Impressionism - A musical movement of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Inspired by the French
impressionist painters, the movement had its impetus in the music of Debussy and Ravel.
Instrument - Any device that produces a musical sound.
Instrumentation - The art of composing, orchestrating, or arranging for an instrumental ensemble.
Interval -The difference in pitch between two tones. Inversion - As applied to music the term may be used in both melody and harmony.
Melodic inversion: an exchange of ascending and descending movement, e.g. c up to f in descending becomes c down to g. Harmonic inversion: the position of the chord is changed from root position (root on the lowest pitch) to first inversion, with the third, or second inversion, with the fifth in the lowest voice. An example: root position c-e-g; first inversion e-g-c; second inversion g-c-e.
Ironico - Ironical.
Joel, Billy - " William Martin" - born in the Bronx New York U.S.A. on May 9, 1949 is an American singer,
pianist, guitarist, composer and lyricist. He is regarded, as one of America's greatest songwriters, of all time.
His song "Piano Man" and a slew of other tunes, have won him 6 Grammy awards and has made him a member of the "Songwriters Hall of Fame", "The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame", and "The Long Island Music Hall of Fame".
Joplin, Scott - born in Eastern Texas U.S.A. near Linden - between June 1867 and January 1868
in Eastern Texas - died in New York City U.S.A. on April 1, 1917 was a pianist and composer
of ragtime music. He still remains known as "The King of Ragtime". Some of his classic rags include
"The Entertainer", "The Maple Leaf Rag", "The Peacherine Rag", "Solace" and "Elite Syncopations".
Khachaturian, Aram - born in Tbilsi Georgia Russia on June 6, 1903- died in Moscow Russia on May 1, 1978
was a composer, whose works were often influenced by Armenian folk music. His most famous piece is "The Sabre Dance".
Kogan, Richard Dr. - Born in New York City, U.S.A. on January 30, 1955 is a concert pianist, psychiatrist
who explores the minds of many of the great composers including "Mozart", "Schumann", "Beethoven" and
"Bernstein". He gives performance lectures all over the world.
La - In solmization, the sixth degree of the major scale. Also, the first degree of the relative minor scale, e.g. a is the sixth degree, or la, in the C major scale and the first degree of the a-minor scale.
Lacrimoso - Tearful, mournful.
Lamento - Mournful, sad.
Langsam - Slow.
Largamente - Broadly.
Larghetto - Slower than largo.
Largo - Very slow.
Leading tone - The seventh degree of the major scale, so called because of its strong tendency
to resolve upward to the tonic.
Ledger lines - Short lines placed above and below the staff for pitches beyond the range of the staff.
Legato - Smooth, connected.
Leggiero - Light; graceful.
Lento - Slow; slightly faster than largo, slower than adagio.
Leoncavallo, Ruggiero - born in Naples Italy on April 23, 1857- died in Montecatini Tuscany Italy
on August 9, 1919 was an opera composer. He is mostly known for his aria "Vesti La Giubba"
from his 2 act opera "Pagliacci".
Levant, Oscar - born in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania U.S.A. on December 27, 1906 died in Beverly Hills California U.S.A. on August 14, 1972 was a pianist, composer, author, comedian, and actor. Levant was a
big
George Gershwin advocate and many claimed, that Levant, could play "Gershwin" better than "Gershwin".
Liberamento - Freely.
Linear - Melodic; horizontal lines.
Liszt, Franz - born in Doborjan Hungary on October 22, 1811 - died in Bayreuth Bavaria Germany
on July 31, 1886) was a virtuoso pianist and composer of the Romantic period. He was a renowned performer throughout Europe during the 19th century, noted especially for his showmanship and great skill with the piano. Today, he is considered to be one of the greatest pianists in history. Liszt is frequently credited with
re-defining piano playing itself, and his influence is still visible today, both through his compositions and his legacy as a teacher.
Ma - But. Used with other words, e.g. lento ma non troppo, slow but not too slowly.
Maazel, Lorin Varencove - born in Neuilly Sur Seine, France on March 6, 1930 is a conductor, violinist and composer who is best known for his conducting career with "The Cleveland Orchestra".
MacDowell, Edward Alexander - born in New York City on December 18, 1860 - died in New York City
on January 23, 1908 was a composer and pianist from the Romantic period, best known for his
2nd piano concerto and his piano suites "Woodland Sketches", "Sea Pieces", and "New England Idyls".
Machaut, Guillaume de - born in the region of Rheims France sometime in the year 1300 - died sometime
in April of 1377 was an important Medieval French poet and composer. Well into the 15th century, Machaut's poetry was greatly admired and imitated by other poets including the likes of Geoffrey Chaucer. Machaut was
and is the most celebrated composer of the 14th century. He composed in a wide range of styles and forms and
his output was enormous. He was also the most famous and historically significant representative of the musical movement known as the ars nova.
Maestoso - Majestically.
Mahler, Gustav - born in Kaliste (German pronunciation) (Kalischt), Moravia, then in the Austrian Empire,
today in the Czech Republic on July 7, 1860 - died in Vienna Austria on May 18, 1911 was a composer and conductor. Mahler was best known during his own lifetime as one of the leading orchestral and operatic conductors of the day. He has since come to be acknowledged as among the most important late-romantic composers, although during his lifetime, his music was never fully accepted, by the musical establishment.
Major - The designation for certain intervals and scales. A key based on a major scale is called a major key.
The pattern for the major scale is: whole whole half whole whole whole half step step step step step step step
Major chord - A triad composed of a root, major third, and perfect fifth.
Massenet, Jules Emile Frederic - born in Montaud Saint - Etieve France in the Loire on May 12, 1842
died in Paris France on August 13, 1912 was a composer of music. He is best known for his operas, which were very popular in the late 19th and early 20th century; they afterwards fell into oblivion for the most part, but have undergone periodic revivals since the mid-1970's.
McCartney, Sir James Paul - born in Liverpool England on June 18, 1942 is an icon English singer,
songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, who first gained worldwide fame, as one of the founding members,
of the Rock and Roll band "The Beatles". His song "Yesterday" still remains one of the most popular songs
in the world.
Measure - A group of beats containing a primary accent and one or more secondary accents, indicated by the placement of bar lines on the staff. The space between two bar lines.
Medesimo - The same.
Mediant - The third degree of the major or minor scale. The triad built on this degree is labeled iii in the major scale, III in the natural minor scale, and III+ in the harmonic minor scale.
Medieval - The period prior to the Renaissance, c. 500-1450, marking the music of the early Christian church.
Melody - In general, a succession of musical tones. It represents the linear or horizontal aspect of music.
Mellotron - is an electric polyphonic keyboard originally developed and built in Birmingham England
in the early 1960s. The Mellotron was one of the first sampling keyboards.
Mendelssohn, Jakob Ludwig Felix (Bartholdy) - born in Hamburg Germany on February 3, 1809
died in Leipzig Germany on November 4, 1847 was a composer, pianist, violinist and conductor of the early Romantic period. His works include symphonies, concerto's, oratorios, piano and chamber music. As a child
prodigee, he was known as a 2nd Mozart. He is best known for his works "A Midsummers Nights Dream"
which contains the "Wedding March", "The Violin Concerto in E minor opus 64", "Songs Without Words"
and the music for the Christmas carol "Hark the Herald Angels Sing" with words written by Charles Wesley.
Meno - Less.
Meno mosso - Less motion.
Messiaen, Olivier - born in Avignon France on December 10, 1908 - died in Paris france on April 27, 1992
was a composer, organist, and ornithologist.
Meter - The structure of notes in a regular pattern of accented and unaccented beats within a measure, indicated at the beginning of a composition by a meter signature.
Meter signature - The numbers placed at the beginning of a composition to indicate the meter of the music, e.g. . The upper number indicates the beats in a measure; the lower number tells what kind of a note will receive one beat.
Metronome - Invented by Maelzel in 1816, the instrument is used to indicate the exact tempo of a composition.
An indication such as M.M. 60 indicates that the pendulum, with a weight at the bottom, makes 60 beats per minute. A slider is moved up and down the pendulum to decrease and increase the tempo.M.M. = 80 means
that the time value of a quarter note is the equivalent of one pendulum beat when the slider is set at 80.
Meyerbeer, Giacomo - born in Tasdorf near Berlin Germany on September 5, 1791 - died in Paris France
on May 2, 1864 was a pianist and opera composer, and the first great exponent of Grand Opera.
Mezzo - Half,
Medium
Mezzo forte - Medium loud.
Mezzo piano - Medium soft.
Mi - In solmization, the third degree of the major scale.
Middle Ages - European historical period between roughly A.D. 500 and 1450.
Middle C - The note C in the middle of the Grand staff, and near the middle of the piano.
Milhaud, Darius - born in Aix-en Provence France on September 4, 1892 - died in Geneva Switzerland
on June 22, 1974 was a composer and teacher. He was a member of Les Six - also known as the
Groupe des Six - and one of the most prolific composers of the 20th century.
Minor - The designation for certain intervals and scales. A key based on a minor scale is called a minor key. The three types of minor scales include natural, hormonic, and melodic, which is used infrequently in choral music.
Misterioso - Mysteriously.
Mit - With.
Mode - Any scalewise arrangement of pitches; more generally, the term refers to the patterns upon which medieval music was structured, the patterns which preceded the development of major and minor scales and tonality.
Moderato - Moderate speed.
Modern - Music written in the 20th century or contempory music.
Modulation - The process of changing from one key to another within a composition.
Most, Franz Welser - born in Linz, Austria on August 16, 1960 is a symphonic conductor who is now
the music director for "The Cleveland Orchestra".
Molto - Very. Used with other terms, e.g. molto allegro.
Monk, Thelonious Sphere - born in Rocky Mount North Carolina U.S.A. on October 10, 1917
died in Englewood New Jersey U.S.A. on February 17, 1982 was a jazz pianist and composer.
Aside from his inovative jazz piano playing, he is best known for his song "Round Midnight".
Monteverdi, Claudio - born in Cremona Italy in the year 1567 - died in Venice Italy on. November 29, 1643
was a composer, violist (gambist), and singer.
Moog, Robert Dr. - born in New York City, U.S.A. on May 23, 1934 - died in Asheville North Carolina, U.S.A
on August the 21. 2005 was a pioneer in the field of electronic music. He best known for the invention of the "Moog Synthesizer".
Moog Synthesizer - is an electronic analog sophisticated studio-oriented professional audio keyboard system which was and still is used as a musical instrument in many genres of 20th and 21st century music.
Mordent - "Biting." An ornament consisting of an alteration (once or twice) of the written note by playing the one immediately below it (lower mordent), or above it (upper, or inverted, mordent) and then playing the note again.
Morendo - Gradually decreasing in volume; dying away.
Mosso - Rapid.
Meno mosso, less rapid. Piu mosso, more rapid.
Moszkowski, Moritz - born in Breslau Poland on August 23, 1854 - died in Paris France on March 4, 1925
was a composer, virtuoso pianist and teacher. His pupils included Frank Damrosch and Josef Hofmann.
Motive - A short melodic or rhythmic pattern.
Moto - Motion. Con moto, with motion.
Movable Do - The system of solmization in which do changes to accommodate the key, e.g. in the key of C major,
do is c; in E major do is e. In the key of a minor do is c (relative major); in the key of c minor do is e
(relative major).
Music - The organization of sounds with some degree of rhythm, melody, and harmony.
Music theory - The study of how music is put together.
Mozart, Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus - born in Salzburg Austria on January 27, 1756
died in Vienna Austria on December 5, 1791 was a composer, pianist, violinist and instrumentalist
during the Classical era. His output of almost 1000 compositions include numerous symphonies, concertos, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music, that are still performed extensively throughout the world.
Mussorgsky, Modest Petrovich - born in Karevo in the province of Pskov Russia on March 9 or 21, 1839
died in St. Petersburg Russia on March 16 or 28, 1881 was a composer and pianist and is also known,
as one of the Russian "5" composers. Mussorgsky's most famous works include "A Night on Bald Mountain"
and "Pictures at an Exhibition". .
Nach - After (as "in the manner of"); behind.
Nachtmusik - "Night music." A serenade.
Natural - A musical symbol which cancels a previous sharp or flat.
Neumatic - One style of chant in which two to four pitches occur on one syllable; in contrast to melismatic and syllabic.
Non - No; not.
Nonharmonic tones - A designation for tones outside the harmonic structure of the chord. Two frequently used examples are the passing tone and the appoggiatura.
Non troppo - Not too much. Used with other terms, e.g. non troppo allegro, not too fast.
Notation - A term for a system of expressing musical sounds through the use of written characters, called notes.
Note - The symbol which, when placed on a staff with a particular clef sign, indicates pitch.
Nuance - Subtle variations in tempo, phrasing, dynamics, etc., to enhance a musical performance.
Octave - The eighth tone above a given pitch, with twice as many vibrations per second, or below a given pitch, with half as many vibrations.
Octet - A piece for eight instruments or voices
Offenbach, Jacques - born in Offenbach am Main Hesse, Germany on June 20, 1819 - died in Paris, France
on October 5, 1880 was a composer and cellist of the Romantic era. He is mostly remembered for
his operetta "Orpheus in the Underworld"
Open fifth - A triad without a third.
Open strings - Strings are not stopped, fingured, or fretted.
Opus, Op - The term, meaning work, is used by composers to show the chronological order of their works, e.g. Op. 1, Op. 2.
Orchestra - A large group of musicians made up of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments.
Orchestration - The art of writing, arranging, or scoring for the orchestra.
Ornamentation - Note or notes added to the original melodic line for embellishment and added interest.
Ornaments - Melodic embellishments, either written or improvised.
Ossia - "Or." Indicating an alternative passage or version.
Ostinato - A repeated melodic or rhythmic pattern, frequently appearing in the bass line.
Ottava - Octave.
Ottava alta - (8va) An octave higher.
Ottave bassa - (8va or 8vb) An octave lower.
Overtones - The almost inaudible higher tones which occur with the fundamental tone. They are the result of the vibration of small sections of a string (instrument) or a column of air. Other general terms for overtones are partials and harmonics.
Overture - The introductory music for an opera, oratorio or ballet. A concert overture is an independent work.
