Musical Technique & Expression Vocabulary

smooth and connected notes

“The melody flowed in beautiful legato.”

Origin: Italian legato `bound`, from Latin ligare `to bind`

short, detached notes

“The staccato passage was crisp and percussive.”

Origin: Italian staccato `detached`, from staccare `to detach`

slight, rapid variation in pitch for expressiveness

“Her warm vibrato enriched every phrase.”

Origin: Italian vibrato `vibrated`, from Latin vibrare `to shake`

plucking strings instead of using the bow

“The pizzicato section was playful.”

Origin: Italian pizzicato `pinched`, from pizzicare `to pinch`

a slide from one note to another

“The harp's glissando sparkled.”

Origin: Italian, from French glisser `to slide`

notes of a chord played in succession

“The pianist's arpeggios rippled across the keyboard.”

Origin: Italian arpeggio, from arpeggiare `to play the harp`

the technique of combining melodies

“Bach was the master of counterpoint.”

Origin: Latin punctus contra punctum `note against note`

a combination of tones that sounds unstable

“The dissonance created tension before resolution.”

Origin: Latin dissonantia `discord`, from dis- `apart` + sonare `to sound`

the combination of simultaneous notes in chords

“The rich harmony supported the melody.”

Origin: Greek harmonia `agreement, concord`

the distinctive quality of a sound

“The oboe's plaintive timbre is unmistakable.”

Origin: French timbre `tone quality`, from Greek tympanon `drum`