Page 342 - (DK) The Classical Music Book - Big Ideas Simply Explained

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GLOSSARY

A cappella Unaccompanied Cadenza Originally an improvised the staff; a treble clef, for example,
singing by a soloist or group. solo by the soloist in a concerto; marks the bottom line of a staff as
from the 19th century, it became being an E, whereas a bass clef
Alto The highest male and lowest more formalized, less spontaneous. means it should be read as a G.
female voice; also a term describing
an instrument that is lower in pitch Canon A contrapuntal composition Coda Literally “tail” in Italian; a
than a treble instrument. in which the separate voices enter final section of a piece of music,
one by one. In a strict canon, each distinct from the overall structure.
Aria A vocal piece for one or more part repeats the melody exactly.
voices in an opera or oratorio. Concerto A large piece for solo
Cantata A programmatic piece, instrument and orchestra, designed
Atonal Without a recognizable key; generally for voice and orchestra, to showcase the soloist’s skills; the
the opposite of tonality. designed to tell a story; a cantata Baroque concerto grosso, however,
da camera is a secular piece, while has a more equal interplay between
Baritone The male voice between cantata da chiesa is a sacred one. the smaller orchestra (ripieno) and
tenor and bass, or an instrument a group of soloists (concertino).
within this tonal range. Chamber music Pieces for small
groups of two or more instruments, Consonance A chord or interval,
Baroque Music composed between such as duets, trios, and quartets. such as a third or fifth, that sounds
1600 and 1750; describes pieces pleasing; opposite of dissonance.
from the period before the Classical. Chord A simultaneous combination
of notes. The most frequently used Consort An instrumental ensemble
Bass The lowest in tone: describes are called “triads,” which consist of popular during the 16th and 17th
the lowest male voice; the lowest three distinct notes built on the first, centuries in England; the term is
part of a chord or piece of music; or third, and fifth notes of a scale. For also used to describe the music
the lowest instrument in a family. example, in the key of C major, the played by these ensembles as well
notes of the scale are C, D, E, F, G, as the performance itself.
Basso continuo Harmonic A, and B; the C major triad consists
accompaniment, usually by a of the notes C, E, and G. Contralto Term describing the
harpsichord or organ and bass lowest of the female voices (alto)
viol or cello, extensively used in Chromatic Based on the scale of in an opera context.
the Baroque period. all 12 semitones in an octave, as
opposed to diatonic, which is Contrapuntal Using counterpoint:
Bel canto Meaning “beautiful based on a scale of seven notes. the simultaneous playing or singing
song” in Italian; an 18th- and early of two or more melodic lines.
19th-century school of singing Classical The post-Baroque
characterized by a concentration period, approximately 1750–1820; Counterpoint see Contrapuntal.
on beauty of tone, virtuosic agility, also a term used to distinguish
and breath control. Western music written for a formal Diatonic Based on a scale of seven
context, such as a church or concert notes with no sharps or flats, only
Cadence The closing sequence of hall, from informal music styles. the white piano keys.
a musical phrase or composition.
A “perfect cadence” creates a Clef A symbol placed at the Dissonance Notes played together to
sense of completion; an “imperfect beginning of a musical staff to create discord (sounds unpleasing
cadence” sounds unfinished. determine the pitch of the notes on to the ear); opposite of consonance.

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