SAT Humanities - Music

Here you will learn some English words related to music, such as "composition", "dissonant", "aria", etc. that you will need to ace your SATs.

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composition [noun]

a musical work that has been created, such as a piece, song, or opus

Ex: The orchestra premiered a composition for strings and brass .

score [noun]

the music composed for a movie

Ex: The director collaborated closely with the composer to ensure the score captured the mood and emotion of each scene .

scale [noun]

an arrangement of a series of musical notes with specified intervals, in ascending or descending pitch order

Ex: In this composition , the melody moves up and down the scale , creating a sense of tension and release .

harmonic [noun]

a component of a musical sound that is produced alongside the fundamental pitch, contributing to the overall richness and timbre of the sound

Ex:

symphony [noun]

a long and sophisticated musical composition written for a large orchestra, in three or four movements

Ex:

concerto [noun]

a musical composition that is written for one or more solo instruments and accompanied by an orchestra with three movements

Ex: The cellist 's performance of the concerto was met with enthusiastic applause from the audience .

melodic [adjective]

having a tuneful, harmonious quality or arrangement of sounds

Ex: The pianist 's performance was marked by melodic phrasing and expressive dynamics .

string quartet [noun]

a musical composition that is specifically written for two violins, a viola, and a cello, and typically consists of four movements

soloist [noun]

a singer or musician who performs alone

lyricist [noun]

someone whose profession is to write the words of a song, or lyrics

saxophonist [noun]

someone who plays the saxophone

Ex: The famous saxophonist was invited to perform at the music festival .

virtuoso [noun]

someone who is highly skilled at playing a musical instrument

Ex: The concert featured a guitar virtuoso whose rapid fingerwork and intricate melodies showcased his exceptional talent .

prima donna [noun]

the main female singer in an opera or opera company

accompaniment [noun]

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

Ex: The jazz pianist improvised a captivating accompaniment , seamlessly weaving intricate harmonies beneath the saxophonist 's solo .

recitative [noun]

a style of vocal singing in opera and oratorio characterized by a speech-like delivery, used to advance the plot or convey dialogue

Ex: The singer 's expressive recitative captivated the audience , drawing them into the drama unfolding on stage .

aria [noun]

a long, elaborate song that is melodious and is intended for a solo voice, especially in an opera

string instrument [noun]

any musical instruments that can produce sound when its strings are touched or struck

Ex: The orchestra featured a variety of string instruments , including violins , cellos , and double basses .

woodwind instrument [noun]

a musical instrument that produces sound by vibrating air within a tube or pipe, typically made of wood or metal

Ex: The oboe and bassoon , both woodwind instruments , create a rich and expressive blend in the orchestra 's ensemble .

oboe [noun]

a woodwind double-reed instrument with a long tubular body and holes and keys on top

Ex: Learning to play the oboe requires patience .

ocarina [noun]

an ancient wind instrument shaped like an egg with holes in its body that are covered with the fingers

ukulele [noun]

a small, four-stringed musical instrument resembling a guitar, originating from Hawaii

Ex: The ukulele 's cheerful tones added a touch of whimsy to the folk song , creating a delightful musical atmosphere .

bagpipe [noun]

a wind instrument with a reed and several sticks, played by squeezing a bag and blowing through one of its pipes, originated from Scotland

Ex: The bagpipe 's melody echoed through the countryside during the Celtic festival .

theremin [noun]

an electronic musical instrument played without physical contact, controlled by hand movements near two antennas that manipulate electromagnetic fields to produce sound

harpsichord [noun]

an early keyboard instrument resembling a piano in which the strings are plucked rather than being hit with a hammer

accordion [noun]

a box-like musical instrument that is held in both hands and is played by squeezing and stretching it while pressing its keys

Ex: The accordion adds a unique and vibrant sound to traditional music genres .

bassoon [noun]

a woodwind instrument of the oboe family consisting of a long wooden tube and a double reed

player piano [noun]

a type of piano equipped with a mechanism that allows it to play music automatically

Ex: The music hall featured a collection of historic player pianos dating back to the early 20th century .

percussive [adjective]

producing a sharp, powerful sound, typically by hitting or striking something

Ex: Thunder is a natural percussive sound created during a storm .

amplifier [noun]

an electronic device that strengthens electrical signals or causes sounds to get louder

Ex: The lecture hall was equipped with a powerful amplifier to ensure everyone could hear the speaker clearly .

dissonant [adjective]

(of a sound) having tones that clash or sound unpleasant together

Ex: His music is known for its dissonant harmonies , challenging traditional notions of beauty in sound .

soundscape [noun]

an auditory experience created by the combination of musical and non-musical sounds within a particular area or context

Ex: The sound designer carefully crafted the soundscape for the video game to immerse players in the virtual world .

swing music [noun]

a subgenre of jazz marked by its infectious, propulsive rhythm, prominent use of brass and woodwind instruments, and its association with the swing era of the 1930s and 1940s

Ex: Learning to play the saxophone helped me appreciate the complexity and energy of swing music .

scat [noun]

vocal improvisation where the singer uses nonsense syllables, rhythms, and melodic variations to create spontaneous and rhythmic expressions

Ex: Jazz musicians often use scat to add a playful and spontaneous element to their performances .

SAT Humanities
History and Archaeology	Art and Craft	Performance Arts and Media	Music
Literature and Culture	Social Sciences	Politics and Legislature	Power and Ruling
Law and Obligations	Conflict and Compliance	Business and Management	Religion and Belief Systems
People	Job and Social Titles	Temporary and Relative Roles	Human Qualities and Appearance
Activity and Behavior	Manual Action	Thoughts	Positive Emotions
Negative Emotions	Opinions	Positive Attitude	Negative and Neutral Attitude
Residence and Recreation	Resource and Food	Virtue	Evil
Communication	Interaction