HSC Music 2 key terms

The system that organises pitches around a central home note, called the tonic, giving music a sense of pull toward resolution. It may be major, minor, modal or deliberately ambiguous.

A change of key within a piece, often prepared by a pivot chord or a dominant approach. It shifts the tonal centre and creates contrast, tension or a sense of journey across a structure.

A melodic and harmonic formula that closes a phrase. Perfect and imperfect cadences end on the tonic or dominant, while interrupted and plagal cadences create surprise, continuation or a softer conclusion.

Using only the seven notes of a major or minor scale without chromatic alteration. Diatonic writing sounds stable and key-centred, in contrast to chromatic or atonal material.

The use of notes outside the prevailing key or scale, adding colour, tension and expressive intensity. Chromatic passages often destabilise tonality or lead to a modulation.

A short, recognisable musical idea, such as a rhythm or melodic cell, that is repeated, varied or developed. Motifs give a work unity and help listeners follow its structure.

The process of expanding, fragmenting, combining or transforming musical ideas across a work. It may involve inversion, augmentation, rhythmic change or reharmonisation of a motif.

A melodic or harmonic figure repeated at a higher or lower pitch level. Sequences build momentum and are common in Baroque and Classical styles as a means of extending phrases.

The way music is divided into smaller units such as motifs, phrases, periods and sections. Recognising phrase lengths and their balance or asymmetry helps explain form and expression.

The large-scale organisation of a piece, such as binary, ternary, rondo, sonata or through-composed. Form describes how sections relate, repeat, contrast and return across a whole work.

A form in which a stated theme is followed by successive versions that alter melody, harmony, rhythm, texture or timbre while keeping the original recognisable. Each variation offers a new perspective on the theme.

The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines that sound meaningful together. It involves imitation, contrary and parallel motion, and careful control of consonance and dissonance.

A device where a melodic idea is restated in another part or voice, sometimes at a different pitch or time. It creates coherence, dialogue and forward movement, especially in contrapuntal writing.

A form in which one voice presents a melody and other voices repeat it strictly after a set interval of time or pitch. Canons demonstrate technical control and are a common compositional exercise.

The way musical lines are combined, from a single unaccompanied melody to dense chords or layered independent parts. Terms include monophonic, homophonic, polyphonic and heterophonic.

The craft of assigning musical material to instruments and combining timbres. It considers range, balance, articulation and colour to shape the character and clarity of a composition.

The distinctive quality of a sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another, even at the same pitch and volume. It depends on harmonics, attack and resonance.

How a note is sounded and released, such as staccato, legato, accent or marcato. Articulation markings shape phrasing, clarity and expressive character in performance.

The levels of loudness and softness in music, and the changes between them. Dynamic markings and shaping affect balance, mood and the sense of climax or repose.

The shaping of musical lines into expressive units, deciding where to breathe, lean, release or connect. Phrasing communicates structure and meaning beyond the printed notes.

The accuracy of pitch in performance, especially in ensembles or on instruments without fixed tuning. Poor intonation produces beats and dissonance; good intonation depends on listening and adjustment.

Setting instruments or voices to a reference pitch before and during performance. Reliable tuning underpins blend, intonation and the ability to play in tune across keys and registers.

The blending of instruments or voices so that no part unfairly dominates or disappears. It involves listening, matching tone, adjusting volume and agreeing on roles within the group.

A performer's personal realisation of a score, involving tempo, dynamics, articulation and expression. It must respect the composer's markings while offering a convincing artistic viewpoint.

The speed of a piece, indicated by terms such as allegro or adagio or by a metronome mark. Tempo affects energy, character and the feasibility of technical passages.

Expressive flexibility of tempo, where the performer speeds up or slows down to shape a phrase. The overall pulse is usually preserved so that accompaniment and ensemble remain coordinated.

The organisation of sounds in time, including duration, beat, accent and grouping. Rhythm gives music its pulse and character and interacts closely with metre and tempo.

The recurring pattern of strong and weak beats within a bar, such as duple, triple or compound. Metre provides a framework against which rhythm and syncopation are heard.

Accenting notes that fall between the main beats or displacing the expected accent. It creates rhythmic tension and is common in jazz, popular and contemporary styles.

The distance in pitch between two notes, measured in steps such as minor third or perfect fifth. Intervals may be melodic or harmonic and are central to melody, harmony and aural identification.

Three or more pitches sounded together, usually built in thirds to form triads and sevenths. Chords may be consonant or dissonant and are named by root, quality and inversion.

The combination and progression of chords that supports melody and shapes tension and resolution. Harmony may be functional, modal, chromatic or non-functional depending on the style.

A succession of single pitches organised into a recognisable line, shaped by contour, rhythm and phrasing. Melody is often the most memorable element and can be analysed for range, direction and intervals.

A combination of sounds that feels tense or unstable and seeks resolution. Dissonance is relative to style and context and is used to create tension and expressive force.

Music that avoids a tonal centre and treats all twelve chromatic pitches with equal importance. Atonal works often use the twelve-tone method and rely on other means of unity and structure.

A compositional method that orders the twelve pitch classes into a row and manipulates it by transposition, inversion, retrograde and retrograde inversion. It aims to replace tonal hierarchy with systematic control.

The written symbols that record pitch, rhythm, dynamics and articulation, including staves, clefs, accidentals and graphic signs. Accurate reading and clear writing of notation are essential skills.

The ability to follow and understand a written score, including transposing instruments, multiple staves and layout. It supports analysis, rehearsal planning and informed listening.

Writing down music heard by ear, such as a melody, rhythm or chord progression. It tests pitch and rhythmic accuracy and reinforces the link between sound and notation.

Identifying musical elements by listening alone, including form, texture, instrumentation, harmony and style. It requires focused listening and the ability to describe what is heard using correct terminology.