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Vocab List

Keyword Definition

Concerto Grosso a form of baroque music in which the musical material is passed between a small group of soloists

(the concertino) and full orchestra (the ripieno or tutti)

Concertino a short concerto freer in form. It normally takes the form of a one-movement musical

composition for solo instrument and orchestraRipieno Ripieno refers to the bulk of instrumental parts of a musical ensemble who do not play as soloists, especially in

Baroque music

Continuo the group of instruments that plays the basso continuo part 

Hemiola Three beats of equal value in the time normally occupied by two beats.

Ritornello Form a repeated section of music, the ritornello (literally, "the little thing that returns") alternates with freer episodes

Episodes A contrasting theme opposing the ritornello

Dominant 7th a chord composed of a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh

Fortspinnung (spinning forth) a specific process of development of a musical motif. In this process, the motif is developed

into an entiremusical structure by using sequences, intervallic changes or simple repetitions. Descending

Sequence

the immediate restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a lower pitchin the same

voice.

Repetition sounds or sequences are often repeated

Motifs A short rhythmic or melodic passage that is repeated or evoked in various parts of a composition

Melodic Inversion A transformation of the subject (theme or a motive) where the melody line is turned upside down; it is inverted

Functional

harmony

A system of harmonic analysis. It is based on the idea that, in a given key, there are only three functionally

different chords: tonic, subdominant and dominant.

Diatonic Music that fits within the key with very little dissonance or atonality.

Circle of Fifths a visual representation of the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key

signatures, and the associated major and minor keys.Pivot Chord When a piece of music moves from the original key to the destination key (usually a closely related key) by way

of a chord both keys share

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Vocab List

Neapolitan 6th a major chord built on the lowered second (supertonic) scale degree in first inversion.

Passing Notes A nonchord note prepared by a harmony note a step above or below it, and resolved by continuing in the same

motion to the next harmony note.

Auxiliary Notes A nonchord note prepared by a harmony note a step above or below it, and is resolved by the same harmonynote.

Accented Passing

Notes

A passing note that occurs on the strong part of the bar or beat 

Anticipations a note is played before the chord to which the notebelongs and then resolves when the "anticipated" chord is

reached

Suspension One or more notes temporarily held before resolving to a chord note.

Contrapuntal Two or more relatively independent melodies sounding together.

Counterpoint The writing of musical lines that sound very different and move independently from each other in pitch and

rhythm, but sound harmonious when played together.

Canon a piece of music in which two or more voices (or instrumental parts) sing or play the same music starting at 

different times

Homophonic A style of composition in which there is one melody, and all the voices and accompaniments move rhythmically

together.

Polarised Texture Texture is polarized through division of labour between melody and bass

Monophonic Having a single melodic line

Antiphonal

Changes

music that is performed by two semi-independent parts in interaction, performing alternate musical phrases