Composers
This Classical Era composer wrote Ode to Joy, Fur Elise, and Moonlight Sonata. He started to lose his hearing in his late 20s.
Beethoven
one melody line with accompaniment
Homophonic
the musical definition of volume
Dynamics
a drama set to continuous music with scenery, costumes, and action
Opera
a composition with a theme and and set of variations on that theme
Theme and Variations
This late Baroque composer wrote Tocatta and Fugue in D Minor and Well Tempered Clavier. He was not recognized for his compositions until 200 years after his death.
Bach
musical flourishes meant to decorate a melody
Ornamentations
The original theme in a piece, it's also the first A section
Exposition
a composition where a melody is introduced in one voice, followed by other voices, and developed with interweaving parts
Fugue
an elaborate musical composition for full orchestra, usually with 4 movements
Symphony
This Classical composer wrote Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, Requiem, and Queen of the Night Aria. He's known as the child prodigy as he was pushed by his father to play piano at age 3.
Mozart
A piece complete in itself but also part of a larger piece
Movements
The B section, where the composer experiments with the themes by changing the rhythms, key, feel, etc.
Development
a piece intended for improvisation and to show off the technical expertise of a performer
Tocatta
it's a form based on courtly dances of Renaissance and Baroque
Minuet & Trio
Wrote The Four Seasons. He was a Baroque composer and violinist, that also began studying to become a priest at age 15.
Vivaldi
the spontaneous creation of music while performing
Improvisation
The term that refers to Haydn, Beethoven, and Mozart
First Viennese School
literally means "a played piece," it's a piece that has one or more solo instruments with continuo
Sonata
Sonata
He was known as the first major Baroque composer. He wrote what was considered the first opera, Orfeo.
Monteverdi
"Continuous bass," this is the practice of writing a bass line and the keyboard or lute would fill in the rest of the chord
Basso Continuo
An elaborate solo that is technically difficult; it usually falls at the end of the movement
Cadenza
literally means, "a sung piece," it's a vocal piece with instrumental accompaniment and is written for a choir
Cantata
it's a form that alternates the main theme (A section) with the other, different themes (B, C, D, etc.)
Rondo