Music Terms: A Capella-Blend Questions and Answers Graded A+

Music Terms: A Capella-Blend Questions and Answers Graded A+ A Cappella Singing without any form of musical accompaniment. Absolute Pitch Ability to determine the exact pitch of a note as played on a musical instrument just by listening to it. Brainpower Read More Previous Play Next Rewind 10 seconds Move forward 10 seconds Unmute 0:10 / 0:15 Full screen Acclerando A symbol used in musical notation indicating to gradually quicken tempo. Accent Giving a particular note or phrase more stress than the ones before or after it. Italics do it in print, accents do it singing. To be effective in solo singing, accents must usually be subtle. Accidentals Any of various signs that indicate the alteration of a note by one or two semitones or the cancellation of a previous sign. Accompaniment Music that is played as background to a solo singer or lead instrumentalist. Accompanist A pianist who plays music beneath the singing. Adagio A tempo having a slow movement, restful at ease. Allegro Lively and quick tempo. Alto Lowest female voice part in a choir group. Andante Meaning a walking tempo or walking pace; a moderate speed. Art Song In classical music, a song not from an opera, but sung in classical style. Art songs were created primarily for concerts. Articulation The formation of clear and distinct sounds in speech. Atonal Music that is written and performed without regard to any specific key. Attack Describes the process of a singer first hitting a note, as in "his attack on that high C was too harsh," or "her attack at the beginning of the song was very gentle. Ballad A slow tempo; sentimental or romantic song. Bar A specific number of musical sounds that are organized within a measure, and that are contained with two solid lines called bar lines. Baritone The male mid-range singing voice between bass and tenor, with a range that extends from the second G below middle C to the first G above middle C. Bass The lowest of the male singing voice, with a range of the second E below middle C to the first E above middle. In serious or dramatic opera, low voices usually suggest age and wisdom; in comic opera, they are generally used for old characters. Bass Clef A symbol placed on the fourth line of a staff to indicate that the fourth line of the staff corresponds to the F next below middle C; F clef. Baton A short stick that the conductor uses to lead the orchestra or choir.