Hall of Fame Artist terms

Key terms

• Anacrusis — a pickup note or incomplete opening measure
• Atonality — music intentionally avoiding a tonal center
• Bitonality — two keys sounding simultaneously
• Fantasia — a free composition not bound to a strict form
• Grace note — an ornamental note not essential to the harmony
• Hook — a memorable musical idea designed to catch the listener
• Recapitulation — return of exposition themes after a development
• Riff — a repeated musical figure or chord pattern
• Ritornello — a recurring passage
• Sforzando — a sudden strong accent
• Tessitura — the most characteristic or comfortable pitch range
• Vamp — a repeated accompaniment used until the next section begins