the general name for stringed keyboard instruments (clavichord, harpsichord, piano, etc.).
Klangfarbenmelodie (German) is a concept related to the field of dodecaphony, in particular to the work of A. Schoenberg and his followers: each note or each short motive in the score is intended for different instruments.
CLUSTER - dissonant consonance, consisting of several sounds adjacent to each other.
KEY - 1) the main scale of a particular composition, named after its main foundation - tonic and indicated by signs at the key; 2) a sign at the beginning of the musical staff, which determines the height position of the subsequent musical notation (for example, bass, violin, alto, etc.); 3) a device in some keyboard and wind instruments for tuning the instrument.
KEY SIGNS - flats and sharps set at the beginning of each staff on which music is recorded and indicating the key: for example, one sharp in the key refers to the keys of G major and E minor, one flat indicates the keys of F major and D minor
KODA - the final section of a musical composition, sometimes developing a final cadence. The coda contributes to the completeness of the composition; in some cases it reaches its main climax.
Coloratura is a virtuoso style of singing, usually including fast scales, arpeggios, embellishments; generally, the coloratura is associated with the high, light soprano, especially in opera.
Con brio (con brio) - designation of expressiveness: "live".
Con moto (kon moto) - designation of tempo and expressiveness: "with movement".
Con fuoco (con fuoco) - designation of expressiveness: "with fire".
CONSONANCE - consonance, consonant sounding of two or more tones; the concepts of consonance are different in the music of different eras and styles.
CONTRALTO is the lowest female voice in the register.
COUNTERPOINT - a type of musical writing in which voices (two or more) move with relative independence.
CONTRABASSOON - A large bassoon playing an octave lower than a regular bassoon.
A countertenor is a very high male voice (above the tenor).
Concertino - in a baroque instrumental concerto (concerto grosso) a group of soloists, usually two violas and a basso continuo.
CONCERTMEASTER - 1) first violin in the orchestra: this performer plays solo fragments of the score and, if necessary, replaces the conductor; 2) a musician leading a group of orchestra instruments; 3) a pianist who studies a work (part) with vocalists, instrumentalists, ballet dancers and performs with them at concerts.
Concertato (concertato) - a style characteristic of the music of the Baroque era and implying a "competition" of orchestra groups, choirs, etc.
Cornetto (cornetto), zinc - a woodwind or brass instrument of the late Renaissance and Baroque era, the forerunner of the cornet; has a conical barrel, cup-shaped mouthpiece, chromatic scale.
Crescendo (crescendo) - designation of dynamics: gradual increase in volume. Also marked with a fork.
Frets - 1) scales such as major or minor; 2) in the Middle Ages, the system of diatonic (“by white keys”) modes (modes, scales), which originated from the ancient Greek modes and formed the basis of medieval church singing and the genres that developed on its basis; in this regard, medieval modes are often called church modes. Each medieval mode has an octave range and can be represented in two forms - authentic and plagal. The four main authentic modes are Dorian from D, Phrygian from Mi, Lydian from F, and Mixolydian from Sol. The plagal modes parallel to them have the same root, but the range is usually a fourth lower. In the Renaissance, to the described modes were added: the Aeolian mode from la and the Ionian mode from to with the corresponding plagal forms. See frets; 4) vein, bone or wooden plates located on the necks of a lute, guitar and other similar instruments and marking the location of certain sounds for the performer.
Larghetto (larghetto) - 1) tempo designation: slow, but somewhat more mobile than largo; 2) a piece or part of a cycle at a given tempo.
Largo (largo) - literally "wide": 1) the designation of the pace; in the generally accepted sense - the slowest pace possible; 2) a piece or part of a cycle at a given tempo.
Legato (legato) - designation of expressiveness: connected, without gaps between sounds.
Leggiero (legiero) - designation of expressiveness: easy, graceful.
Leitmotif - in the operas of Richard Wagner (and other authors who use the leitmotif technique in works of different genres) - a melodic, rhythmic, harmonic motif associated with a character, object, time and place of action, as well as with certain emotions and abstract ideas. See keynote.
Lento (lento) - tempo designation: slowly.
Libretto - the text of an opera and oratorio, often in verse form.
A slur is a curved line below or above notes that links them into a phrase; if the slur connects two notes of the same pitch, then the second note is not played, and its duration is added to the duration of the first note.
Lied (German "song") - a term referring to romance lyrics German composers 19th century
Lyric opera (opera lyrique) is a term referring to French opera of the 19th century. and denoting a kind of genre, located, as it were, between the "grand opera" (grand opera) and "comic opera" (opera comique).
L "istesso tempo (listesso tempo) - "at the same pace": the designation indicates that the tempo is preserved, even if other note durations are used later.
The lute is a stringed plucked instrument. See lute.
Ma non troppo (ma non troppo) - not too much; allegro ma non troppo - not too fast.
MADRIGAL - 1) a secular vocal two- or three-voice genre in Italian music of the 14th century; 2) a secular polyphonic choral play in Italy and England in the 16th and early 17th centuries.
MAJOR and MINOR - the terms are used: 1) to denote the quality of certain intervals (seconds, thirds, sixths, sevenths) - for example, there can be two thirds: major, or large (do - mi) and minor, or small (do - mi - flat), i.e. the major interval is a semitone wider than the corresponding minor interval; 2) to denote two main types of triads and chords built on them: a triad, the first interval of which is a major third - major (C - E - G), a triad with a minor third in the base - minor (C - E flat - G); 3) to designate the two most common scales in European music after 1700 - major (with a major third between degrees I and III) and minor (with minor thirds between degrees I and III). The major scale from note to has the form: do - re - mi - fa - sol - la - si - do. The minor scale has three forms: natural minor, in which semitone ratios are formed between II and III and between V and VI degrees, as well as harmonic and melodic minors, in which the VI and VII degrees change (alter).
See MUSICAL SCALES.
MANUAL - keyboard; in Russian it usually refers to organ and harpsichord keyboards.
Marcato (marcato) - designation of expressiveness: distinctly, with an accent.
MEDIANT - III degree of the scale: for example, mi in C major.
MELISMS (decorations) - 1) melodic fragments or whole melodies performed on one syllable of the text. The melismatic style is characteristic of ancient church singing of various traditions (Byzantine, Gregorian, Old Russian, etc.); 2) small melodic decorations in vocal and instrumental music, indicated by special symbols or small notes.
SMALL NOTE - a note (or group of notes) that is recorded more small than the rest. Such a recording can have two meanings: 1) in music created before the 19th century, and sometimes even later, a “small note” was an ornament that did not have its own rhythmic duration, but borrowed, “taken away” it from the subsequent duration; in Russian, in this case, the borrowed term "flask" is used; 2) in the music of the 19th century, especially in the works of Liszt, Chopin and Anton Rubinstein, a series of "small notes" are often used in cadences and phrases similar to them in style, and the passage as a whole has some designated length (for example, a measure or two measures and etc.), and the duration of each of the "small notes" is determined by the performer (usually such passages are played rubato, i.e. "freely").
MELODY - a musical idea expressed in one voice and having a certain pitch and rhythmic contour.
Meno (meno) - "less"; meno mosso (meno mosso) - designation of pace: calmer, not so fast.
METR is a rhythmic form consisting of alternating percussion and unstressed (strong and weaker) beats, like a foot in poetry. The main types are double meter (with one stressed and one unstressed beat per measure) and triple meter (with one stressed and two unstressed beats per measure).
Meter and notation size - the meter is usually indicated by two numbers set at the beginning of the musical notation: the top number shows the number of beats in a measure, the bottom one - the rhythmic unit of the account. Thus, the time signature 2/4 shows that the measure has two beats, each in a quarter.
METRONOM - a mechanical device for determining the tempo of a work, invented in the 19th century.
Mezza voce (mezza voche) - in an undertone.
Mezzo forte (mezzo forte) - not very loud.
MEZZO-SOPRANO - a female voice of medium height, between soprano and contralto.
MICROTONE - an interval less than a semitone (in a tempered scale).
MINIMALISM - a musical style of the second half of the 20th century, based on a long repetition, perhaps with minor changes, of very laconic musical material.
MODALITY - a way of pitch organization, which is based on the principle of the scale - in contrast to the tonal major-minor principle. The term is applied to ancient church monodic music of different traditions, as well as to oriental and folk cultures (in this case, the term "modality" may correspond to the term "modality").
Moderato (moderato) - tempo designation: moderately, between andante and allegro.
MODULATION - in the major-minor system, a change of key.
Molto (molto) - very much; tempo symbol: molto adagio - tempo symbol: very slow.
MONODIA - 1) solo or monophonic choral singing without accompaniment; 2) the style of Italian music of the early 17th century, for which the predominance of melody over simple chord accompaniment is typical.
MORDENT - decoration (melisma), denoted as () or () and consisting in a quick movement one step up or down and an immediate return; a double mordent up and down is also possible.
MOTIVE - a short melodic-rhythmic figure, the smallest independent unit musical form works.
Musica ficta (fictitious music), musica falsa (false music) - common in the era late Middle Ages and the early Renaissance, the practice, following which, during performance, chromatic alterations were introduced into the music that were absent in the recorded musical text - in order to avoid the dissonant interval of the tritone or increase the VII degree (introductory tone).
See MUSICAL SCALES.
Musique concrete (French) is one of the trends in music of the 20th century, which originated in France: here both musical and natural sounds are used as the main material, recorded on tape and then subjected to various kinds of acoustic and other transformations.
TUNING - the process of correcting the pitch of different instruments (for example, strings or piano), in which the sound acquires the pitch characteristic of a given temperament system, and the sound of this instrument is consistent with the tuning of other instruments.
NON-CHORD SOUND - a sound that is not part of a given chord, but sounds along with it.
NEUMATIC STYLE - in medieval art, a method of vocal writing, in which there are several tones for each syllable of the text - in contrast to the syllabic style, where each syllable corresponds to one tone, and the melismatic style, where each syllable corresponds to a longer chant.
NEVMS - signs of ancient notations, similar to hieroglyphs; nevma can mean both one tone and a rather long melodic construction. Old Russian nevmas are called hooks.
Neoclassicism is one of the trends in the music of the 20th century, which is characterized by the use of genres, forms, melodic models, etc. rethought in the modern spirit. baroque and classicism eras.
Non troppo (non troppo) - not too much; allegro ma non troppo - tempo designation: not too fast.
NOTA - graphic designation musical sound as well as the sound itself.
STATE - a set of five horizontal lines in musical notation.
OVERTONS - overtones included in the spectrum of sound produced by an oscillating object, a vibrator (for example, a string or a column of air), and located above the main tone. Overtones are formed as a result of vibration of the parts of the vibrator (its halves, thirds, quarters, etc.), each of them has its own pitch. Thus, the sound produced by a vibrator is complex and consists of a fundamental tone and a set of overtones.
Obligato (obbligato) - 1) in music of the 17th and 18th centuries. the term refers to those parts of instruments in a work that cannot be omitted and must be played without fail; 2) fully written accompaniment in a piece of music for voice or solo instrument and clavier.
OCTAVA - the interval between two sounds whose frequency ratio is 1:2.
OCTETE - an ensemble of eight performers, as well as a chamber-instrumental piece for this composition.
Opus (opus) (lat. opus, "work"; abbreviated - op.): the designation has been used by composers since the Baroque era and usually refers to the serial number of a given composition in a list (most often chronological) of works by a given author.
ORGAN ITEM, PEDAL - a sound sustained in the bass (or several sounds), against which other voices move freely; this technique is often used in organ music, in the classical style the organ points usually appear before the final cadence.
ORGAnum is a form of early Western polyphony (since the ninth century), which uses melodies borrowed from church monody.
Basic tone - the main (most often lower) sound within a given group of sounds (intervals, chords, frets, etc.).
Ostinato (ostinato) - multiple repetition of a melodic or rhythmic figure, a harmonic turn, a separate sound (especially often in bass voices).
PANDIATONICA - a style of harmonic writing in which diatonic consonances are used freely, often outside the rules of traditional harmony.
Parallel movement - ascending or descending parallel movement of two or more voices, in which the same interval distance is maintained between these voices (for example, movement in parallel thirds or parallel fourths).
PARALLEL CHORDS - The ascending or descending movement of chords of the same or similar structure, without the resolutions prescribed by traditional harmony.
PARALLEL MAJOR and MINOR - major and minor having the same key signs and separated from each other by a minor third (for example, C major and A minor).
Patter song (English) - a humorous song in which the words are set to a simple melody consisting of multiple repetitions of the same sounds; words should be pronounced quickly and clearly.
PAUSE - the term is used to refer to both the actual pause - a break in sound, and the signs that prescribe it.
Pesante (pezante) - designation of expressiveness: hard.
Pentatonic - five-step frets; the main type is non-semitone pentatonic ("by black keys"); such modes are often found in the music of the Far East, they are also typical for a number of European folk traditions, in particular Russian.
CROSS RHYTHM - the simultaneous use of different meters (rhythmic patterns) in different voices, for example, two-part and three-part.
TRANSLATION - close proximity (or simultaneous sound) in the score of a tone and its altered form - for example, si and si-flat. In some styles, recursion is strictly prohibited.
Perpetuum mobile (perpetuum mobile) (lat. "perpetual motion"): a piece built on continuous fast rhythmic movement from beginning to end.
Pianissimo (pianissimo) - very quiet; abbreviated: pp.
Piano (piano) - quiet; abbreviated: p.
Piu (piu) - more; piu allegro - tempo designation: faster.
Pizzicato (pizzicato) - plucking: a way to play stringed instruments by plucking the strings with your fingers.
PLAGAL - 1) in music based on the major-minor system, a cadence in which the subdominant chord resolves into the tonic (the move from the IV to the I degree, or from the triad F - la - to the triad do - mi - salt in C major) ; 2) in medieval church singing - a mode that is a fourth lower than the corresponding authentic mode and has a common main tone with it.
POLYMODALITY - the simultaneous use of several (for example, major and minor) scales (modes) in a work.
POLYRHYTHMY - the simultaneous use of distinctly contrasting rhythmic patterns in different voices.
POLITONALITY - simultaneous sounding of two or more tonalities.
POLYPHONY - a type of writing that involves the independent movement of each of two or more voices. See POLYPHONY.
A semitone is half a tone, or 1/12 of an octave.
Portamento (portamento) - a sliding transition from one sound to another, used in singing and playing the strings.
Portato (portato) - a way of sound production, between legato and staccato.
Postlude - an instrumental piece performed after the end of a service in a Western Christian church (usually on the organ), as well as an independent instrumental or orchestral piece, reminiscent of an "afterword".
PRIMADONNA is the leading female performer in the opera house.
PROGRAM MUSIC - instrumental and orchestral music associated with the embodiment of ideas borrowed from the non-musical sphere (literature, painting, natural phenomena, etc.). The name comes from the program - the text with which composers often accompanied works of this type.
PASSING SOUND - a sound that is not included in the structure of the chord, but linearly connects two consonant harmonies (usually appears on a weak beat of the measure).
Prestissimo (prestissimo) - tempo designation: exceptionally fast; faster than presto.
Presto (presto) - tempo designation: very fast.
Psalm tones are relatively simple melodic formulas, models by which psalms and other liturgical texts were performed in the medieval Western Christian church.
DOTTED RHYTHM - a rhythmic pattern formed by increasing the beat by half the duration by halving the next weaker beat. Indicated by a dot to the right of the note.
DEVELOPMENT - the development of a musical idea by isolating fragments of themes, changing the keys of the themes, their expansion, various combinations with each other, etc. Development is also called the second, developing section of the sonata form (sonata allegro).
RESOLUTION - moving from dissonance to consonance.
RAKOKHOD - return, from the end to the beginning, the movement of the theme.
Rallentando (rallentando) - the designation of the pace: gradually slowing down.
RASPEV, ROSPEV - a system of monodic vocal music, mainly church singing of different denominations.
REGISTER - 1) a group of organ pipes that create a certain timbre; 2) a certain section of the range of a voice or instrument that has distinct coloristic and timbre qualities (for example, "head register" - falsetto).
REPRIZE - the final section of the composition in sonata form, where the themes of the exposition are repeated; a reprise is also called the repetition of musical material in the final section of various forms - for example, a three-part one.
RESPONSORIA - a chant of the Western Church, in which the singing of a soloist and a choral refrain alternate; the definition of "responsible" can refer to a similar technique in music of different styles.
REFRAIN - 1) in the form of a rondo type - unchangeable musical material, appearing after contrasting sections; 2) chorus - the second, unchanging half of the verse in verse form (for example, in a song).
Ripieno (ripieno) - in the instrumental music of the Baroque era, the designation of the game of the entire orchestra; the same as tutti.
Ritardando (ritardando) - the designation of the pace: gradually slowing down.
Ritenuto (ritenuto) - designation of pace: gradually reducing the pace, but in a shorter segment than ritardando.
RHYTHM - temporary organization of music; specifically - the sequence of durations of sounds.
Ritournelle - literally "return". In early opera, the term referred to repeated returns of a melody (such as a refrain); in the baroque concerto, the ritornello was the periodic return of variants of the first theme, which were performed by the entire orchestra (as opposed to the intermediate sections, which were performed by solo instruments).
ROCOCO - the style of art of the first half of the 18th century, including music; Rococo is characterized by an abundance of ornamental motifs, whimsical lines.
Rubato (rubato) - a flexible interpretation of the tempo-rhythmic side of the work, deviations from a uniform tempo in order to achieve greater expressiveness.
ROW, SERIES - the main structure in dodecaphony (the technique of 12-tone composition); V pure form the series consists of 12 non-repeating sounds that appear in the order determined by the composer; in practice, a series may consist of a different number of non-repeating sounds.
SWING is a style of dance jazz music for a big band orchestra popular in the late 1930s and early 1940s.
LINK - a fragment of secondary content, often modulating, which serves as a transition from one section of the musical form to another.
SEQUENCE - repetition of a motive or phrase at a different pitch level.
SEXTET - an ensemble of six performers or a composition for this composition.
SEXTOL - the division of a rhythmic beat into six equal parts.
SEPTET - an ensemble of seven performers (each has its own part) or a composition for this composition.
SERIALISM, SERIALITY - a composition technique in which a set of non-repeating sounds is used as the basis (the classic version is 12 sounds, but may be less) and the entire composition consists of a continuous repetition of this set - a series or several series; rhythm, dynamics, timbre, etc. are organized according to the same principle. The simplest, original version of seriality is dodecaphony, in which only the pitch factor is taken into account.
SILLABIC - a style of vocal writing in which there is one sound per syllable (without intra-syllable chants).
STRONG BEAT - the main metric stress in a bar, usually on its first beat.
SYNCOPE - shifting the accent from the stressed beat to the unstressed beat.
SYNTHESIZER - an electronic musical instrument.
Scherzo is a piece or part of a cycle in a fast tempo.
Warehouse, writing - a type of interaction of voices in the musical fabric. Main types: monody (monophony); polyphony, or counterpoint (several freely interacting lines); homophony (melody with accompaniment).
Scordatura (scordatura) - a temporary change in the usual tuning of a stringed instrument.
Scherzando (schertsando) - playfully.
RANDOM SIGNS - signs used to indicate an increase or decrease in tone. The sharp sign () raises a semitone; flat sign () - decrease by a semitone. The double-sharp sign () raises the sound by two semitones, the double-flat sign () lowers it by two semitones. The backer () sign cancels the previous random sign. A random sign is valid for the note before which it is placed, and for all its repetitions within the boundaries of a given measure.
Solo (solo) - a composition or its fragment for one performer or for a soloist from an ensemble, orchestra, etc.
SOLMIZATION - a system of syllabic naming of notes: do, re, mi, fa, salt, la, si.
SOLFEGIO - 1) vocal exercises, sung to vowels or syllables; 2) one of the disciplines of the musical-theoretical course.
SOPRANO - 1) the upper part in the choral score; 2) the highest female voice in the register (or the voice of a boy); 3) a variety of some instruments - for example, a soprano saxophone.
Compound bipartite meter - meter (size), for which the nature of the grouping of metric shares in three (6/4 or 6/8).
COMPOSITE TRIPLE METER - a meter (size), which is characterized by three groups of three metric parts each (9/6 or 9/8).
Sostenuto (sostenuto) - designation of expressiveness: restrained; sometimes the notation can refer to tempo as well.
Sotto voce (sotto voche) - designation of expressiveness: "in an undertone", muffled.
Soul is one of the styles of American popular music based on Negro folklore and spiritual singing.
SPINET - in the 17th and 18th centuries. a kind of harpsichord of small size, as well as a small piano.
Spiritoso (spiritoso) - with enthusiasm.
Staccato (staccato) - abruptly: the manner of sound production, in which each sound is, as it were, separated by a pause from the other; the opposite way of sound production is legato (legato), connected. Staccato is indicated by a dot above the note.
Stile rappresentativo (rappresentative style) is an operatic style of the early 17th century, the basic principle of which is that the musical beginning should be subordinate to the expression of dramatic ideas or reflect the content of the text.
STRETTA - 1) in a fugue, especially in its final section, a presentation of a polyphonic theme in the form of a simple or canonical imitation, in which the imitating voice enters before the end of the theme in the beginning voice; 2) the acceleration of the tempo of the action and the tempo of the music in the finals of Italian operas.
SUBDOMINANT - literally "below the dominant": IV step in major or minor (for example, F in C major).
SUBMEDIANT - literally "below the median": VI degree in major or minor (for example, A in C major).
Sul ponticello (sul ponticello) - literally "on a stand": an instruction to a player on a stringed instrument to play near the stand to extract a stronger, more brilliant sound.
Sul tasto (sul tasto) - literally "on the fretboard": an instruction to the player on a stringed instrument to play at the fretboard to extract a softer, covered sound.
Mute - a device that allows you to muffle, soften the sound of some instruments.
Sforzando (sforzando) - a sudden emphasis on a sound or chord; sf for short.
Segue (segue) - continue as before: an indication that, firstly, replaces the indication attacca (i.e., instructs to perform the next part without interruption), and secondly, instructs to continue execution in the same manner as before (in this case, the designation sempre is more often used).
Semibreve (semibreve) - a whole note.
Semplice (semplice) - designation of expressiveness: simple.
Semper (sempre) - constantly, always; sempre pianissimo - very quiet all the time.
Senza (senza) - without; senza sordino - take off the mute.
TABULATura - notation systems common in the Renaissance and Baroque eras for such instruments as organ, harpsichord, lute and guitar; tablature does not use five-line notation, but various characters - numbers, letters, etc.
Beat - a unit of musical meter, which is formed from the alternation of stresses of different strength and begins with the strongest of them. The bars are separated from each other by a vertical line on the staff.
THEATER MUSIC - music to be performed during the presentation of a dramatic play; in the 19th century overture and intermissions were usually composed.
THEME - the main melodic idea of ​​the work; often the term is used to refer to the main theme of the fugue and other polyphonic works, as well as the main part in sonata form.
timbre - a specific color characteristic of a particular voice or instrument.
TEMP is the speed of movement in music.
TEMPERATION - the alignment of interval relationships in a musical scale, in which some intervals differ from their pure acoustic values. Now the most common is the so-called equal temperament, in which the octave is divided into 12 equal semitones. characteristic of the second half of the 20th century. the movement towards the revival of early music led to the revival of different methods of temperament belonging to the Renaissance, Baroque, Classicism, etc.).
TENOR - 1) the second from the bottom part in a four-voice letter; 2) high male voice; 3) a variety of instruments of the corresponding register - for example, a tenor saxophone; 4) in medieval polyphony, a tenor was a voice in which the main (often borrowed) theme of the composition (cantus firmus) was stated in large lengths.
CLOSE LOCATION - the arrangement of a chord in which its component tones are as close as possible to each other.
TESSITURA - the main range of a voice or instrument (without the most extreme registers).
TETRACHORD - a four-step scale in the fourth range.
TONE - 1) a single sound of a certain height and duration; 2) an interval consisting of two semitones (for example, a major second to - re).
TONALITY - 1) the height position of the fret - for example, C major; 2) a system of high-altitude connections centralized around the main consonance - tonic. The term "tonality" is used as an antonym of the term "modality" associated with modes other than classical major and minor.
Tonic - the main foundation of a mode or tonality, expressed in the form of a single sound (for example, C in C major) or a chord (for example, the triad C - E - G in C major).
TRANSCRIPTION, PROCESSING, ARRANGE - adaptation of a work for a different instrument or for a different set of performers than in the original - for example, transcription choral work for instrumental ensemble. Transcription can also be called the processing of a work for the same instrument as in the original - for example, in order to give it greater virtuosity.
TRANSPOSITION, TRANSPOSITION - the transfer of a whole work or its fragment to another key.
SOBRIOUS - a chord consisting of three sounds arranged in thirds, for example, do - mi - sol.
TRILL - a very fast alternation of two adjacent sounds; abbreviated: tr.
TREMOLO - fast repeated repetition of a tone, sometimes in the range of two steps, sometimes at the same pitch level.
TRIPLE METER, SIZE - a time signature for which the presence in each bar (3/4, 3/2) of one strong beat and two weak ones is typical.
TRIO - string trio: ensemble of violin, viola and cello; piano trio: ensemble of piano, violin and cello.
TRIOLE - division of a rhythmic beat into three equal parts.
TRITONE - an interval consisting of three whole tones and formed in the diatonic scale between IV and VII steps; in the Middle Ages, the tritone was considered a forbidden interval.
TRIPLE TOUCH - a sound extraction technique on some wind instruments (trumpet, horn, flute), similar to a double tongue, but similar to pronouncing the sounds "t-to-t" in fast triplet passages.
TROUBADOUR - in Southern France, 12th and 13th centuries. court poet-musician.
TROUVER - in Northern France, 12th and 13th centuries. court poet-musician.
Tutti (tutti) - all together; in baroque ensemble music, the term refers to all performers, including solo parts; in more recent orchestral music, the term refers to sections performed by the entire orchestra.
Tempus perfectum, tempus imperfectum (lat.) - designations for tripartite and bipartite sizes in the late Middle Ages and Renaissance.
Tenuto (tenuto) - sustained: the designation instructs to maintain the full duration of the note; sometimes it means a slight excess of duration.
Terraced dynamics (English) - sudden changes in dynamic level, typical of baroque music.
INCREASE - a statement of a motive or theme when they are repeated in larger durations.
DECORATIONS - one note or a group of notes, which are written in small print and added to the main melody in order to "colorize", "decorate" it.
DECREASE - reduction, usually by half, of durations when repeating a motive or theme.
UNISON - 1) theoretically - zero interval, the distance between two tones of the same height; 2) practically - the performance of a sound or melody by all performers at the same height.
Falsetto - the uppermost register of the male voice, which uses the main resonator and is located above the main range.
FANFARA - 1) a more or less extended melody played by pipes or other instruments of the same type; in a fanfare, moves on triads are usually used; 2) brass wind instrument.
FERMATA - a free pause or delay in a sound or chord; fermata is indicated by or.
THE FINAL - the last part a multi-part instrumental cycle (fast and lively in the classical tradition) or the final ensemble section of the entire opera or its individual act.
Fine (fine) - end (traditional designation in the score).
Forte (forte) - designation of expressiveness: loud; abbreviated f.
Piano - the name of the most common modern keyboard string instrument, referring to its varieties - piano and grand piano.
See PIANO.
Fortissimo (fortissimo) - very loud; ff for short.
FORSHLAG - an ornament consisting in the performance of a very short additional sound before the main sound.
PHRASE - a fragment of a melody that can be compared in meaning with a speech sentence (or with a subordinate clause in a complex sentence).
PHRASING - a clear, expressive performance of a musical phrase and all the elements that determine the meaning of musical speech, with the help of flexible changes in tempo, dynamics, placement of accents, etc.
FUGUED - using some fugue techniques, most often imitations, such as fugue allegro.
CHEMIOLA is a rhythmic technique in which a three-part time signature is changed to a two-part one by shifting accents in a measure. This device was widespread in the 15th century and was also used later, especially to enlarge the rhythmic movement in the final sections, before the final cadence.
CHORUS - 1) an ensemble of singers, usually divided into four parts (sopranos, altos, tenors, basses); 2) a group of instruments in a symphony or brass band, combining instruments of the same type (for example, "string choir").
CHORDOPHONE, a stringed instrument, is an instrument in which sound is produced by the vibration of a string.
CHROMATISM - the use of altered (not belonging to the main scale) sounds.
CHROMATIC GAMMA - a scale consisting only of semitones (12 in an octave).
WHOLE TONE GAMMA - a scale consisting of whole tones, i.e. which is an octave divided into six equal parts.
CYCLE - musical composition, consisting of several parts, where the parts are combined dramaturgically and thematically.
DIGITAL BASS - an abbreviated record of chord accompaniment adopted in the Baroque era using numbers that were placed above or below the notes of the bass voice. A performer on instruments of a harmonic type (harpsichord, organ, lute) could reproduce the full harmonic texture of the work with the help of digital recording.
Chantey, shanty (English) - labor songs of English and American sailors, performed in a certain rhythm to facilitate work.
PART - a relatively independent section of a major musical form, usually with a distinct beginning and end.
QUARTITONE - an interval equal to half a semitone.
Shape-note notation is an early American type of notation that used four different shapes of notes: triangle, circle, oval, and star.
Sprechstimme (German) - "reciting", Sprechgesang - "declamatory singing" - a vocal writing technique developed by A. Schoenberg and his followers and consisting in the fact that the singer does not reproduce sounds exact height, but as if gliding, gliding from one sound to another; when notating on the stems, notes are put instead of "heads" - "crosses" ().
EXPOSITION - the first section of a number of forms, primarily fugue and sonata form, in which the thematic material of the entire composition is presented (exhibited).
EXPRESSIONISM is a visual art style of the first decades of the 20th century that is usually associated with atonal and dodecaphone music.
ELECTRONIC MUSIC - music, the sound material of which is created using a synthesizer.
Empfindsamer Stil (German) - a style of performing baroque music that ignores the conventions inherent in this era and whose goal is the direct and free transmission of the emotional content of the work. Wikipedia