| A | B |
|---|
| a cappella | choral music without accompaniment |
| adagio | to play slowly |
| allegro | to play quickly, briskly |
| allemande | a moderately slow dance of German origin |
| andante | to play moderate tempo; walking speed |
| arabesque | lyrical piece in a fanciful style; used by Schumann and Debussy |
| aria | extended vocal solo |
| arpeggio | playing notes of chord in succession rather than simultaneously |
| aubade | morning music |
| baroque | music composed between 1600 & 1750; ornate |
| bolero | spanish dance accompanied by castanets |
| cantata | vocal form from baroque period; now refers to choral works shorter than oratorios |
| canticle | religious song or chant |
| classical | period and style from 1700-1830; characterized by regular, short & clear phrases |
| concerto | composition for solo instrument |
| crescendo | increase the volume |
| decrescendo | descrease the volume |
| dolce | play solftly, sweetly |
| etude | a study; exercise in technique |
| fermata | symbol placed over the note to show it is to be played longer |
| forte | play loudly |
| fugue | 3 or more voices enter at different times and imitate the main melody |
| homophonic | single-voiced |
| polyphonic | many-voiced |
| largo | play broadly |
| legato | play smoothly |
| libretto | text of an opera or oratorio |
| madrigal | unaccompanied song for 3 or more voices |
| mezzo | medium |
| minuet | slow, graceful French dance |
| operetta | light opera, usually humorous |
| serenade | evening music |
| oratorio | musical setting of scripture without costumes, scenery |
| overture | introduction to large composition, can be independent |
| piano | play softly |
| prelude | introductory movement complete in itself |
| requiem | mass for the dead |
| sonata | instrumental composition of 3 or 4 independent movements |
| sonatina | short, simple sonata |
| symphonic poem | originated by Liszt, large narrative orchestral work in one movement |
| triad | chord composed of a fundamental tone & a third and fifth above it |
| twelve-tone music | based on chromatic scale of 12; developed by Schoenberg |
| vivace | play in a lively manner |
