Recitative: A musical work usually found in an opera or oratorio, which mimics
the patterns of speech, in order to advance the story.
Red
Notes: In medieval music, notes that were
colored red on the page in order to distinguish differences in rhythm
or octave transposition for specific notes. They were also used to show
differences in a cantus firmus from the original.
Renaissance: "Rebirth." The era from the mid-15th century to the end of the 16th
century. The music was charactarized by the use of freer forms, and a
progression from modes toward
major and minor scales, and harmony.
Resolution: The changing of a dissonant pitch, usually by stepwise or chromatic motion, so that it becomes consonant with the chord being sounded.
Resonance: Reinforcement and intensification of sound by vibrations.
Rest: A symbol used to denote silence.
Rest: A symbol used to denote silence.
Rhapsody: A free style instrumental piece characterized by dramatic changes in
mood.
Rhythm: The term which denotes the organization of sound in time; the temporal
quality of sound.
Rinforzando: A reinforced accent.
Risoluto: Resolute.
Ritardando,
rit: Gradually slower. Same as rallentando.
Ritenuto: Immediate reduction in tempo.
Ritmico: Rhythmically.
Roll: On
percussion instruments, a sticking technique consisting of a rapid
succession of notes.
Root: the most fundamental note of a chord, often the bass note, which usually contains the other members of the chord in its overtones.
Root position: The arrangement of a chord in which the root is in the lowest voice.
Round: Similar to a canon, a song in which two or more parts having the same
melody, starting at different points. The parts may be repeated as
desired.
Rubato: Denotes flexibility of tempo to assist in achieving expressiveness.
Rudiments: On percussion instruments, the basic sticking patterns.
Ruhig: Quiet.
Run: A rapid
scale passage.
Rustico: Rustic; rural; pastoral. |
