Musical Terms and Techniques

Front

Acciaccatura

Back

A grace note played quickly before the main note.

Front

Appoggiatura

Back

An ornamental note that takes some of the value of the following note.

Front

Mordent (Upper)

Back

A rapid alternation between a note and the note above it.

Front

Lower Mordent

Back

A rapid alternation between a note and the note below it.

Front

Trill

Back

A rapid alternation between two adjacent notes.

Front

Rhythm (Tempo / Metre)

Back

No tempo indication, but it is slow. 4/4 or simple quadruple time. Syncopation is used frequently.

Front

Genre

Back

Baroque – a period of music from 1600 – 1750. Henry Purcell 1659 – 1695.

Front

Structure: Ground Bass/ Ternary Form

Back

Ternary Form – ABA structure with a shortened 2nd A section. Ground Bass is a repeating rhythmic pattern.

Front

Instrumentation

Back

Soprano – high pitched female voice. Harpsichord – strings are plucked. Bass Viol – low-pitched string instrument.

Front

Perfect Cadences

Back

A chord sequence that moves from V to I.