Originated from the Old French word meaning "to turn or twist". One of three fixed poetic forms frequently used by Ars nova composers, including Machaut. The form consists of ABBA and generally featured a secular text.
Mannheim school
Became a great musical centre in Germany during the mid-18th century. Several musical innovations took place there and were named after it, including the ___________ roll, rocket, and crescendo.
Rococo
A term applied to French(and some German) compositions of the 18th century, implying a light, airy, graceful and ornamented style, in response to the more rigid lines and complex textures of the Baroque era.
symphony
Greek for "sounding together". By the Classical era, the term applied to a large composition for orchestra, generally in three or four movements.
ground bass
A short, repeating phrase played by the lower instrumental voice(s) while the upper voices remain independent. The technique was popular during the Baroque period.
musica ficta
Refers to notes that a modern performer would change by a semitone when playing Medieval music; these alterations are not written into the manuscript.
Protestant Reformation
Begun with Martin Luther, led to Protestant Christians recreating worship by significantly modifying the liturgy from the Roman Catholic traditions. Protestant congregations did not use the Mass, for example.
oboe da caccia
Italian for "hunting horn", a Baroque instrument from the oboe family. It has an alto/tenor range pitched a fifth below the oboe.
organal
A style of music where the tenor sings the original chant melody in very long notes while the upper voices move freely and rapidly above it.
Phillipe De Vitry
Th author of the music theory text called Ars nova, which became the name of that entire period of music history. His rhythmic developments led to greater independence of the vocal parts.
