Composer Profile - Activefolio

inversion Mirror image of a melody or interval most often found in serial
compositions.
Glossary 153
isorhythmic motet Late Medieval form that featured repeating rhythmic patterns.
Italian overture Baroque overture in a three-part structure, usually in a fast-slowfast
tempo scheme.
jazz An American musical style with a distinct African-American influence, which
blended African elements with spirituals, blues and western musical practices.
jig Renaissance dance from England in a fast, compound meter, known as a “gigue”
in Europe.
jongleurs Traveling entertainers in the Medieval period.
kettledrums See timpani.
key Tonal center of a piece of music.
keyboard family Nickname for any one of several keyboard instruments including
organ, harpsichord, piano or synthesizer.
key signature A system of sharps or flats, placed at the beginning of a piece of
music, which denote the key.
klavier Piano, or sometimes referred to any stringed keyboard instrument such as
the harpsichord.
largo Broadly and slowly.
legato Connected, implies to play smoothly.
lento Slowly.
leitmotif “Leading motive” or the idea of themes that represent particular
characters or things in a Wagner opera.
libretto Script (text) of an opera.
lied German word for song. Solo vocal work with piano accompaniment.
lieder Plural of lied.
lute String instrument, with a round body, that is plucked like a guitar.
lyrics Words to a popular song.
lyrical Implies singing in a melodic, legato style.
madrigal Most advanced secular vocal form of the late Renaissance, usually a
cappella, which originated in England and Italy.
maestoso Majestic.
major scale Diatonic scale consisting of eight notes including the octave. Each of
the eight notes is a full step apart, except for half steps between the third and
fourth steps, and between the seventh and eighth steps.
Mannheim School A town in Germany that was a center for musical development
in the Classical period. It contributed to the development of the symphony
form, gradual dynamics and the instrumentation of the classical orchestra.
march Instrumental form similar to a dance form, in a lively duple meter. Popular in
bands to accompany marching.