Allegro (ah-LEG-roh)-- a brisk, lively tempo.
Andante (ahn-DAHN-tay)-- a moderate tempo which flows gracefully and steadily
Aria (ah-ree-ah
)-- usually, a solo vocal work, often elaborate and with instrumental accompaniment. An important component of opera, oratorio, and cantata.Bergamasque (BURR-ga-mahsk)--A rustic dance.
Concerto (kun-CHAIR-toe) - A work which features a single instrument (sometimes two or more) with orchestral accompaniment. A concerto is traditionally written in three movements: fast, slow and faster.
Concerto Grosso (kun-CHAIR-toe GROW-so) literally, large concerto, the concerto grosso features a group of soloists rather than a single soloist. The rest of the orchestra accompanies and plays in between phrases featuring the soloists. Bach´s Brandenburg Concertos No. 1, 2, and 4 are concerti grossi.
Continuo (kun-TIN-you-oh) an important characteristic of Baroque music. the continuo was a bass-register instrument(such as the cello) playing melodic lines , and an instrument capable of playing chords (the organ, harpsichord, or lute). The cello would play a single bass line, but the keyboard player would play the bass line in the left hand and improvise chords in the right. A system of numbers would indicate to the keyboard player what chords were expected.
Entre´ acte (ahn-tr-ahkt)-- "Between the acts". This is very often Music which is composed to fill the gap between scenes or acts of a play, opera, or ballet.
Fugue (fyoog)-- piece in which a single theme is presented in different parts, often in different keys and ranges. A fugue begins with an exposition, in which the theme is played or sung by each part once. Following this, the theme appears in some sections of music, and not at all in others. Bach was considered a master of the fugue.
Largo (lahr-goh)-- a very slow tempo.
Masque (mahsk)-- A kind of musical drama, like an operetta, that includes dancing and singing performed by characters in masks.
Opus (Oh-pus) - This is Latin for "work; composition". (Opus 1 means the first published piece by a composer ; Op. 2 the second, and so on).
Overture (OH-ver-chur)- This comes from a French word, Ouvert, meaning "Open" and musically signifies a piece intended to introduce a larger work. There are also Concert Overtures which are "stand-alone" pieces which very often paint a musical picture.
Polonaise (pah-luh-NEHZ)-- a stately Polish processional dance in moderate 3/4 time. the Polish Composer Frederick Chopin was famous for his.
Prelude (PREH-lood) a short work which comes before a larger work. Used to establish the key of the work and sometimes the mood.
Rondo (Rawn-doh)--a popular form of the Classical era. Although it is primarily an instrumental form, rondos were adapted to vocal music. Like its predecessor, the rondeau, the rondo was based on the principals of repetition and contrast: an initial theme begins a work, returns periodically, and usually closes the movement; interspersed are 2 or more new, contrasting themes.
Scherzo (skairt-so)-- A short, lively, playful piece. Often found as a middle movement of a larger work like a Symphony, Sonata, or Concerto.
Sonata (Suh-NAH-tuh)-- an instrumental piece, usually written for one to three instruments, consisting of 3 or 4 movements that may be in contrasting forms or keys.
Symphony (SIM-funny) - The symphony we know today was the creation of Franz Joseph Haydn who established symphonic form to include (usually) four movements for full orchestra. In earlier works (prior to 1760), the word symphony indicates something like an overture: an introductory piece for a larger work, usually for chorus and orchestra.
Symphonic Poem -- A symphonic piece which has a specific literary, mythological, nationalistic or naturalistic theme. examples: Liszt´s Mazeppa, Dvorak´s The Water Goblin, and Smetana´s Ma Vlast (My Country).
