The following are useful language to include in your AA302 TMAs... if you are unsure of any definitions, either have a look in Grove online (if you're an OU student) or see if I've mentioned it in my A214 definitions

Themes

• Chromatic
• Modal
• Sequential
• Ostinato / 'riff'
• Recitative-like / monotone
• Sectional (strong cadence delineation)

Texture

• Dense, sparse, widely spaced
• Chordal / homophonic
• Polyphonic (voices) / contrapuntal (instruments)
• Imitative / fugal / canonic
• Unison / doublings
• Echo / antiphonal
• Solo / tutti
• Pedal-point / inverted pedal
• Falsobordone (chordal chanting)

Harmony

• Diatonic / chromatic / modal
• Dissonant
• 'Continuo'
• Suspensions
• Ground bass
• 12-bar blues
• 'Circle of fifths'
• Pedal-point / inverted pedal

Rhythm

• Ostinato
• Syncopation
• Hemiola (3/4 feels like 2/4)
• Fluid
• Regular stresses/strong sense of beat

Tempo

• Tempo rubato
• Stretta

Dynamics

• Terraced (Baroque) v. graded (19th Century onwards)

Instrumental Effects

• Pizzicato / arco / con sord
• Staccato / legato / tongued / bowed
• Glissandi
• Pedalled or una corda
• Cadenza
• Continuo
• Register
• Vocal
• Syllabic... un-der-lay
• Melismatic... underlay
• Sprechstimme
• Portamento
• Tessitura

Back to top