A
Asymetric measures | | | | Uneven metrical divisions e.g. 3 beats, then 4 beats, then 5 beats, then 4 beats etc. instead of the more traditional continuous 3-in-a-bar of a waltz or 4-in-a-bar of a march. |
C
Chime bars | |
| | Individual thin metal bars each mounted on a small box-like resonator; played with a rubber beater. Chime bars are often sold as a set comprising every note of the scale. |
Chord | |
| | Three or more notes sounded at the same time; the chords that are used most frequently in tonal music are the major chord and the minor chord. |
Contrary motion | |
| | Two parts going in opposite directions, one upwards, the other downwards. |
Cor anglais | | | | One of the more exotic orchestral instruments; a longer, deeper oboe. |
D
F
G
Glockenspiel | | | | Tuned percussion instrument with thin metal bars, higher pitched than a metallophone. |
M
Major chord | |
| | A triad whose middle note is 4 semitones above its lowest note, e.g. C E G. |
Metallophone | | | | Tuned percussion instrument with thick metal bars; a xylophone with metal bars. |
Minor chord | |
| | A triad whose middle note is 3 semitones above its lowest note,
e.g. C Eb G. |
Muted | | | | Altering the sound of an instrument by putting a plug into the end of it (brass instruments) or a kind of fork over the bridge to reduce the vibrations (string instruments). |
O
Orchestrate | | | | Decide which instruments of an orchestra should play which parts of the music in order to achieve the required quality of sound. |
Ostinato | |
| | Short melodic or rhythmic phrase repeating several times. |
P
Pizzicato | |
| | Plucking stringed instruments with the fingers instead of using a bow. |
R
S
Score | | | | The written notes of a piece of music, comprising all of the different parts. |
T
Tremolando | |
| | The Italian word for “trembling”; the rapid alternation of the same note. |
Triad | |
| | A three note chord, each note a third distant from the next note. |
X
Xylophone | |
| | Tuned percussion instrument with wooden or plastic bars. |
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