Praxis Music key terms

A large-scale structure common in first movements of Classical works, typically presenting an exposition of themes, a development that transforms them, and a recapitulation that restates them in the home key.

The art of combining two or more independent melodic lines so they sound harmonious together, governed by rules about consonance, dissonance, and voice leading.

A contrapuntal composition built on a short subject that is stated in successive voices, then developed through episodes, stretto, and related procedures.

The principal melodic idea of a fugue or other contrapuntal work, announced by one voice and then taken up by the others in turn.

A technique in which a melodic idea stated in one voice is repeated shortly afterward in another voice, either exactly or with modification.

A contrapuntal form in which one voice states a melody and one or more later voices repeat it strictly, often at a different pitch level or time interval.

A short, recognizable melodic or rhythmic fragment that is repeated, varied, or developed to help unify a composition.

A compositional technique in which a theme is altered in rhythm, harmony, texture, or character while retaining enough identity to be recognized across a work.

A change from one tonal center to another within a piece, usually prepared by chords such as the secondary dominant or pivot chord.

A melodic and harmonic formula that brings a phrase, section, or piece to a point of rest, such as authentic, half, plagal, or deceptive types.

A complete musical thought, typically several measures long, that ends with a cadence and combines with other phrases to form larger units.

A pair of phrases, usually an antecedent followed by a consequent, that together form a balanced larger unit ending in a stronger cadence.

A Baroque shorthand in which numbers and symbols under a bass line indicate the intervals to be played above it, guiding the keyboard player's chord realization.

A Baroque accompaniment practice in which a bass instrument and a chordal instrument perform from a figured bass line, supplying harmony and rhythmic support.

The rules and conventions governing how individual melodic lines move from chord to chord, favoring smooth motion and careful treatment of dissonance.

A diagram arranging keys or chords by ascending perfect fifths, showing relationships among major and minor keys and their signatures.

A five-note scale, common in folk and non-Western traditions, most often built from the pattern of major seconds and minor thirds without half steps.

A six-note scale built entirely of whole steps, producing an ambiguous, non-tonal sound favored by impressionist composers.

A scale or pitch collection with a characteristic pattern of whole and half steps, such as the church modes or the major and minor scales.

A hymn tune, especially the Lutheran congregational melodies used by Bach and others as the basis for harmonizations, cantatas, and organ works.

The monophonic, unaccompanied liturgical song of the medieval Western church, sung in Latin and organized by modes rather than by major or minor keys.

An early medieval polyphonic practice in which one or more voices are added to a plainchant melody, ranging from parallel motion to florid independent lines.

A secular Renaissance vocal piece for several voices, setting a short poem with expressive word painting, often performed without instruments.

A polyphonic choral composition, usually sacred, setting a Latin text; its form and function changed greatly from the medieval period through the Renaissance and Baroque.

A technique in which musical figures mirror the literal meaning of the text, such as rising lines for ascent or dissonance for grief.

A staged dramatic work in which the text is sung with instrumental accompaniment, combining music, poetry, acting, and stagecraft.

A speech-like style of singing that advances the plot in opera and oratorio, following the natural rhythm of the text with limited melodic repetition.

A self-contained solo song in opera, oratorio, or cantata that expresses a character's emotions and often displays the singer's technique.

The text or script of an opera, oratorio, or musical, including dialogue and lyrics, written by a librettist and set to music by the composer.

A large orchestral work, usually in several movements, that became a central genre of the Classical and Romantic periods.

Instrumental music that depicts a story, scene, or idea beyond the music itself, often described by a title or accompanying written narrative.

A vocal technique between speech and song in which the performer approximates pitches while speaking the rhythm, associated with early twentieth-century expressionism.

The accuracy of pitch production in performance, whether by voice or instrument, and the ability to match and maintain a reference pitch.

The manner in which a note is attacked, sustained, and released, indicated by markings such as staccato, legato, accent, or slur.

The speed at which music is performed, shown by metronome markings or Italian terms such as allegro, andante, and adagio.

The process of shifting music to a different key or pitch level, or the act of playing an instrument that sounds at a pitch other than written.

The span of pitches a voice or instrument can produce, from its lowest to highest note, often considered separately from its comfortable tessitura.

The skill of following and interpreting a full or condensed musical score, tracking multiple staves, clefs, and transposing instruments simultaneously.

A standardized gesture pattern traced by a conductor's baton or hand to indicate meter and beat, such as the two-, three-, or four-beat patterns.

Instructional support given to learners as they acquire a skill, gradually withdrawn as competence grows so students take on more independence.

Ongoing evaluation during instruction that gathers evidence of student understanding to adjust teaching, rather than to assign a final grade.

Adapting content, process, or product to varied learner readiness, interests, and profiles so that all students can access and demonstrate learning.

Voluntary national standards in the United States describing what students should know and do in the arts, organized around creating, performing, responding, and connecting.

Legal principles governing reproduction and performance of protected works, including limited educational exceptions that apply only under specific conditions.

The status of creative works whose copyright has expired or never applied, allowing them to be freely copied, arranged, and performed.