This document provides definitions and explanations of various musical terms that will be covered on an upcoming music appreciation midterm exam. It defines key concepts like interval, pitch, tone, frequency, texture, dynamics, and musical forms like monophony, homophony, polyphony, imitative polyphony, chorale, strophic form, motet, psalm tune, opera, aria, oratorio, cantata, and canon. It also briefly mentions Hildegard of Bingen and identifies the four main elements of music.

1. Music Appreciation Mid Term Olivia Steward

2. Interval Distance between two pitches

3. Pitch- Highness or lowness of a sound Tone-sound with specific pitch, produced by a constant rate of vibration Frequency- rate of a sound wave’s vibration

4. Texture- manner in which melodic lines are used in music Dynamic Level- level of volume

5. Recitative- speechlike setting of a text, with homophonic accompaniment by a keyboard or an orchestra

6. Monophony- one unaccompanied melodic line/sound Homophony-melodic line accompanied by chordal harmony Polyphony-combination of 2 or more simultaneous melodic lines

7. Tonal system-system of harmony based on the major and minor scales that has dominated Western music since the 17th century Unison-production of music by several voices or instruments at the same pitch, performed at the same octave or at different octaves Imitative Polyphony- technique in which each phrase of a composition is addressed by all the voices which enter successively in imitation of eachother

8. Chorale-characteristic hymn introduced by Martin Luther Strophic Form-the most popular song form, which has 2 or more verses set to the same music

9. Motet-polyphonic vocal form, usually consisting of two melodic lines, each with its own text above a plainchant melody Psalm Tune-tuneful settings of the 15 psalms in versions suitable for congregational singing

10. Opera-dramatic vocal form blending visual, literary and musical arts in which all dialogue is sung Aria-songlike vocal piece, musically expressive, with orchestral accompaniment; usually homophonic

11. Oratorio Multimovement dramatic vocal work on a religious subject, performed in concert style

12. Cantata Multimovement dramatic vocal work on a religious or secular subject, performed in concert style; shorter than an oratorio

13. Canon- polyphonic composition in which all the voices perform the same melody beginning at different times A capella- unaccompanied group singing

14. Meter-is a recurring pattern of stresses or accents that provide the pulse or beat of music

15. Libretto Text of a dramatic vocal work

16. Bel canto- “beautiful singing” 18th century Italian singing style that emphasized the beauty and virtuosity of the voice Timbre-characteristic quality of the sound of a voice or instrument

17. 4 elements of music harmony rhythm timbre melody

18. Hildegard of Bingen

19. Form of chorales