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Musical Dictionary

 

Music is self-contained langague. Not only do you need to be able to read the notes on the page, but there are a variety of other words, phrases, and symbols that must be understood in order to dissect a piece of music. Here are a few words that may be confusing or unknown to those of you unfamiliar with the language of music. 

Aria – Originally an air; a song; a tune; sung by a single voice with or without accompaniment. Now taken to mean a lyric song for solo voice generally having two contrasting parts (I and II), ending with a literal or elaborated repeat of part I. The aria first developed into this form in the early operas; the arias found in an opera, cantata or oratorio usually express intense emotion.

Libretto - A printed copy of the words to an oratorio or an opera; also, the words of the text themselves.

Key Signature – The sharp, flat, or natural signs placed at the beginning of a staff indicating the tonality of the composition.

Meter – Measure of time; arrangement of poetical feet; the grouping of beats into regular patterns. The organization of rhythmic patterns in a composition in such a way that a regular, repeating pulse of beats may continue throughout the composition.

Parlante - A term used in singing meaning speech-like; Accented; in a declaratory style; in a speaking style, as a recitative.

Recitative – In an opera, oratorio, cantata, or other multi-movement vocal compositions, a recitative is a narrative song that describes some action, thought, or emotion. The recitative follows the natural flow of the language, and is more a speaking composition than a singing composition.

Soubrette - A stock character in French theatre and in operas of the 18th century, the soubrette is usually a clever servant girl that is a secondary character involved in the drama played by a light-voiced soprano.

Tempo – The speed of the rhythm of a composition. Tempo is measured according to beats per minute. A very fast tempo, prestissimo, has between 200 and 208 beats per minute, presto has 168 to 200 beats per minute, allegro has between 120 and 168 beats per minute, moderato has 108 to 120 beats per minute, andante has 76 to 108, adagio has 66 to 76, larghetto has 60 to 66, and largo, the slowest tempo, has 40 to 60.

Timbre - The quality of a sound; that component of a tone that causes different instruments (for example a guitar and a violin) to sound different from each other while they are both playing the same note.

Time Signature - A symbol placed at the left side of the staff indicating the meter of the composition. For example, a time signature of 3/4 would indicate that there are three quarter notes in each measure and the quarter notes receive the main pulse (or beat).

 

For more information or any other musical investigations you may or may not be undertaking here is a helpful Music Dictionary.

© 2023 by Ralph Ellison

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