Glossary
Accompaniment
The background music that supports and enhances a main melody, solo, or soli, providing harmonic and rhythmic foundation.
Example:
A guitarist strumming chords while a singer performs the main tune is providing the accompaniment.
Alberti Bass
A repeating arpeggio pattern, typically found in keyboard music, that creates a continuous, rolling motion and provides harmonic accompaniment.
Example:
In a classical piano sonata, the left hand might play a gentle, broken chord pattern like C-G-E-G, creating an Alberti bass accompaniment for the right-hand melody.
Canon at the Octave
A type of canon where voices imitate the melody at an octave above or below the original voice.
Example:
If a cello plays a melody and then a violin immediately repeats it exactly, but an octave higher, they are performing a canon at the octave.
Canonical Music
A compositional technique where a melody is imitated by one or more voices in a staggered, overlapping manner, adhering to a strict formal structure.
Example:
A group of singers performing 'Row, Row, Row Your Boat' demonstrates canonical music, as each singer enters with the same melody at a different time.
Countermelody
A secondary melody played simultaneously with the main melody, adding interest, variety, and harmonic complexity.
Example:
While the lead singer performs the main vocal line, a flute might play a distinct, flowing melody above it, serving as a countermelody.
Doubling
A textural technique where multiple performers play or sing the same musical part, either exactly or at an octave, to create a fuller or richer sound.
Example:
When the flutes and oboes play the exact same melody together in an orchestra, they are using doubling to strengthen the melodic line.
Fugue
A polyphonic compositional form based on a single melodic subject that is imitated by multiple voices, each entering at a different time.
Example:
Bach's famous Toccata and Fugue in D minor features a distinctive main theme that is introduced by one voice and then taken up by others in succession.
Imitation Counterpoint
A polyphonic technique where one voice imitates the melody of another, either exactly or with variations, creating a call-and-response effect.
Example:
In a string quartet, the first violin might play a short melodic phrase, and then the second violin repeats a similar but slightly altered version, showcasing imitation counterpoint.
Ostinato
A short melodic or rhythmic phrase that is repeated over and over throughout a section of music, creating energy, momentum, or stability.
Example:
The persistent, repeating bass line in Ravel's 'Boléro' is a famous example of an ostinato that builds intensity throughout the piece.
Round
A type of canon where the melody is repeated by different voices at different times, with each voice starting the melody from the beginning.
Example:
Children singing 'Frère Jacques' where each group starts the tune after the previous one, creating a continuous loop, is a perfect example of a round.
Soli
A section in a musical piece where a small group of performers plays or sings together, often contrasting with a larger ensemble.
Example:
In an orchestral piece, the woodwind section might play a brief, unified melodic passage together, creating a soli effect before the full orchestra re-enters.
Solo
A performance by a single performer, often highlighted against an accompaniment.
Example:
A virtuosic pianist performing a concerto's cadenza is playing a solo passage, showcasing their individual skill.
Tutti
An Italian term meaning 'all' or 'everyone,' indicating a passage where all performers in an ensemble play or sing together.
Example:
After a quiet solo section, the conductor might cue the entire orchestra to play a loud, powerful chord, marking a tutti passage.
Walking Bass
A continuous, forward-moving bass line, often stepwise, that outlines the chord progression and is commonly used in jazz and blues.
Example:
A jazz bassist might play a steady, rhythmic line of quarter notes, moving smoothly from one chord tone to the next, creating a walking bass that propels the groove.