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Adagio – Italian tempo marking indicating that a composition should be played at a slow pace.
Arrangement– An adaptation of a composition for a different medium from that for which it was written, usually involving the rewriting of some material or the addition of new material.
Cadenza – A solo passage towards the end of a concerto movement or aria, which allows the performer to display virtuosity and recap some of the main ideas of the movement; may be written out completely or involve improvisation by the performer
Caprice – Also known as capriccio; a piece of music written in relatively free form, often lively and of a virtuosic character; literally meaning ‘according to the fancy of the performer’
Commission – A contract between a composer and a performing entity or other organization by which the composer accepts a fee to write a work, which the commissioning entity will premiere.
Concertato – A musical style characterized by the interaction of two or more groups of instruments or voices. The term is derived from the Italian concertare, “concerted,” which implies that a heterogeneous group of performers is brought together in a harmonious ensemble.
Concerto – A multi-movement work for solo instrument and orchestra.
Debut – A performer’s first public performance – often in reference to a particular location or venue, or a soloist’s first performance with a particular ensemble.
Electronic Music – A type of music in which the sound is produced by electronic means and amplified through speakers.
Fanfare – A flourish for trumpets or other brass instruments for ceremonial purposes; can refer to passages for brass instruments in the body of a work, or a full piece that conveys this impression
Gregorian Chant – The earliest liturgical chant of the Roman Catholic Church which existed long before, but was organized into a formal structure in the 12th and 13th centuries.
Harmony – Unlike a melody, which is a succession of several pitches, harmony is heard when pitches are played simultaneously.
Key – In tonal music, keys have a single note that establish a harmonic center, a sort of “home base”, which is determined by the relationships of pitches. A piece is said to be “in” a certain key – “C major” or “A minor”.
Major Keys – Keys based on a major scale.
Melody – A succession of several pitches which are typically perceived by the listener as belonging together and making a kind of statement, incorporating the use of rhythm. One of three basic elements of Western music: melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Minor Keys – Keys based on a minor scale. Minor keys usually convey more tension than major keys.
Movement – An independent work of a larger piece, such as a symphony or a concerto. In performances of these works, successive movements are typically separated by a brief pause; although it is not unusual for a composer to omit a pause so that there is no break between movements.
Note – Symbol for a musical sound; indicates the pitch and the duration of the sound
Orchestration – The craft of assigning parts to various instruments to achieve the desired blend of sound; can also refer to the arrangement of a work originally written for another medium, such as solo instruments, for orchestra
Overture – Derived from the French word ouverture meaning "opening." There are various types of overtures in music (i.e. French, Italian, Sonata style) that serve as an instrumental introduction to choral, opera or instrumental compositions.
Polka – A lively couple dance in duple time that was popularized by the Strauss family in Viennese ballrooms during the nineteenth century; is thought to have evolved from a peasant round dance from Bohemia
Premiere – The first public performance of a piece in a particular place or by a particular ensemble. There are, for example, World Premieres, US Premieres, and PSO Premieres.
Recital – A performance by a solo performer, with or without accompaniment.
Requiem – A standardized Mass for the Dead that begins with the Introit, “Requiem aeternam” – the source for its name. In the 20th century, the term was also used for compositions written in honor of the dead rather than being strictly liturgical in nature (e.g. Britten’s War Requiem).
Rhythm – How the forward flow of music is divided, primarily by the length and stress of notes. One of three basic elements of Western music: melody, harmony, and rhythm.
Score – Written copy of the musical parts for all performers in a given work; the orchestral score, used by the conductor, displays all instrumental and vocal (if any) parts for all performers
Suite – Originally, a set of instrumental pieces written in contrasting dance forms; commonly refers to a group of pieces assembled from a larger work, particularly from an opera or a ballet
Symphonic Poem/Tone Poem – A one movement symphonic work that is programmatic in nature. Program music is composed with the intention of expressing or depicting ideas, images, or events.
Symphony – A multi-movement work (typically four or more movements) for orchestra which has evolved over time. Classical-era symphonies typically had a four-movement form, which later evolved in the Romantic and Modern eras to more (or fewer) movements.
Tempo – The speed at which music is played, generally noted by the composer.
Theme – A musical idea, usually a melody, which provides a starting point for a composition or a major section of a composition.
Variations on a Theme – A form in which the melody is heard first, then elaborated upon in a series of modifications.
Virtuoso – An instrumentalist of singer of great technical ability.
Waltze – A ballroom dance in triple time, popularized during the nineteenth century by the Strauss family in Vienna; also a musical form that carries the same characteristics as the dance
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