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diminuendo (pronounced "dee-MIN-you-EN-doe") - the term used when the dynamic level grows softer in the course of a piece.
disjunct - a melody type in which the notes move mainly by leap
dramma giocoso - a hybrid genre, mixing elements of opera buffa with opera seria. Don Giovanni is an example of this relatively rare genre.
dress rehearsal - a rehearsal in full costume
duo/duet - a number featuring two singers
duple meter - the beats are arranged in pairs (1-2-1-2-1-2-1-2, or strong-weak-strong-weak)
dynamics/dynamic level - the term for the relative volume level in music. The most common Italian terms are:
- pianissimo (pp) - very soft
- piano (p) - soft / quiet
- mezzo-piano (mp) - somewhat soft
- mezzo-forte (mf) - somewhat loud
- forte (f) - loud / strong
- fortissimo (ff) - very loud
Music can change its dynamic level in the middle of a piece. Growing softer is called diminuendo (pronounced "dee-MIN-you-EN-doe"); growing louder is called crescendo (pronounced "cre-SHEN-doe").
encore - literally, "again" in French; now used to describe the unplanned repetition of a number because of an audience's enthusiastic response
ensembles - the possible groupings of singers (or instrumentalists)
- duo/duet - two singers
- trio - three
- quartet - four
- quintet - five
- sextet - six
- septet - seven
- octet - eight
entr'acte - similar to the overture, this is an instrumental number performed by the orchestra at the beginning of a second (or third) act, indicating to the audience that the show is about to resume after an intermission or interval.
episodes - The contrasting sections (B, C, etc.) of a rondo form; there have to be at least 2
flop - a show that sells poorly and closes early (often after being panned)
Florentine Camerata - group of writers, artists, musicians, etc. in Florence who devised opera at the beginning of the Baroque era.
foreshadowing - presenting a melody earlier in a show, but without the words for which it is best known
form - the pattern of repetition in a piece of music; its structure or organization. Some common patterns are:
strophic - A A A (etc.)
binary - A B (or AA BB)
ternary - A B A (or A B A')
song form - A A B A'
rondo - A B A C A (etc.)
rounded binary - ||:A:||:BA':|| (= AA BA' BA')
alternation - a b a b a b (etc.)
verse-chorus - a B a B a B (etc.)
forte (f) - a loud / strong dynamic level
fortissimo (ff) - a very loud dynamic level
fugue - a type of imitative polyphony in which several performers each echo the opening melody, but also go on to perform individual material
genre - a "category" of music; i.e., opera, Singspiel, operetta, ballad opera.
hemiola - a rhythmic technique in which the meter seems to shift temporarily from duple to triple or vice versa.
hit - a show that sells very well (often thanks to rave reviews)
homophony - a melody with vocal or instrumental accompaniment (a kind of texture)
imitative polyphony - a kind of texture in which a melody starts in one voice and is then overlapped by a second voice singing the same melody
impresario - a person who is responsible for finding the financial backers, making the programming decisions, assembling the performance forces, etc., for an opera. Analogous to the producer of movies (as well as of contemporary musicals)
instrumental accompaniment - can be featured in the course of a song in various ways, such as:
- introduction - played before the singing starts; usually "sets the mood"
- interlude - a substantial portion of instrumental music played between sung portions
- coda - music that "wraps up" the tune
interlude - a substantial portion of instrumental music played between sung portions
intermission - a period of rest between acts of an opera or show in which the house lights are raised and the audience is free to move about. Known as the interval in England.
interval - the English equivalent to an intermission.
introduction (instrumental) - played before the singing starts in a particular song; usually "sets the mood." Not the same as an overture, which is entirely instrumental (no singers are involved).