Absolute - Absolute music. Music which is inspired by itself rather than extramusical implications such as the stories legends of "program" music.
Accelerando, accel - Gradually faster.
Accent - > placed above a note to indicate stress or emphasis.
Accidental - A sharp, flat, or natural not included in the given key.
Accompaniment - A vocal or instrument part that supports or is background for a solo part.
Adagio - Slow; slower than andante, faster than largo.
Addolorato - Sorrowfully.
Ad libitum, ad lib - A term which permits the performer to vary the tempo and/or to include or omit a vocal or instrumental part. Synonymous with a piacere.
A due - Return to unison after divisi.
Affrettando - Hurrying.
Agilmente - Lively.
Agitato - Agitated; with excitement.
Al, all', alla, alle - To; used with other words, e.g. al Fine (to the end).
Album - A full length recording. In pop music, it contains a number of songs.
Al coda - "To the coda."
Aleatory, or aleatoric music - Chance music in which the performers are free to perform their own material and/or their own manner of presentation.
Al fine - To the end.
Alla breve - Cut time; meter in which there are two beats in each measure and a half note receives one beat.
Allargando, allarg - Slowing of tempo, usually with increasing volume; most frequently occurs toward the end of a piece.
Allegretto - Slower than allegro.
Allegro - Quick tempo; cheerful.
Al segno - Return to the sign, Dal segno
Allegri, Gregorio - born in Rome Italy on 1582 - died in Rome Italy in February 7, 1652 was an Italian composer and priest of the Roman School of composers.
Alteration - The raising or lowering of a note by means of an accidental.
Alto clef - The C clef falling on the third line of the staff. Most of the time is used by the viola.
Ancora - Repeat.
Andante - Moderate tempo.
Andantino - Slightly faster than andante.
A niente - To nothing, e.g. to ppp.
Animato - Animated; lively.
A piacere - Freedom in performance. Synonymous with ad libitum.
Appassionato - Impassioned.
Appoggiatura - A nonharmonic tone, usually a half or whole step above the harmonic tone, which is performed on the beat and then resolved.
Arabesque - A fanciful piano piece. Ornate passage varying or accompanying a theme.
Arpeggio - A term used to describe the pitches of a chord as they are sung or played one after the other, rather than simultaneously.
Arlen, Harold -"Hyman Arluck" - born in Buffalo, New York U.S.A. on April 23, 1905died in New York City U.S.A. on April 23, 1986 was a pianist, singer and composer of some of the most important and popular songs
of the 20th century. Some of his songs, with lyrics by "E.Y. Harburg", "Johnny Mercer" and "Ted Koehler"
include "I've Got The World On A String", "Let's Fall In Love", "It's Only A Paper Moon", "One For My Baby",
"That Old Black Magic", "Stormy Weather" and the entire score and all songs to "The Wizard Of Oz".
Arrache - Strong pizzicato.
Arrangement - An adaption of a composition.
Articulation - The degree to which notes are separated or connected, such as staccato or legato.
Ashkenazy, Vladimir Davidovich - born in Gorky, Russia on July 6, 1937 is a virtuoso concert pianist,
conductor and teacher in the field of classical, romantic and modern music. He is best known for his
interpretations of Rachmaninov's works
A tempo- Return to the previous tempo.
Atonality - Lacking a tonal.
Augmentation - Compositional technique in which a melodic line is repeated in longer note values. The opposite of diminution.
Augmented - The term for a major or perfect interval which has been enlarged by one half-step, e.g. c-g, (an augmented fifth,) or c-d, (an augmented second). Also used for a triad with an augmented fifth, e.g. the augmented tonic triad in C major, C+, c-e-g.
Babayan, Sergei - born in Guimri, Armenia is a concert pianist and teacher at The Cleveland Institute of Music.
In his career he has won numerous piano competitions including "The Robert Casadesus International",
"The Palm Beach" Competition", "The Hamamatsu Competition" and "The Scottish Competition".
Baby grand - A small grand piano.
Bach, Johann Sebastian - born in Eisenach Germany on March 21, 1685 - died in Leipzig Germany on
July 28, 1750 was a prolific German composer and organist, whose sacred and secular works for choir,
orchestra, and solo instruments, dominate the worlds musical repertoire. Bach had around 20 children
during his life and 3 of them, Wilhelm Friedemann, Carl Philip Emanuel and Johann Christian contributed significantly to the music of their day.
Balance - The harmonious adjustment of volume and timbre between instruments or voices; it can be between players or vocalists or electronically while recording or mixing.
Ballade - In the medieval period a form of trouvere music and poetry. In later time, German poetry set as a through-composed song.
Band - An instrumental ensemble, usually made up of wind and percussion instruments and no string instruments.
Barber, Samuel Osborne - born in Westchester Pennsylvania on March 9, 1910 - died in New York City U.S.A.
January 23, 1981 was an American composer of music ranging from orchestral, to opera, choral,
and piano music. His most famous piece is his "Adagio for Strings" from his String Quartet No. 1, Op. 11.
Barenboim, Daniel - born in Buenos Aires, Argentina on November 15, 1942 is a pianist and conductor.
Aside from his piano career, he has conducted several major orchestras including "The Chicago Symphony"
"La Scala" and "Le Orchestre de Paris". He was also married to the late cellist Jacqueline Du Pre.
Bar line - The vertical line placed on the staff to divide the music into measures.
Baroque - The period 1600-1750.
Bartok, Bella Viktor Janos- born in the Transylvanian town of Nagyszentmiklós in Austria-Hungary now Sânnicolau Mare Romania on March 25, 1881 - died in New York U.S.A. September 26, 1945 was a Hungarian composer, pianist and collector of Eastern European and Middle Eastern folk music.
Bass clef - The other name for the F clef.
Basso continuo, Continuo, Thorough-bass - The Baroque practice in which the bass part if played by a viola da gamba(cello) or bassoon while a keyboard instrument performed the bass line and the indicated chords.
Baton - Conductor's stick.
Battuto - Beat, bar, or measure. A due or a tre battuta, the musical rhythm in groups of two or three respectively(
Beatles, The - were an English musical group from Liverpool whose members were John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison, Ringo Starr and original drummer Pete Best. They are one of the most commercially successful and critically acclaimed bands in the history of popular music.
Beethoven, Ludwig Van - baptized in Bonn Germany December 17, 1770 - died in Vienna Austria on
March 26, 1827 was a German composer and virtuoso pianist. He was an important figure in the transitional period between the Classical and Romantic eras in Western classical music, and remains one of the most famous and influential musicians of all time.
Bell, Joshua - born in Bloomington, Indiana U.S.A on December 9, 1967 is one of the premier virtuoso
violinist's in the world.
Ben - Well. Used with other words, e.g.
ben marcato, well accented, emphasized.
Berlioz, Louis Hector - born in La Côte-Saint-André in the département of Isère, near Lyon France
on December 11, 1803 - died in Paris France on March 8, 1869 was a French Romantic composer, best known for his compositions Symphonie fantastique and Grande Messe des morts (Requiem).
Bernstein, Leonard - born in Lawrence Massachusetts on August 25, 1918 - died in New York City U.S.A
on October 14, 1990 was an American conductor, composer, author, music lecturer, and pianist. He was the first conductor born and educated in the United States of America, to receive world-wide acclaim.
Binary form - The term for describing a composition of two sections. AB, each of which may be repeated.
Bis - Repeated twice. Encore!
Bitonality - The occurrence of two different tonalities at the same time.
Bizet, Georges - born in Paris France on October 25, 1838 - died in Paris France on June 3, 1875 was a French composer and pianist of the romantic era. He is best known for his opera Carmen.
Borodin, Alexander Porfiryevich - born in St. Petersburg Russia on November 12, 1833 - died in St. Petersburg Russia on February 27,1887 was a Russian composer, who made his living as a notable chemist. He was a member of the group of composers called "The Russian Five", who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music,
Nadia, Boulanger - born in Paris, France on September 16, 1887 - died in Paris, France on October 22, 1979
was a composer, conductor, pianist, organist and teacher of the highest level. She taught some of the most influencial composers and musicians of the 20th century including "Aaron Copland", "George Gershwin"
Walter Piston", "Leonard Bernstein", "Daniel Barenboim", "Quincy Jones" and Burt Bacharach".
Bourree - A French dance from the 17th century in brisk duple time starting with a pickup.
Brahms, Johannes - born in Hamburg Germany on May 7, 1833 - died in Vienna Austria April 3, 1897 was a German composer and virtuoso pianist of the Romantic period.
Brain Salad Surgery - is the fourth studio album by the 70's band, Emerson, Lake & Palmer, released in 1973
and the first under their Manticore Records imprint. This recording contains their famous work Karn Evil 9 -
First Impression which lyrics read "Welcome back my friends, to the show that never ends".
Brass family - Wind instruments made out of metal with either a cup- or funnel-shaped mouthpiece, such as trumpet, cornet, bugle, Flugelhorn, trombone, tuba, baritone horn, euphonium, saxhorn, and French horn.
Brendel, Alfred - born in Vizmberk, Czechoslovakia on January 5, 1931 is an exceptional virtuoso
concert pianist and teacher who is best known for his performances of "Mozart", "Beethoven" and "Schubert".
Broken chord - Notes of a chord played in succession rather than simultaneously. Also known as an Arpeggio.
Brown, Ray - "Raymond Matthews" - born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania U.S.A. on October 13, 1926
died in Indianapolis, Indiana U.S.A. on July 2, 2002 was a jazz double bass player, who is regarded
as one of the all time masters of the swing style. He played with many of the great jazz musicians and vocalists
of the 20th century including "Dizzy Gillespie", "Sarah Vaughn", "Frank Sinatra" and "Oscar Peterson".
Brubeck, David Warren - born in Concord California on December 6, 1920 is a jazz pianist and composer.
He has written a number of jazz standards, including "In Your Own Sweet Way" and "The Duke".
The piece's that he is best known for are "Rondo A La Turk" in 9/8 and "Take 5" a song written by his partner,
the late saxophonist Paul Desmond.
Bruckner, Anton- born in Ansfelden Austria on September 4, 1824 - died in Vienna Austria on October 11, 1896 was an Austrian composer known primarily for his symphonies, masses, and motets.
Cadence - A chordal or melodic progression which occurs at the close of a phrase, section, or composition, giving a feeling of repose; a temporary or permanent ending. The most frequently used cadences are perfect, plagal, and deceptive.
Cadenza - a solo passage, often virtuosic, usually near the end of a piece, either written by the composer or improvised by the performer.
Caesura - A sudden silencing of the sound; a pause or break, indicated by the following symbol: //
Calmo, calmato - Calm.
Cambia - A direction found in scores to change tuning or instruments.
Camminando - Following easily and gently.
Canon - The strictest form of imitation, in which two or more parts have the same melody but start at different points.
Canonic - A term used to describe a polyphonic style of music in which all the parts have the same melody but which start at different times.
Cantabile - In singing style.
Cantata - Baroque sacred or secular choral composition containing solos, duets, and choruses, with orchestral or keyboard accompaniment.
Carmen - is a famous opera written by George Bizet.
Carol - The term was derived from a medieval French word, carole, a circle dance. In England it was first associated with pagan songs celegrating the winter solstice. It then developed into a song of praise and celebration, usually for Christmas.
C clef - A clef usually centered on the first line (soprano clef), third line (alto clef), fourth line (tenor clef),
or third space (vocal tenor clef) of the staff. Wherever it is centered, that line or space becomes middle C.
Chance music - Aleatoric music.
Chang, Sarah - born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania U.S.A on December 10, 1980 is an exceptional
virtuoso violinist.
Chopin, Fryderyk Franciszek - born on March 1, 1810 in Zelazowa Wola Poland - died October 17, 1849
in Paris France was a Polish piano composer of the Romantic period. He is widely regarded as one of
the greatest composers for the piano, of all time. Some of his brilliant collections include "The Ballades",
"The Etudes Opus 10 & 25", "The Nocturne's", "The Mazurka's", "The Scherzo's", "The Polonaise's",
and "The Prelude's".
Chorale - Hymn-like song, characterized by blocked chords.
Chord - A combination of three or more tones sounded simultaneously.
Chromatic - Ascending or descending by half steps.
Chromatic scale - A scale composed of 12 half steps.
Circle of fifths - The succession of keys or chords proceeding by fifths.
Classical - Music conforming to certain form and structure. Usually music composed during the period 1770-1825.
Clef - A symbol placed at the beginning of the staff to indicate the pitch of the notes on the staff. The most commonly used clefs in choral music are the G, or treble, clef and the F or bass clef . On the keyboard, all the notes above middle C are said to be in the G clef; all the notes below middle C in the F clef.
Coda - Closing section of a composition. An added ending.
Col, coll', colla - With or "with the."
Common time - 4/4 meter.
Complete cadence - I-IV-V-I progression.
Composer - A person who creates (composes) music.
Con - With.
Con brio - With spirit; vigorously.
Con calore - With warmth.
Concert - A public performance of music.
Concert grand piano - The largest of the grand pianos, usually about nine feet long.
Concertino - A short concerto. The group of soloists in a concerto grosso.
Concert master - First chair violinist in an orchestra.
Concerto - A piece for a soloist and orchestra.
Concert pitch - The international tuning pitch -- currently A 440 or 442. The pitch for non-transposing (C) instruments.
Conducting - The directing of a group of musicians.
Conductor - The person who directs a group of musicians.
Con intensita - With intensity.
Conjunct - Pitches on successive degrees of the scale; opposite of disjunct.
Con moto - With motion.
Consonance - Intervallic relationships which produce sounds of repose. Frequently associated with octave, third and sixth intervals; however, fourths and fifths may be sounds of consonance, as in both early and 20th-century music.
Consort - A 17th-century term for instrumental chamber ensembles and for the compositions written for these ensembles.
Con spirito - With spirit.
Contra - The octave below normal.
Copland, Aaron - born in Brooklyn New York U.S.A. on November 14, 1900 -died in North Tarytown New York U.S.A. December 2, 1990 was a composer of concert and film music, as well as an accomplished
pianist. He is best known for his works "Appalachian Spring", "Fanfare for the Commom Man" ,"Hoedown"
from the ballet "Rodeo" and "Billy the Kid".
Corda, corde - String.
Corea, Chick - "Armando Anthony" - born in Chelsea, Massachusetts, U.S.A. on June 12, 1941 is a pianist
keyboardist and composer. He gained much notoriaty playing with Miles Davis in the 1970's and with his band
"Return to Forever".
Corelli, Arcangelo - born in Fusignano Italy on February 17, 1653 - died in Rome Italy on January 8, 1713
was an influential Italian violinist and composer of Baroque music.
Countermelody - A vocal part which contrasts with the principal melody.
Counterpoint - The technique of combining single melodic lines or parts of equal importance.
Couperin, Francois - born in Paris France on November 10, 1668 - died in Paris France on September 11, 1733 was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. François Couperin was known as "Couperin le Grand" to distinguish him from the other members of the musically talented Couperin family.
Crescendo - Gradually louder.
Cue - Indication by the conductor or a spoke word or gesture for a performer to make an entry. Small notes that indicate another performer's part. Music occurrence in a film.
Cut time - 2/2 meter.
Da capo, D. C. - Return to the beginning.
Dal - "From the," "by the."
Dal segno, D. S. - Repeat from the sign . Frequently followed by al Fine.
Damper pedal - On pianos, the pedal that lifts the dampers from the strings.
Davis , Miles Dewey - born in Alton, Illinois, U.S.A. on May 26, 1926
died in Santa Monica, California, U.S.A on September 28, 1991 was a trumpeter,
bandleader and composer and one of the most influencial jazz musicians of the 20th century.
Aside from his huge catalogue of recordings, "Kind of Blue" remains, one of the biggest selling jazz
recordings of all time.
Debussy, Achille Claude - born in St. Germain-en-Laye France on August 22, 1862 - died in Paris France
March 25, 1918 was a French composer and pianist, who wrote some of the most ground breaking music, in the form of "Impressionism", a term, that he despised.
Deceptive cadence - Chordal progression dominant (V) to a chord other than the expected tonic.
Decrescendo - Gradually softer. Synonymous with diminuendo.
Degree - One of the eight consecutive tones in a major or minor scale.
Delibes, Leo - born in Saint Germain du Val France on February 21, 1836 - died in Paris France
on January 16, 1891 was a French composer of Romantic music.
Delicato - Delicately.
Di - Of, with.
Diminished - The term for an interval which has been decreased from the major by two half steps and from the perfect by one half step, e.g. c-a, diminished sixth, or c-g, a diminished fifth. Also used for a triad which has a minor third and a diminished fifth, e.g. c, c-e, g.
Diminuendo, dim - Gradually softer. Synonymous with decrescendo.
Diminution - The shortening of note values; the opposite of augmentation.
Dirge - A piece that is performed at a funeral or memorial service.
Disjunct - The term used to describe intervals larger than a second; the opposite of conjunct.
Dissonance - Sounds of unrest, e.g. intervals of seconds and sevenths; the opposite of consonance.
Divisi, div - An indication of divided musical parts.
Do - The first degree of the major scale.
Dohnanyi, Cristoph Von - born in Berlin, Germany on September 18, 1929 is a symphonic orchestra conducto,.
who has conducted many of the leading orchestras in the world, including "The NDR Symphony Orchestra"
"The WDR Symphony Orchestra of Cologne", "The Frankfurt Opera Orchestra" and "The Cleveland Orchestra".
He is the grandson of composer, conductor, pianist and teacher "Ernst Von Dohnanyi".
Dohnanyi, Ernst Von - born in Pozsony, Hungary on July 27, 1877 - died in New York City, U.S.A.
was a famous composer, conductor, pianist and teacher of his day.
Dolce - Sweetly.
Dolcissimo - Very sweetly.
Doloroso - Sadly; mournfully.
Dominant - The fifth degree of the major or minor scale. Also, the term for the triad built on the fifth degree, labelled V in harmonic analysis.
Double bar - Two vertical lines placed on the staff to indicate the end of a section or a composition. Also, used with two dots to enclose repeated sections.
Double flat - A symbol for lowering pitch one step.
Double sharp - A symbol for raising pitch one step.
Double tonguing - On flute and brass instruments, the technique of rapidly articulating notes by using the front and the back of the tongue in alternation (t-k-t-k-t-k).
Down beat - The first beat; given by the conductor with a downward stroke.
Down bow - In the violin family, drawing the bow downward from its frog. The symbol is: .
Du - "From the," "of the."
Duet - A piece for two performers.
Duplet - A group of two notes performed in the time of three of the same kind.
Dynamics - Varying degrees of loud and soft.
Du Pre, Jacqueline Mary - born in Oxford, England on January 26, 1945 - died in London, England
on October 19, 1987 was an exceptional cellist who became famous, with her interpretation of the Elgar
cello concerto in E minor, which has been described as definitive and legendary. She died at the age of 42
from Multiple Sclerosis.
Dvorak, Antonín Leopold - born in Nelahozeves near Prague Czechoslovakia on September 8, 1841
died in Prague on May 1, 1904 in was a Czech composer, violinist, violist and organist of Romantic music, .
E - Italian word meaning "and."
Eighth - Octave.
Eighth note/rest - A note/rest half the length of a quarter note and an eighth of the length of a whole note.
Elgar, Sir Edward William - born in Lower Broadheath outside Worcester England on June 2, 1857
died in Little Malvern England on February 23, 1934 was an English Romantic composer.
His most famous orchestral works, include "The Enigma Variations" and "Pomp and Circumstance".
Emerson, Lake & Palmer - (ELP) - an English progressive rock group from the 1970's, consisting of keyboardist
Keith Emerson, bassist and vocalist Greg Lake and drummer Carl Palmer, were one of the biggest music trio's
in the history of rock music. They were well known for incorporating classical works, into their arrangements, including the music of "Copland", "Ginastera", "Prokofiev" and "Mussorgsky".
Encore - To repeat a piece or play an additional piece at the end of a performance.
Enescu, George - born in Liveni Romania on August 19, 1881 - died in Paris France on May 4, 1955 was a Romanian composer, violinist, pianist, conductor and teacher, who is known as one of the greatest performers of his time.
Enharmonic - A term used to describe notes of the same pitch which have different names, e.g. c and d, f and g.
.Entremont, Phillipe - born in Rheims, France on June 7, 1934 is a concert pianist and conductor best known
for his version of Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto #1 conducted by Leonard Bernstein and The New York Philharmonic Orchestra in the year 1961.
Espressivo - Expressively.
Esuberante - Exuberant
Fa - In solmization, the fourth degree of the major scale.
Falla, Manuel de - born in Cadiz Spain on November 23, 1876 - died in Alta Gracia Argentina
on November 14, 1946 was a Spanish composer of classical music.
Fanfare - A prelude or opening, a flourish, usually played by brass instruments.
Fasola - A system of solmization used in 17th- and 18th-century England and America. Fa, so, and la were given to both c-d-e and f-g-a, with mi used for the seventh degree.
Fermata - Hold; pause .
Faure, Gabriel Urbain - born in Pamiers France on May 12, 1845 - died in Paris France on November 4, 1924
was a composer, organist, pianist, and teacher. He was the father of "Musical Impressionism" and his style influenced many of the 20th century composers.
Festivo, festoso - Festive; merry.
Field, John - born in Dublin Ireland on July 26, 1782 - died in Moscow Russia on January 23, 1837
was a composer and pianist. He is best known for the creation of the "Nocturne"..
Fifth - The fifth degree of the diatonic scale. Also, the interval formed by a given tone and the fifth tone above or below it, e.g. c up to g, c down to f. Intervals of the fifth may be perfect (corresponding to major), diminished, or augmented.
Finale - The last movement of a symphony or sonata, or the last selection of an opera.
Fine - The end.
First ending - One or more measures which occur at the end of the stanza or stanzas. It is usually indicated:
Fixed do - The system of solmization in which c is always do.
Flat - A symbol which lowers the pitch of a note one half step.
Form - The design or structure of a musical composition .
Forte - Loud.
Fortissimo - Very loud.
Full score - An instrumental score in which all the parts for the instruments appear on their own staves in standard instrumental family order.
Fourth - The fourth degree of the diatonic scale. Also, the interval formed by a given tone and the fourth tone above or below it, e.g. c up to f; c down to g. Intervals of the fourth may be perfect, diminished, or augmented.
Franck, Cesar - born in Liege Belgium on December 10, 1822 - died in Paris France on November 8, 1890
was a composer, organist and music teacher.
Frescobaldi, Girolamo - born in Ferrara Italy was baptized in September of 1583 -died in Rome Italy
on March 1, 1643 was one of the most important Italian composers of keyboard music in the late
Renaissance and early Baroque periods.
Fz - Forzando or forzato. Synonomous with sforzando (sf or sfz).
Gershwin, George - (Jacob Gershowitz) - born in Brooklyn New York U.S.A. on September 26, 1898
died in Beverly Hills California on July 11, 1937 was a composer and pianist, who composed music
for the concert hall and for Broadway. He wrote most of his vocal and theatrical works in collaboration
with his elder brother, lyricist Ira Gershwin. Some of his most outstanding works include "Rhapsody in Blue", "Concerto in F", "American in Paris" and "Porgy and Bess".
Gig - A job for a musician.
Gilbert and Sullivan - librettist W. S. Gilbert - born in Westminster England on November 18. 1836
died in London England on May 29, 1911 and composer Arthur Sullivan - born in Lambeth England
on May 13, 1842 - died in London England on November 22, 1900 together, wrote fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which H.M.S. Pinafore, The Pirates of Penzance, and The Mikado are among the best known.
Gilels, Emil Grigoryevich - born in Odessa Russia on October the 19th of 1916 died on October the 14th of 1985
is considered one of the greatest virtuoso concert pianists of the 20th century.
Gillespie, Dizzy - "John Birks" - born in Cheraw, South Carolina U.S.A. on October 21, 1917
died in Englewood, New Jersey on January 6, 1993 was an icon bebop jazz trumpeter, composer, arranger,
bandleader and singer who is regarded as one of the most influencial jazz musicians of the 20th century.
He, along with saxophonist Charlie Parker "The Bird" were pioneers in the field of Bebop jazz.
Ginastera, Alberto Evaristo - born in Buenos Aires Argentina on April 11, 1916 - died in Geneva Switzerland
on June 25, 1983 was a composer of music and a pianist. He is considered one of the most important Latin American composers.
Giocoso - Playful.
Giordano, Umberto - born in Foggia in Puglia Italy on August 28, 1867 - died in Milan Italy
on November 12, 1948 was a composer of orchestral music and opera.
Giubilante - Exultant, jubilant.
Glass, Philip - born in Baltimore Maryland on January 31, 1937 is an Academy Award-nominated composer.
Glinka, Mikhail Ivanovich - born in Novospasskoye Russia on June 1, 1804 - died in Berlin Germany
on February 15, 1857 was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition inside his own country, and is
often regarded as the father of Russian classical music. Glinka's compositions were an important influence on future Russian composers, notably the members of The Five, who took Glinka's lead and produced a distinctively Russian kind of classical music.
Glissando - Gliss. The rapid scale achieved by sliding the nail of the thumb or third finger over the white keys of the piano. Glissando is commonly used in playing the harp. For bowed instruments glissando indicates a flowing, unaccented playing of a passage.
Gluck, Christoph Willibald von Gluck - born in Erasbach Bavaria Germany on July 2, 1714 -
died in Vienna Austria on November 15, 1787 was one of the most important German opera
composers and the first reformer, of the Classical music era, He is also remembered, as the music teacher
of Marie Antoinette, who as Queen of France, promoted Gluck and was his patron.
Goldberg Variations, The - catalogue number BWV 988, are a set of 30 variations on a theme for harpsichord,
by Johann Sebastian Bach. First published in 1741 as the fourth in a series Bach called Clavier-Übung,
"keyboard practice", the work is considered to be one of the most important examples of variation form.
It is named after Johann Gottlieb Goldberg, who may have been the first performer.
Goodman, Benny - "Benjamin David" - born in Chicago, Illinois U.S.A. on May 30, 1909
died in New York City U.S.A. on June 13, 1986 was a virtuoso clarinetist and big band leader
who was and still is known as "The KIng Of Swing". His sound and style, created the dance style called
the "Jitterbug". Some of his famous arrangements include "Let's Dance", "The King Porter Stomp"
and "Sing Sing Sing", Many of his songs in his repertoire were arranged by Fletcher Henderson.
Gorecki, Henryk Mikolaj - born in Czernica Silesia Poland on December 6, 1933 is a composer
of symphonic music. His most famous work, is his Symphony #3 Op. 36, also known as the
"Symphony of Sorrowful Songs".
Gottschalk, Louis Moreau - born in New Orleans Louisiana on May 8, 1829
died in Tijuca Rio de Janeiro Brazil on December 18, 1869 was a composer and pianist,
best known as a virtuoso performer of his own romantic piano pieces.
Gould, Glenn Herbert - born in Toronto, Canada on September 25, 1932 - died in Toronto, Canada
on October 4, 1982 was an exceptional concert pianist, noted especially, for his recordings
of the music of Johann Sebastian Bach. His recording of "The Goldberg Variations" by J.S. Bach,
is regarded as one of the most important recordings, in classical music history.
Gounod, Charles François - born in Paris France on June 18, 1818 - died in Saint Cloud France
on October 18, 1893 was a composer, best known for his song "Ave Maria" as well as his operas
"Faust" and "Roméo et Ju".
Grammy Award - originally called the Gramophone Award, is presented annually by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States, for outstanding achievements in the record industry.
Granados, Pantaléon Enrique Costanzo Granados y Campiña - born in Lleida Catalonia Spain
on July 27, 1867 died (after drowning in The English Channel trying to save his wife) on March 24, 1916
was a pianist and composer of classical music.
Grandioso - Grandiose, majestic.
Grand pause - A rest for the entire ensemble.
Grand piano - A piano with a winglike shape and a horizontal frame, strings, and soundboard.
Grand staff, Great staff - The G and F clef staves together make the grand (great) staff.
Grave - Slow, solemn.
Grazia - Grace. Con grazia, with grace.
Grazioso - Graceful.
Grieg, Edvard Hagerup - born in Bergen Norway on June, 15 1843 - died in Bergen Norway
on September 4,1907 was a composer and pianist who composed in the romantic period.
He is best known for his Piano Concerto in A minor and Peer Gynt, which includes Morning Mood
and In the Hall of the Mountain King,
Grosso, grosse - Great, large.
Half step - The interval from one pitch to the immediately adjacent pitch, ascending or descending,
e.g. c-c; e-e; b-c. The smallest interval on the keyboard.
Handel, Georg Friederich - born in Halle at Saxony-Anhalt Germany onFebruary 23, 1685
died in London England on April 14, 1759 was a composer, harpsichordist and organist,
who was a leading composer of concerto's, operas and oratorios. He is best known
for his work called "Messiah".
Harmony - The sounding of two or more tones simultaneously; the vertical aspect of music.
Harris, Roy Ellsworth - born in Chandler Oklahoma U.S.A. on February 12, 1898 - died in Santa Monica California on October 1, 1979 was a composer of music. He wrote much music on American subjects,
becoming best known for his Symphony No. 3.
Harpsichord - A musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It produces sound by plucking a string when each key is depressed.
Haydn,
Franz Joseph - born in Rohrau Austria on March 31, 1732 - died in Vienna Austria on May 31, 1809
was a harpsichordist, violinist and one of the most prominent composers of the classical period, who is called by some, "The Father of the Symphony" and "The Father of the String Quartet".
Heifitz, Jascha - born in Vilna Lithuania on February the 2nd 1901 - died in Los Angels California U.S.A.
on December the 10, 1987 was an icon virtuoso violinist who is still regarded as one the greatest of all time.
Hemiola - The term applied to time values in the ration of 3:2, e.g. three half notes in place
of two dotted half notes.
Hindemith, Paul - born in Hanau Germany on November 16, 1895 - died in Frankfurt am Main Germany
on December 28 1963 was a composer, violist, violinist, teacher, music theorist and conductor.
Holst, Gustav - born in Cheltenham Gloucestershire England on September 21, 1874 - died in London England
on May 25, 1934 was a composer and was a music teacher for over 20 years. Holst is most famous for
his orchestral suite "The Planets".
Homophony, Homophonic - Musical texture which is characterized by chordal support of a melodic line.
Horowitz, Vladimir Samoylovich - born in Kiev or Berdichev, Russia on October 1, 1903
died in New York City, U.S.A. on November 5, 1989 was one of the most dominating
virtuoso concert pianists of the 20th century.He is still regarded as one of the 3 most impacting
classical pianists of the 20th century
Hummel, Johann Nepomuk or Jan Nepomuk Hummel - born in Pressburg, now Bratislava Slovakia
on November 14, 1778 - died October, 17 1837 in Weimar Germany was a composer and virtuoso pianist.
His music reflects the transition from the Classical to the Romantic musical era. Hummel also added many cadenzas or improvisational sections, to many works of the classical composers, including "Mozart".
