| cadence | | rules of diplomatic or state etiquette |
| lyrics | | hymn tune |
| metaphor | | sung conversation between characters to help advance the story line |
| prosody | | style of opera featuring lofty heroic themes from history and mythology |
| symbolism | | spoken lines of a play or show |
| aboriginal | | the use of one idea to represent or stand for another |
| chorale | | stage plays with songs and dance interspersed |
| chorale prelude | | an accompaniment consisting of harpsichord and viola da gamba |
| conjunct | | Rhythmic, fast-paced music used by groups of devout Muslims called Sufis |
| disjunct | | songs for a solo singer and orchestra |
| harmonics | | a series of clicks that allow the conductor to synchronize the orchestra's playing to the film |
| kritis | | to suggest actions or events before they happen |
| mass | | a melody formed by intervals larger than a second |
| overtones | | to determine which scenes of a film should have music |
| qawwali | | a Balinese sacred instrumental ensemble |
| compound meter | | liturgy |
| heterophony | | compositional method in which 2 voice parts sing the same melody, only one is higher |
| lakalaka | | compositions that served as introductions to the singing by the congregation |
| national anthem | | a melody formed by successive pitches of the scale |
| protocols | | feeling of sympathetic pity or compassion for a character |
| dirge | | a perforated strip along the film's edge containing coded representation of sound |
| drone | | polyphonic choral compositions based on sacred text |
| gamelan gambang | | music portrays the meaning of the words of the text |
| opus | | layered dynamic levels within a composition |
| arias | | the series of faint tones generated by a fundamental tone |
| libretto | | musical qualities of language |
| opera | | the national dance of Tonga |
| opera buffa | | breathing break |
| pathos | | comic opera |
| recitative | | verbal messages set to music |
| verismo | | dramatic stage form that combines acting and singing |
| opera seria | | music with no strict meter or accompaniment sung by a single voice or unison choir |
| Broadway musical | | a rebirth or revival of human creativity |
| dialogue | | the text of an opera |
| monologue | | a slow, mournful hymn or lament |
| motive | | markings over or under the text to signal pitch changes |
| operettas | | a short musical idea that is easily remembered and helps unify a composition |
| repertoire | | a style of Italian opera with realistic portrayals of life |
| vaudeville | | a song of praise or devotion to one's country |
| character themes | | a series of tones generated by the fundamental tone |
| click-track | | melodies associated with a particular character |
| cue | | a method of assigning a syllabic name to each tone of the scale |
| dubbing | | a staged drama that is primarily sung |
| foreshadow | | the specific music for a particular scene in a film |
| scoring | | a term designating a musical work or set of works |
| soundtrack | | written notation |
| spot | | composing music expressly for film |
| continuo | | Hindu religious songs that are sung in praise of a particular god or gods |
| motets | | the original or first people to inhabit a place |
| neumes | | a division of the pulse into groupings of 3 segments |
| parallel organum | | a musical texture that occurs when melodic variants of the same tune are performed simultaneously |
| plainsong | | a continuous note of fixed pitch serving as permanent bass |
| Renaissance | | dramatic speech or song delivered by one character in a play |
| score | | putting all the elements of sound onto one soundtrack |
| solmization | | an early staged variety show that included songs, dances, and comedy skits |
| terraced dynamics | | a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is used to substitute for or designate another |
| word painting | | an inventory of compositions mastered and performed by a musician |
