Musical Terms with Definitions for National Scholastic Junior Letter
Accent - A marking above or below a note to show that the note should be stressed or emphasized
Accidental - A sign written before a note that changes the pitch of that note for an entire measure
Agitato - In an agitated manner
Allargando - Broadening, becoming progressively slower
Andantino - Lighter than andante, and usually quicker
Anthem - A musical composition of celebration, usually used as a symbol for a distinct group, particularly the national anthems of countries. Most often the celebratory text is of a religious context and is set for four-part choirs. This type of choral work is also referred to as an “anthem.”
Beam - Horizontal or diagonal line used to connect multiple consecutive notes
Cadenza - An unaccompanied section of virtuosic display performed by a soloist in a concerto or solo composition
Common Time - A musical meter marked by four beats per measure with the quarter note receiving a single beat
Concerto - Composition for an instrumental soloist in multi-movements
Cut Time - Same as the meter 2/2 with a half-note representing the steady beat
Da Capo - From the beginning
Diminuendo - Gradually decreasing volume
Ensemble - A group of performers
Etude - A study or a composition designed to teach a specific instrumental or vocal concept
Expressivo - Expressive or with expression
Fine - An indication of where a composition ends, usually marked with a double bar-line
Grandioso - In a grand or solemn style
Harmony - Two or more pitches sounded at the same time to purposefully create a pleasant or unpleasant sound
Interval - The distance between two pitches
Maestoso - Majestically, in a grand style
Marcato - Marked with emphasis
Meter - Groups of beats in a recurring pattern with accentuation of strong beats. Meter is denoted by the time signature.
Natural - An accidental that cancels a sharp or flat
Octave - The interval distance of 8 notes
Pitch - The highness or lowness of a sound
Rallentando - (rall.) Gradually slower
Rubato - In free time, no steady beat
Semitone - The smallest interval, or a half-tone
Slur - The joining of two notes without tonguing
Sostenuto - Sustained
Syncopation - A rhythm that accents a weak beat instead of a strong beat
Tacet - Silent; do not play
Tie - The curved line that connects two adjacent notes of the same pitch, thus combining their durations
Unison - Two or more musical parts sounding the same pitch, or an octave interval, at the same time