Page 294 - ESSENTIAL LISTENING TO MUSIC

soprano the highest female vocal part sound waves differences in air pressure
propelled from a source (instrument) and proceeding in a regular pattern to the ear and brain, where they are perceived as pitch
Sprechstimme (German for “speech-voice”) a singer declaims, rather than sings, a text at only approximate pitch levels
staff a horizontal grid onto which are put the symbols of musical notation: notes, rests, accidentals, dynamic marks, etc.
stop the knob on a pipe organ that, when pulled, allows the air to enter a specific set of pipes
string instruments instruments that produce sound when strings are bowed or plucked; the harp, the guitar, and members of the violin family are all string instruments
string quartet a standard instrumental ensemble for chamber music consisting of a first and second violin, a viola, and cello; also a genre of music, usually in three of four movements, composed for this ensemble
strophic form a musical form often used in setting a strophic, or stanzaic, text, such as a hymn or carol; the music is repeated anew for each successive strophe
style the general surface sound produced by the interaction of the elements of music: melody, rhythm, harmony, color, texture, and form
subject a term for the principal theme in a fugue
sustaining pedal the right-most pedal on the piano; when it is depressed, all dampers are removed from the strings, allowing them to vibrate freely
swing a mellow, bouncy, flowing style of jazz that originated in the 1930s
syllabic singing a vocal style that uses only one or two notes per syllable of text
symphonic jazz music (mostly of the 1920s and 1930s) that incorporates idioms of jazz into the genres and forms traditionally performed by the classical symphony orchestra
symphonic poem (see tone poem) symphony a genre of instrumental music for orchestra consisting of several movements; also the orchestral ensemble that plays this genre
symphony an instrumental genre for orchestra
symphonyorchestra thelargeinstrumental ensemble that plays symphonies, overtures, concertos, and the like
syncopation a rhythmic device in which the natural accent falling on a strong beat is displaced to a weak beat or between the beats
synthesizer a machine that has the capacity to produce, transform, and combine electronic sounds
tempo the speed at which the beats occur in music
tenor the highest male vocal range ternary form a three-part musical form in
which the third section is a repeat of the first, hence ABA
terraced dynamics a term used to describe the sharp, abrupt dynamic contrasts found in the music of the Baroque era
texture the density and disposition of the musical lines that make up a musical composition
theme and variations a musical form in which a theme continually returns but is varied by changing the notes of the melody, the harmony, the rhythm, or some other feature of the music
through-composed a term used to describe music that exhibits no obvious repetitions or overt musical form from beginning to end
timbre (see color)
time signature (see meter signature)
timpani (kettle drums) a percussion instrument consisting usually of two, but sometimes four, large drums that can produce a specific pitch when struck with mallets
tonality the organization of music around a central tone (the tonic) and the scale built on that tone
tone cluster a dissonant sounding of several pitches, each only a half step away from the other, in a densely packed chord
tone (symphonic) poem a one-movement work for orchestra of the Romantic era
that gives musical expression to the emotions and events associated with a story, play, political occurrence, personal experience, or encounter with nature
tonic the central pitch around which the melody and harmony gravitate; a chord built on the first degree of the scale; it is the most stable chord and the one toward which the other chords move
transition (bridge) in sonata–allegro form the unstable section in which the tonality changes from tonic to dominant (or relative major) in preparation for the appearance of the second theme
treble clef the sign placed on a staff to indicate the notes above middle C
tremolo a musical tremor produced on a string instrument by repeating the same pitch with quick up and down strokes of the bow
triad a chord consisting of three pitches and two intervals of a third
trill a rapid alternation of two neighboring pitches
trio an ensemble, vocal or instrumental, with three performers; also, a brief, self- contained composition contrasting with a previous piece, such as a minuet or a polonaise; originally the trio was performed by only three instruments
triple meter gathering of beats into three beats per measure, with every third beat stressed
triplet a rhythmic pattern in which three beats or pulses substitute for one or more units of two beats or pulses
trombone a brass instrument of medium to low range that is supplied with a slide, allowing a variety of pitches to sound
troubadour poet-musician of secular songs who appeared in southern France during the twelfth and thirteenth centuries and the first to appear in Western aristocratic courts
272 glossary
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