Musical Vocabulary
The gradual slowing of tempo in a musical passage.
What is a Ritardando?
This instrument is pitched in E-Flat and is commonly found in jazz ensembles, concert bands, and marching bands (be specific).
What is an Alto (or Bari) Saxophone?
There are this many half steps in a perfect octave.
What is 12?
Despite being completely deaf, this composer continued to write timeless pieces for orchestras
Ludwig Van Beethoven
This Swedish Producer and songwriter helped create hits for Britney Spears, Backstreet Boys, and Taylor Swift
Max Martin
A marking indicating the sustaining of a note or rest beyond its written duration.
What is a Fermata?
This brass instrument uses a rotary valve system in many orchestral settings and is commonly pitched in F or B-flat.
What is the French horn?
This four-note chord containing a root, major third, perfect fifth, and minor seventh is most famously denoted by its root letter followed by a superscript
What is a 7th chord?
This Austrian composer wrote The Magic Flute, Eine kleine Nachtmusik, and more than 40 symphonies.
Who is Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
This band released the 1977 album Rumours, featuring hits like “Dreams” and “Go Your Own Way.”
Fleetwood Mac
The technique of playing a note slightly before or after its expected rhythmic placement for expressive effect.
What is Rubato?
This large string instrument is typically played while seated, with the instrument resting on the floor.
What is a double bass?
In sonata form, this section follows the exposition and explores various keys before returning to the tonic.
What is the development section?
This Russian composer wrote the ballets The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Sleeping Beauty.
Who is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky?
This British singer released the albums 21 and 25, featuring hits like “Rolling in the Deep” and “Hello.”
Adele
A musical passage in which a soloist performs freely, often showcasing technical virtuosity.
What is a Cadenza?
This instrument is a free-reed aerophone commonly associated with Cajun and zydeco music.
What is the accordion?
What is the term for a non-chord tone that connects two chord tones by step?
What is a passing tone?
This French composer wrote Clair de Lune and is associated with musical Impressionism.
Who is Claude Debussy?
This artist's 2015 album "To Pimp a Butterfly" incorporated jazz, funk, and spoken-word poetry.
Kendrick Lamar
A note or chord that creates harmonic tension and requires resolution.
What is Dissonance?
This percussion instrument produces different pitches using tuned metal bars and is played with mallets.
What is the vibraphone?
What is the term for a chord progression in which the root of each chord moves up or down a perfect fifth?
Circle of Fifths Progression
This American composer, best known for his contributions to wind ensemble literature, composed several works, including Postcard, Blueshade, and an arrangement of Shenandoah.
Who is Frank Ticheli?
Due to a Grammy overhaul splitting the genre, this album holds the distinction of being the final recipient of the singular Best Country Album trophy.
What is Cowboy Carter?