AP Music Theory Terms Flashcards

6775211694	Cadence	a two-chord progression that occurs at the end of a phrase	0
6775211695	Cadential Extension	the delay of a cadence by addition of material	1
6775211696	Coda	used to indicate the section that ends a piece	2
6775211697	Codetta	a brief conclusion with a dominant-tonic cadence that may be repeated several times for emphasis	3
6775211698	Contour	the shape of a melodic line	4
6775211699	Countermelody	an accompanying melody that contrasts against the main melody	5
6775211700	Elision (phase elision)	the simultaneous use of the last note in one phrase as the first note of the next phrase	6
6775211701	Fragment (fragmented motive)	a small but recognizable part of the motive	7
6775211702	Introduction	the beginning of a piece	8
6775211703	Bridge	the contrasting section of a song which prepares for the return of the main section	9
6775211704	Chorus	A large organized group of singers	10
6775211705	Song Form (AABA)	This type of song has an opening section (A), a bridge (B) before transitioning to the final A section. This song form is used in a variety of music genres	11
6775211706	Turnaround	A passage at the end of a section which leads to the next section. This next section is most often the repetition of the previous section or the entire piece or song. It may lead back to the section either harmonically, as a chord progression, or melodically.	12
6775211707	Twelve-bar Blues	In its basic form, it is predominantly based on the I-IV-V chords of a key	13
6775211708	Augmentation	Melody, theme or motif presented in longer note-values than were previously used	14
6775211709	Conjunct	The interval between two consecutive scale degrees	15
6775211710	Diminution	A long note is divided into a series of shorter, usually melodic, values	16
6775211711	Disjunct	A larger interval between scale degrees, also called a skip	17
6775211712	Phrase Extension	Once the composer establishes a phrase length, it can be extended on the upbeat, body, or cadence portions of the phrase.	18
6775211713	Fragmentation	Division of a musical idea into small sections	19
6775211714	Internal Expansion	Phrase extends beyond the expected phrase length	20
6775211715	Melodic Inversion	Where the original melody goes up by an interval, the inverted melody goes down by the same interval	21
6775211716	Literal Repetition	Often indicated by the use of a repeat sign, or the instructions da capo or dal segno	22
6775211717	Motivic Transformation	Change of rhythmic theme	23
6775211718	Octave Displacement	Taking a melodic line and moving some of the notes into a different octave	24
6775211719	Retrograde	The inverse of the series is sounded in reverse order	25
6775211720	Rhythmic Transformation	Multiplication, rotation, permutation (i.e. transposition, inversion, and retrograde), and combinations thereof involving rhythm	26
6775211721	Sequence	The restatement of a motif or longer melodic (or harmonic) passage at a higher or lower pitch in the same voice	27
6775211722	Sequential Repetition	Transposing a longer sequence to a different scale degree; may be diatonic or intervocalically exact.	28
6775211723	Transposition	The process of rewriting a piece of music or a scale so that is sounds higher or lower in pitch. This involves raising or lowering each pitch by the same interval	29
6775211724	Truncation	Utilizing a melody with part of the end omitted	30
6775211725	Motive	short, recurring, musical idea	31
6775211726	Antecedent	1st phrase of a period (less complete cadence)	32
6775211727	Consequent	2nd phrase (more complete cadence)	33
6775211728	Contrasting Period	periods with a different melody (especially beginning)	34
6775211729	Double Period	two periods (4 phrases) joined together where the first acts as the antecedent and the second acts as the consequent	35
6775211730	Parallel Period	beginning of the melody SAME in both phrases (but ending different)	36
6775211731	Phrase Group	Any grouping of phrases defined by a terminal cadence	37
6775211732	Refrain	a repeated line or phrase incorporated lyrically and musically within the verse itself	38
6775211733	Binary Form	two sections often repeated (AABB)	39
6775211734	Rounded Binary	between binary and ternary where only part of A is played, usually the latter part with a PAC (AB 1/2A)	40
6775211735	Simple Binary	binary form that does not return to the A section	41
6775211736	Ternary	three parts usually returning to A (AABA) or (ABA)	42
6775211737	Solo	one voice alone in a featured section	43
6775211738	Soli	a group alone in a featured section	44
6775211739	stanza	a group of lines forming the basic recurring metrical unit in a poem; a verse.	45
6775211740	Strophic	(AAAA) same music used for each verse (hymn)	46
6775211741	Theme	melodic subject of a musical composition	47
6775211742	Thematic Transformation	a musical technique in which a theme is developed by changing the theme by using permutation (transposition or modulation, inversion, and retrograde), augmentation, diminution, and fragmentation.	48
6775211743	Through-composed	new music for each stanza (ABCD)	49
6775211744	Tutti	(especially as a direction after a solo section) with all voices or instruments together	50
6775211745	Variation	a change or difference in condition, amount, or level, typically with certain limits.	51
6775211746	Verse	poetic stanza repeated in a song	52
6775211747	Imperfect Authentic Cadence	A medial musical cadence where either or both chords are in inversion and a note other than tonic is sung by the top upper voice (Soprano) (i.e. V [or V7]-I)	53
6775211748	Perfect Authentic Cadence	A final musical cadence where both chords are in root position and the tonic note in the I chord is in the top upper voice (Soprano) (i.e. V [or V7]-I)	54
6775211749	Conclusive Cadence	A musical cadence that ends on a tonic triad	55
6775211750	Deceptive Cadence	A musical cadence that ends on a triad other than tonic (i.e. V-vi or V-IV6)	56
6775211751	Half Cadence	A musical cadence that is medial and includes and cadence ending on a dominant function chord (i.e. IV-V, ii-V, I-V, vi-V, or V/V-V)	57
6775211752	Phrygian Half Cadence	A musical cadence involving the progression of iv6-V in a minor key	58
6775211753	Inconclusive Cadence	A musical cadence in which the soprano or bass voices end on a scale degree other than tonic	59
6775211754	Plagal Cadence	A final musical cadence that is authentic and involves the progression of IV-I, ii-I, or ii7-I	60
6775211755	Augmented Triad	Triad consisting of stacked major thirds (M3) or a major third with an augmented fifth (A5)	61
6775211756	Diminished Triad	Triad consisting of stacked minor thirds (m3) or a minor third with a diminished fifth (d5)	62
6775211757	Major Triad	Triad consisting of a major third (M3) with a perfect fifth (P5)	63
6775211758	Minor Triad	Triad consisting of minor third (m3) with a perfect fifth (P5)	64
6775211759	Major Seventh Chord	Chord with an added major seventh (M7)	65
6775211760	Dominant (Major-Minor) Seventh Chord	Major chord with a minor seventh (m7)	66
6775211761	Minor Seventh Chord	Chord with an added minor seventh (m7)	67
6775211762	Half-Diminished Seventh Chord	Diminished chord with a major seventh (M7)	68
6775211763	Fully-Diminished Seventh Chord	Diminished chord with a minor seventh (m7)	69
6775211764	Tonic	Scale degree one	70
6775211765	Supertonic	Scale degree two	71
6775211766	Mediant	Scale degree three	72
6775211767	Subdominant	Scale degree four	73
6775211768	Dominant	Scale degree five	74
6775211769	Submediant	Scale degree six	75
6775211770	Subtonic	Scale degree seven	76
6775211771	Leading Tone	Raised scale degree seven	77
6775211772	Tonic Function	A chord that functions as a tonic chord, (I VI)	78
6775211773	Dominant Function	A chord that functions as a dominant chord (V vii)	79
6775211774	Predominant Function	A chord that prepares the V chord (ii IV)	80
6775211775	Circle of Fifths	A visual representation of the relationships among the 12 tones of the chromatic scale, their corresponding key signatures, and the associated major and minor keys	81
6775211776	Harmonic Rhythm/Rate of Harmonic Change	The rate at which the chords change in a musical composition (TWO NAMES for this term)	82
6775211777	Modulation	The process of moving from one tonal center to another	83
6775211778	Common Tone Modulation	A form of modulation in which a key change occurs by using a note from the old key to transition into the new one.	84
6775211779	Phrase Modulation	A form of modulation in which the key changes abruptly after a cadence with no common chord.	85
6775211780	Pivot Chord Modulation	A form of modulation in which a chord that is shared by both keys is used to transition into the new key	86
6775211781	Neighboring Chord	Chord where the bottom lower voice (bass) remains stationary while the upper voices move to neighboring tones and back (occasionally one or more upper voices may have passing tones).	87
6775211782	Passing Chord	Bass motion in passing tones	88
6775211783	Retrogression	A series of chords that weakens tonality	89
6775211784	Secondary Dominant Chord	A chord that is the V (or V7) chord of a certain key other than the tonic key ("the key within a key")	90
6775211785	Secondary Leading Tone Chord	A chord that is the vii°, vii°7, or viiø7 of a certain key other than the tonic key ("the key within a key")	91
6775211786	Tonicization	Process in which a chord other than tonic is usually set up by a secondary dominant chord to sounds like a temporary tonic chord	92
6775211787	Arpeggiating 6/4 Triad	Second inversion triad created by arpeggiation of the triad in the bass	93
6775211788	Cadential 6/4 Triad	Second inversion triad that precedes the dominant and is often found at a cadence	94
6775211789	Neighboring/Pedal 6/4 Triad	Second inversion triad that occurs when the third and fifth of a root position triad are embellished by their upper neighboring tones while the bass remains stationary	95
6775211790	Passing 6/4 Triad	Second inversion triad that harmonizes the bass passing tone; usually placed on an unaccented beat and upper voice motion is ordinarily by step	96
6775211791	Anticipation	Unaccented non-chord tone that foreshadows a chord tone	97
6775211792	Appoggiatura	Accented non-chord tone that is approached by skip and resolved by step	98
6775211793	Escape Tone	Unaccented non-chord tone that is approached by step and resolved by skip	99
6775211794	Neighbor Tone	Non-chord tone used between a chord tone and its repetition	100
6775211795	Double Neighbor Tone	Two neighbor tones that around the same pitch (i.e. one note is higher and the other is lower)	101
6775211796	Lower Neighbor Tone	Non-chord tone where the dissonant note is lower than the chord tone	102
6775211797	Upper Neighbor Tone	Non-chord tone where the dissonant note is higher than the chord tone	103
6775211798	Neighbor Group (Cambiata)	Two non-consecutive non-chord tones in which the first tone moves up a step from the chord tone, skips down to another non-chord tone, and resolves to the original chord tone	104
6775211799	Embellishment/Ornament	Musical flourishes that serve to decorate the main melodic line (TWO NAMES for this term)	105
6775211800	Passing Tone	Non-chord tone used stepwise to fill in gaps between chord tones	106
6775211801	Pedal Point	Chord tone that serves to prolong the harmony through a passage; usually on tonic or dominant note	107
6775211802	Preparation	The tone that precedes the suspension	108
6775211803	Resolution	The tone that follows the suspension	109
6775211804	Retardation	Accented non-chord tone that keeps a note the same and then steps upwards	110
6775211805	Suspension	Accented non-chord tone that keeps a note the same and then steps downward	111
6775211806	Rearticulated Suspension	A suspension that is rearticulated on the beat	112
6775211807	Suspension Chain	A combination of suspensions in which the resolution of each one prepares the next	113
6775211808	Close Position	Less than an octave between the soprano and tenor voices	114
6775211809	Open Position	An octave or more between the soprano and tenor voices	115
6775211810	Doubling	Common part-writing rule that specifies what note should be used twice (root)	116
6775211811	Root Position	Root of the chord is in the bass.	117
6775211812	First Inversion	Third of the chord is in the bass.	118
6775211813	Second Inversion	Fifth of the chord is in the bass.	119
6775211814	Third Inversion	Seventh of the chord is in the bass (applies only to chords with added sevenths)	120
6775211815	Common Tone	Note that is shared by two different chords	121
6775211816	Contrary Motion	Voices move in opposite directions	122
6775211817	Cross Relation	A harmonic clash that occurs when a note in one part sounds simultaneously with or immediately before or after its chromatically altered equivalent.	123
6775211818	Crossed Voices	Part-writing error where voices are singing in one another's ranges	124
6775211819	Oblique Motion	One voice moves while the other remains stationary	125
6775211820	Overlapping Voices	Part-writing error where one voice crosses above or below the previous note of another voice	126
6775211821	Parallel Motion	Voices move in the same direction by the same interval	127
6775211822	Parallel Fifths	Part-writing error where two voices that are a P5 above each other move to another P5	128
6775211823	Parallel Octaves	Part-writing error where two voices that are a P8 above each other move to another P8	129
6775211824	Similar Motion	Voices move in the same direction	130
6775211825	Tendency Tone	A tone that is harmonically or melodically unstable and tends naturally to resolve itself either upward or downward	131
6775211826	Unresolved Leading Tone	Part-writing error that involves scale degree seven not being resolved to tonic	132
6775211827	Unresolved Seventh	Part-writing error that involves the seventh of a chord not being resolved downwards	133
6775211828	Arpeggiation	The process of spreading a chord out instead of playing the notes simultaneously	134
6775211829	Chromatic	Scale that includes every single note and lacks a tonal center	135
6775211830	Consonance	A simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of repose	136
6775211831	Diatonic	Involving only notes proper to the prevailing key without chromatic alteration	137
6775211832	Dissonance	A simultaneous combination of tones conventionally accepted as being in a state of unrest and needing completion	138
6775211833	Figured Bass	A kind of musical notation in which numerals and symbols (often accidentals) indicate intervals, chords, and non-chord tones	139
6775211834	Picardy Third	Raised third of a major tonic triad that is used to end a work in the minor mode	140
6775211835	Antiphonal	Alternate singing by two choirs or singers.	141
6775211836	Articulation	How a note is played	142
6775211837	Arco	Articulation where note is played with the bow	143
6775211838	Legato	In a smooth, flowing manner	144
6775211839	Marcato	Strongly accented	145
6775211840	Pizzicato	Articulation where note is plucked	146
6775211841	Slur	Connecting two or more notes in a single bow	147
6775211842	Staccato	Playing notes in a sharply detached manner.	148
6775211843	Tenuto	Emphasis in the value of a note.	149
6775211844	Call and Response	A succession of two distinct phrases usually played by different musicians, where the second phrase is heard as a direct commentary on or response to the first	150
6775211845	Crescendo	Gradually getting louder	151
6775211846	Diminuendo	Gradually getting softer	152
6775211847	Terrace Dynamics	Volume levels shift abruptly from soft to loud.	153
6775211848	Pianissimo	Very softly.	154
6775211849	Piano	Softly.	155
6775211850	Mezzo Piano	Mildly soft.	156
6775211851	Mezzo Forte	Mildly loud.	157
6775211852	Forte	Loud.	158
6775211853	Fortissimo	Very loud.	159
6775211854	Adagio	Slowly; often indicates a speed somewhere between andante and largo	160
6775211855	Allegro	Fast	161
6775211856	Andante	Moderately slow; walking speed	162
6775211857	Andantino	Slightly slower or faster than andante; like walking speed	163
6775211858	Grave	Very slow; solemn	164
6775211859	Largo	Rather slow; stately	165
6775211860	Lento	Slow	166
6775211861	Moderato	Moderate speed	167
6775211862	Presto	Very fast	168
6775211863	Vivace	Lively	169
6775211864	Accelerando	An increase in the speed of the music; gradually getting faster	170
6775211865	Ritardando	A decrease in the speed of the music; gradually getting slower	171
6775211866	Ritenuto	Held back	172
6775211867	Rubato	With some freedom of time	173
6775211868	Tremolo	A trembling effect in a musical tone; rapid reiteration of a single note or between two notes or chords	174
6775211869	Trill	A musical ornament consisting of a rapid alternation between two adjacent notes (usually a semitone or tone apart)	175
6775211870	Accent	Emphasis placed on a note	176
6775211871	Agogic Accent	Natural accent	177
6775211872	Dynamic Accent	Emphasis using louder sound; typically most pronounced on the attack of the sound	178
6775211873	Metrical Accent	Stress based on division of the beat	179
6775211874	Anacrusis	One or more unstressed notes before the first bar line of a piece or passage	180
6775211875	Asymmetrical Meter	A regular metric pattern that is established from a sequence of two or more irregular time signatures	181
6775211876	Augmentation	The lengthening of the time values of notes in a melodic part	182
6775211877	Bar Line	Vertical line used to mark the division of bars	183
6775211878	Beat	Rhythmic movement	184
6775211879	Compound Meter	Beat subdivided into three parts.	185
6775211880	Simple Meter	Beat subdivided into sections of two.	186
6775211881	Cross Rhythm	The use of two or more rhythms simultaneously	187
6775211882	Diminution	Long note is divided into a series of shorter, usually melodic, values	188
6775211883	Dot	Extends note value by one half.	189
6775211884	Dotted Rhythm	Beat is unequally subdivided into a long dotted note and a short note.	190
6775211885	Duplet	Two notes fit into one beat.	191
6775211886	Duration	How long something lasts.	192
6775211887	Hemiola	A rhythmic pattern of syncopated beats with two beats in the time of three or three beats in the time of two	193
6775211888	Duple Meter	Primary division of two beats per bar.	194
6775211889	Triple Meter	Primary division of three beats per bar.	195
6775211890	Quadruple Meter	Primary division of four beats per bar.	196
6775211891	Polyrhythm	The simultaneous use of two or more conflicting rhythms	197
6775211892	Pulse	A regular, reoccuring emphasis of a fixed interval of time; how one feels the beat	198
6775211893	Swing Rhythm	A rhythmic feel in which some notes with equal written time values are performed with unequal durations, usually as alternating long and short	199
6775211894	Syncopation	Displacement of the normal metric accent.	200
6775211895	Tie	A line connecting two note heads indicating that they should be played as one note.	201
6775211896	Triplet	A group of three notes played in a specific time value (i.e. two, four, etc.)	202
6775211897	Chromaticism	The use of altered tones.	203
6775211898	Harmonic Minor	Minor scale in which the seventh scale degree is raised one half-step	204
6775211899	Melodic Minor	Minor scale in which the sixth and seventh scale degrees are raised one half-step	205
6775211900	Natural Minor	Minor scale in which the diatonic intervals are whole steps except for between scale degrees 2-3 and 5-6; also known as an aeolian church mode	206
6775211901	Ionian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree one	207
6775211902	Dorian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree two	208
6775211903	Phrygian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree three	209
6775211904	Lydian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree four	210
6775211905	Mixolydian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree five	211
6775211906	Aeolian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree six; also known as a natural minor scale	212
6775211907	Locrian Mode	Church mode in which a scale starts on scale degree seven	213
6775211908	Modality	Organized scales based on the displacement of the tonic note along an arrangement of seven natural tones.	214
6775211909	Parallel Key	A major and a minor scale with the same tonic	215
6775211910	Pentatonic	Scale of five notes (Do Re Mi So La)	216
6775211911	Relative Key	A major and a minor scale with the same key signature	217
6775211912	Tetrachord	Series of four notes	218
6775211913	Tonality	The arrangement of all the tones and chords of a composition in relation to the tonic	219
6775211914	Whole-Tone Scale	Scale in which each note is separated by a whole step	220
6787869769	Melismatic	Singing one syllable on multiple notes	221
6787870946	Syllabic	Singing one syllable per note	222
6787882644	Alberti Bass	accompaniment pattern in the bass using an arpegiated three note chord	223
6787893022	Canon	multiple voices play the same musical line at different places (round is a type of canon)	224
6787901955	Canonic	in canon form	225
6787903225	Chordal accompaniment	when the harmonies are in forms of chords	226
6787904360	Contrapuntal	with 2 or more different melodic lines	227
6787908833	counterpoint	playing a melody in conjunction with another	228
6787924198	imitation	EXACTLY THE SAME	229
6787925211	Imitative polyphony	the individual lines are similar in their shapes and sounds (though not exactly the same)	230
6787928332	Nonimitative polyphony	the voices show little resemblance to each other	231
6787935906	fugal imitation	Imitation of the subject which enters at a different pitch level, usually the fourth or fifth.	232
6787943501	Heterophony	only one melody, but different variations being sung or played a the same time	233
6787948627	Homophony	one clear melody line	234
6787950660	Chordal homophony	every line or voice moves together with the same rhythm	235
6787952854	Chordal Texture (homorhythmic)	a texture with the same rhythm throughout	236
6787960494	Melody with accompaniment	one melodic line but not limited to chords moving together	237
6787961960	Brass	Division of the orchestra: Tubular wind instruments usually made of brass. Trumpet, cornet, horn, trombone (Paul), euphonium, and tuba.	238
6787965076	Continuo	Two performers who play continually throughout a performance; a cellist and a keyboardist, both reading from figured-bass scores. Essential to ensemble music from about 1600-1750 (the Baroque era.)	239
6787966652	Percussion	Division of the orchestra: Any instrument that makes its sound by being struck. Common members are drums; cymbals; timpani; xylophones	240
6787966653	Rhythm Section	That part of the band or orchestra composed of unpitched instruments which produce their sound by being struck. The backbone of this is the drums.	241
6787968177	Strings	Division of the orchestra: Instruments that make their sound from strings which are bowed or plucked. The string section is composed of violin, viola (Joey), cello, and double bass.	242
6787969107	Timbre	The quality of a sound; "tone color"; i.e.; the reediness of an oboe; the warmth of the cello; the brassiness of a trumpet.	243
6787970067	Woodwinds	musical instruments which produce sound when the players blow air against an edge of, or opening in, the instruments, causing the air to vibrate within a resonator	244
6787971337	Monophony	music with only one melody line	245
6787978689	Obbligato	an integral part to a piece of music (obligate)	246
6787978690	ostinato	continually repeated musical phrase or rhythm	247
6787978691	Polyphony	more than one independent melody occuring at the same time	248
6787982067	register	division of the range of an instrument	249
6787983131	Tessitura	general range of a composition	250
6787984483	Walking bass	a bass line that moves steadily in a rhythm contrasting to that of the upper parts	251
6787999053	Aria	A solo song within an opera or oratorio	252
6788000563	Art Song	A solo song not from an opera; often from the Romantic era	253
6788000564	Concerto	A large-scale, multi-movement piece written for a solo instrument and orchestra	254
6788002476	Interlude	Music written to be played between acts of a play, opera, or ballet.	255
6788002477	Opera	Large-scale musical/theatrical piece; a play set to music and presented with full orchestra, singers, sets, and costumes.	256
6788004059	Prelude	A piece written to precede some other musical work or worship service; also, a short, self-contained musical piece.	257
6788005632	Postlude	Usually, recessional music for a worship service	258
6788006944	Sonata	A piece written for solo instrument (such as piano) or a single-line instrument (such as flute or cello) and piano.	259
6788006945	String Quartet	An ensemble of four stringed instruments: Two violins, viola, and cello. Also, music written for this ensemble.	260