Music - Parts of Musical Pieces

Here you will learn some English words related to the different parts of musical pieces such as "accompaniment", crescendo"", and "prelude".

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crescendo

[noun]

a slow and constant increase in the loudness of a musical piece

Ex: The crescendo in the song added an emotional depth to the performance .

strain

[noun]

the tune or sound of a musical piece or song

tempo

[noun]

the speed that a piece of music is or should be played at

Ex: In classical music , tempo changes are often used to add variety to a performance .

accompaniment

[noun]

the musical support provided by one or more instruments or voices to enhance or complement a soloist or main melody

Ex: The choir director emphasized the importance of blending voices in the choral accompaniment to create a unified and harmonious sound .

cadence

[noun]

a series of musical notes, written as the ending of a musical piece

Ex: The composer carefully crafted the cadence to evoke a feeling of closure and satisfaction .

coda

[noun]

the final passage of an extended musical composition

Ex: The audience erupted in applause as the coda ended , impressed by the musicians ' ability to deliver such a captivating and climactic finale .

descant

[noun]

a melody sung or played above the main melody, typically in a higher register

Ex: The descant played by the organist lent a majestic quality to the processional hymn , filling the church with harmonious resonance .

excerpt

[noun]

a short piece taken from a longer composition

leitmotif

[noun]

a theme that appears in a literary or musical piece several times and is associated with a particular person, idea or object

middle eight

[noun]

a contrasting section in a song that typically spans eight bars, serving as a bridge between verses and choruses

movement

[noun]

one of the main parts that a long musical work is divided into, having its own structure

Ex: The ballet featured several dance sequences , each corresponding to a different movement of the orchestral suite .

prelude

[noun]

a short section of a musical performance such as a fugue, opera, suite, etc. that introduces the main theme or subject

part

[noun]

the specific music played or sung by a particular voice or instrument in multiple parts

section

[noun]

a distinct portion of a composition with its own unique characteristics, such as melody, rhythm, or harmony

theme

[noun]

a recurring melody, rhythm, chord progression, or motif in a musical composition that serves as a unifying element

Ex: The composer introduced the main theme in the opening bars of the symphony , which was later developed and transformed throughout the piece to create a sense of cohesion and structure .

vocal

[noun]

the part of a popular song that is sung, in contrast to the parts that are played on an instrument

variation

[noun]

a version of a musical theme with alterations in rhythm, tempo, melody, etc. in a way that the original theme is recognizable

cadenza

[noun]

a solo section at the end of a musical piece for the performer to show their skill and creativity

Ex: The composer included a cadenza near the end of the piece , allowing the soloist to shine with a dramatic and complex passage .

obbligato

[noun]

a musical part that is integral to a piece of music and cannot be omitted

Ex: The guitarist performed the obbligato with finesse and sensitivity , enhancing the singer 's ballad with intricate embellishments and harmonies .

form

[noun]

the overall structure or organization of a musical composition

Ex: Understanding musical form is essential for composers and performers to effectively communicate the narrative and emotional arc of a piece .

beat

[noun]

a piece of music's or a poem's main rhythm

Ex: He could n’t help but nod to the beat of the rhythm .

passage

[noun]

a short section or phrase of a musical piece, considered separately

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Music - Parts of Musical Pieces