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Masterpieces of Western Music

Humanities W1123 · Prof. Michael Thaddeus

Ludwig van Beethoven (1770-1827)


GLOSSARY

GENRE: a category of artistic composition characterized by similiarities in form, style, or material: e.g. "madrigal" or "concerto"

FORM: the large-scale structure of a work or movement: e.g. "sonata-allegro" or "rondo"

STYLE: a manner or mode of composition: e.g. "imitative polyphony" or "melody and accompaniment"

TIMBRE: tone quality created by mixture of fundamental with overtones

ORCHESTRATION: the choice of which instruments play which notes in a piece for orchestra

DYNAMICS: written instructions to perform softly or loudly (e.g. "pianissimo," "piano," "forte," "fortissimo")

TEMPO: the general speed of a movement, often described with an Italian name [SG]

MOTTO THEME: a unifying theme that recurs in several movements of a large work like a symphony

FRAGMENTATION: breaking up of a theme or motive into smaller parts

CODA: a brief concluding passage, like an afterthought

All of the terms in the Haydn glossary remain very relevant!