Musical Vocabulary

2. Group of singers in a chorus.
4. A single line of music played or sung. A musical sentence.
5. Word to indicate that the movement or entire composition is to be played smoothly
6. Pertaining to the loudness or softness of a musical composition. Also the symbols in sheet music indicating volume.
8. Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key.
10. Slow and stately dance music written in triple time.
13. One of the two modes of the tonal system. Music written in major keys have a positive affirming character.
14. Music written to be sung or played in unison
15. Three to four movement orchestral piece, generally in sonata form.
17. Short detached notes, as opposed to legato.
20. A direction in sheet music indicating the tempo is to be very fast.

1. Tone color, quality of sound that distinguishes one verse or instrument to another. It is determined by the harmonies of sound.
3. Pleasing combination of two or three tones played together in the background while a melody is being played. Harmony also refers to the study of chord progressions.
7. A composition written for a solo instrument. The soloist plays the melody while the orchestra plays the accompaniment.
9. A musical theme given to a particular idea or main character of an opera.
11. A form of music written for marching in two-step time. Originally the march was used for military processions
12. Combining a number of individual but harmonizing melodies. Also known as counterpoint.
16. Eight full tones above the key note where the scale begins and ends.
18. A direction to play lively and fast.
19. A drama where the words are sung instead of spoken.