sinfonia
Baroque instrumental prelude
Sinfonia is a musical term with several related meanings.
In Baroque music, a sinfonia is an instrumental piece introducing an opera, cantata, or suite—what would later be called an overture.
In Italian, sinfonia simply means symphony, and many chamber orchestras use the name: the Atlanta Sinfonia.
The term suggests classical refinement and European musical tradition.
Introductory orchestral piece
- allegroBrisk tempo marking
- adagioSlow musical tempo
- andanteWalking-pace tempo marking
- vivaceLively musical tempo
largo · presto · intermezzo · opera · cantata · oratorio · ensemble · movement
Large orchestra organization
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- stringsThin flexible lines
- woodwindsInstruments played by blowing
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
percussion · conductor · ensemble · score · movement · crescendo · diminuendo · fortissimo
Simultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- canonAccepted authoritative works
- voiceSound from throat
imitation · texture · interweaving · contrapuntal · development · variation · motif · thematic
overture
Introductory orchestral piece
vivace · largo · presto · intermezzo · opera · cantata · oratorio · ensemble · movement · score
philharmonic
Large orchestra organization
- orchestraLarge instrumental ensemble
- stringsThin flexible lines
- woodwindsInstruments played by blowing
brass · percussion · conductor · ensemble · score · movement · crescendo · diminuendo · fortissimo · pianissimo
counterpoint
Simultaneous independent melodies
- polyphonySimultaneous independent melodic lines
- fugueContrapuntal musical form
- canonAccepted authoritative works
voice · imitation · texture · interweaving · contrapuntal · development · variation · motif · thematic · subject
consonance
Harmonious sound combination
- chordNotes sounded simultaneously
- tonalityMusic organized around tonic
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
harmony · resonance · interval · diatonic · triad · cadence · modulation · scale · arpeggio · dissonance
sinfoniasolo
Performance by one
aria · monody · a cappella · recitative · monophony
sinfoniasymphony
Extended composition for orchestra
symphonic poem · tone poem · orchestral suite · miniature · bagatelle