types:
pizzicato
a note or passage that is played pizzicato
popularism
music adapted to the understanding and taste of the majority
part music
vocal music for several voices in independent parts (usually performed without accompaniment)
instrumental music
music intended to be performed by a musical instrument or group of instruments
prelude
music that precedes a fugue or introduces an act in an opera
overture
orchestral music played at the beginning of an opera or oratorio
antiphony
alternate (responsive) singing by a choir in two parts
chorus,
refrain
the part of a song where a soloist is joined by a group of singers
ballet
music written for a ballet
serial music,
serialism
20th century music that uses a definite order of notes as a thematic basis for a musical composition
syncopation
music (especially dance music) that has a syncopated rhythm
Ta'ziyeh
(Islam) a form of Iranian musical pageant that is the theatrical expression of religious passion; based on the Battle of Kerbala and performed annually (in Farsi)
vocal,
vocal music
music intended to be performed by one or more singers, usually with instrumental accompaniment
reprise
the repetition within a musical or other work of a song that was previously performed
morceau
a short literary or musical composition
canto
a major division of a long poem
above
an earlier section of a written text
article,
clause
a separate section of a legal document (as a statute or contract or will)
book
a major division of a long written composition
chapter
a subdivision of a written work; usually numbered and titled
episode
a brief section of a literary or dramatic work that forms part of a connected series
spot
a section of an entertainment that is assigned to a specific performer or performance
spot
a short section or illustration (as between radio or tv programs or in a magazine) that is often used for advertising
insert
a folded section placed between the leaves of another publication
narration
(rhetoric) the second section of an oration in which the facts are set forth
passage
a section of text; particularly a section of medium length
mezuza,
mezuzah
religious texts from Deuteronomy inscribed on parchment and rolled up in a case that is attached to the doorframe of many Jewish households in accordance with Jewish law
sura
one of the sections (or chapters) in the Koran
exposition
(music) the section of a movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes first occur
obbligato,
obligato
a part of the score that must be performed without change or omission
sheet music
a musical composition in printed or written form
glissando
a rapid series of ascending or descending notes on the musical scale
roulade
(music) an elaborate run of several notes sung to one syllable
counterpoint
a musical form involving the simultaneous sound of two or more melodies
African-American music,
black music
music created by African-American musicians; early forms were songs that had a melodic line and a strong rhythmic beat with repeated choruses
four-part harmony
harmony in which each chord has four notes that create four melodic lines
preparation
(music) a note that produces a dissonant chord is first heard in a consonant chord
resolution
(music) a dissonant chord is followed by a consonant chord
leitmotif,
leitmotiv
a melodic phrase that accompanies the reappearance of a person or situation (as in Wagner's operas)
theme song
a melody that recurs and comes to represent a musical play or movie
part,
voice
the melody carried by a particular voice or instrument in polyphonic music
homophony
part music with one dominant voice (in a homophonic style)
realisation,
realization
a musical composition that has been completed or enriched by someone other than the composer
recapitulation
(music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) in which musical themes that were introduced earlier are repeated
intermezzo
a short piece of instrumental music composed for performance between acts of a drama or opera
allegro
a musical composition or musical passage to be performed quickly in a brisk lively manner
allegretto
a musical composition or musical passage to be performed at a somewhat quicker tempo than andante but not as fast as allegro
andante
a musical composition or musical passage to be performed moderately slow
introit
a composition of vocal music that is appropriate for opening church services
chorale prelude
a composition for organ using a chorale as a basis for variations
solo
a musical composition for one voice or instrument (with or without accompaniment)
trio
a musical composition for three performers
octet,
octette
a musical composition written for eight performers
canon
a contrapuntal piece of music in which a melody in one part is imitated exactly in other parts
etude
a short composition for a solo instrument; intended as an exercise or to demonstrate technical virtuosity
toccata
a baroque musical composition (usually for a keyboard instrument) with full chords and rapid elaborate runs in a rhythmically free style
fantasia
a musical composition of a free form usually incorporating several familiar themes
movement
a major self-contained part of a symphony or sonata
largo
(music) a composition or passage that is to be performed in a slow and dignified manner
larghetto
(music) a composition or passage played in a slow tempo slightly faster than largo but slower than adagio
suite
a musical composition of several movements only loosely connected
medley,
pastiche,
potpourri
a musical composition consisting of a series of songs or other musical pieces from various sources
adagio
(music) a composition played in adagio tempo (slowly and gracefully)
song,
vocal
a short musical composition with words
study
a composition intended to develop one aspect of the performer's technique
tra-la,
tra-la-la
a set of nonsensical syllables used while humming a refrain
beguine
music written in the bolero rhythm of the beguine dance
bolero
music written in the rhythm of the bolero dance
carioca
music composed for dancing the carioca
conga
music composed for dancing the conga
flamenco
guitar music composed for dancing the flamenco
gavotte
music composed in quadruple time for dancing the gavotte
habanera
music composed in duple time for dancing the habanera
gigue,
jig
music in three-four time for dancing a jig
landler
music in triple time for dancing the landler
mazurka
music composed for dancing the mazurka
minuet
a stately piece of music composed for dancing the minuet; often incorporated into a sonata or suite
paso doble
music in march time composed for dancing the paso doble; often played at bull fights
polka
music performed for dancing the polka
reel
music composed for dancing a reel
rhumba,
rumba
syncopated music in duple time for dancing the rumba
samba
music composed for dancing the samba
saraband
music composed for dancing the saraband
tango
music written in duple time for dancing the tango
tarantella
music composed in six-eight time for dancing
techno
a style of fast heavy electronic dance music usually without vocals
waltz
music composed in triple time for waltzing
rag,
ragtime
music with a syncopated melody (usually for the piano)
jazz
a style of dance music popular in the 1920s; similar to New Orleans jazz but played by large bands
kwela
a kind of danceable music popular among black South Africans; includes a whistle among its instruments
development
(music) the section of a composition or movement (especially in sonata form) where the major musical themes are developed and elaborated
capriccio
an instrumental composition that doesn't adhere to rules for any specific musical form and is played with improvisation
motet
an unaccompanied choral composition with sacred lyrics; intended to be sung as part of a church service; originated in the 13th century
incidental music
music composed to accompany the action of a drama or to fill intervals between scenes
rhapsody
an improvisational and emotional musical composition with an irregular form
verse
a group of lines that form one section of a song or poem
verse
one of short subdivisions of a chapter in the Bible