GCSE Music: Vocabulary

General key terms and definitions for the Listening paper.

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simple time signature
A time signature where the beat can be divided into two, such as 2/4.
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compound time signature
A time signature where the beat is dotted and subdivides into groups of three, as in 6/8.
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triad
A three not chord.
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cadence
Two chords at the end of a musical phrase.
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imperfect cadence
A cadence ending on chord V which sounds incomplete. Usually preceded by chord I, II or IV.
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interrupted cadence
Most commonly comprises chord V followed by chord VI.
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perfect cadence
Chord V followed by chord I.
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plagal cadence
Chord IV followed by chord I.
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tempo
The speed of the music.
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timbre
Particular tone colour of an insrument or voice.
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texture
The number of parts in a piece and how they relate to one another.
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heterophonic
Musical texture in which several parts play the same melodic part but with slight differences in pitch.
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homophonic
Common musical texture comprising a melody part and some form of accompaniment.
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monophonic
Musical texture of a single melodic line with no accompaniment.
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polyphonic
A texture featuring two or more parts, each having a melody line and sounding together.
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diatonic
Notes or chords belonging to or literally 'of the key'.
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chromatic
Music in which notes are used that are not in the key of the piece.
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atonal
Absence of tonality (key).
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tonic
The first and eighth degrees of a scale. Also called the keynote.
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supertonic
The second degree of a scale.
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mediant
The third degree of a scale.
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subdominant
The fourth degree of a scale.
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dominant
The fifth degree of a scale.
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submediant
The sixth degree of a scale.
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leading note
The seventh degree of the scale.
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imitation
Separate parts copying or imitating each other.
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moves by step
Moves up or down by a single note.
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moves by leap
Moves up or down by groups of notes.
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scalic
Made up of only notes in a scale.
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triadic
Made up of notes in a chord.
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passing note
A note that is foreign to a harmony and is introduced between two successive chord tones in order to produce a melodic transition.
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sequence
A short phrase that is repeated at a different pitch.
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syllabic
When there is one note for each syllable.
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melismatic
When there is more than one note for each syllable.
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

A time signature where the beat is dotted and subdivides into groups of three, as in 6/8.

Back

compound time signature

Card 3

Front

A three not chord.

Back

Preview of the back of card 3

Card 4

Front

Two chords at the end of a musical phrase.

Back

Preview of the back of card 4

Card 5

Front

A cadence ending on chord V which sounds incomplete. Usually preceded by chord I, II or IV.

Back

Preview of the back of card 5
View more cards

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