S
sackbut (SAK but) early trombone-like instrument
saltarello (sal tah RIL loh) fast Roman dance similar to the
Neapolitan tarantella
sarabande (sair ah BAHND) 18th century triple time dance
satz (sahtz) German trem for movement
scale (skayl) notes of a key in order of pitch
scene (SHAY nah=Italian; "seen") dramatic operatic movement
schartzando (skairt ZAHN doh) lively and playful
scharzoso ( skairt SOH zoh) Italian for playful or lively
scherzo (SKAIRT tsoh) fast movement, generally in triple time
schottische (SHOT eesh) Ger, 19th century ballroom dance
scordatura (SKOR dah TOO rah) abnormal tuning of a stringed
instrument to produce a special effect
score/scoring (SKOR) the music writing
second (SEH kond) interval between two notes
segue (SEHG way) a direction to mean go onward
seguidilla (seh gee DIL yah) Popular Spanish dance from the
16th century
semibreve (seh mee breh vah) The longest note value now in
use
semiquaver (seh mee KWAY ver) note value equal to a 16th of a
semibreve
semitone (seh mee TOHn) smallest interval in western music
semplice (SEM plee chay) It, simply
sempray (SEM pray) It, always
senza (SEN zah) without
septet (SEP tet) A composition for seven instruments
sequence (SEE kwence) Repitition of a phrase or figure starting
on successive degrees of the scale
serenade (SAIR in ADE) Evening vocal or instrumental music. A
divertimento
serialism (SEER ee al ism) Dodecaphony or an extension of its
principles
serpent (SER pent) Bass wind instrument covered with leather
played with a cupped brass mouthpiece. Use faded after 19th
century.
seventh (SEH venth) The interval between a note and the sixth
note.
sextet (sex TET) Six instruments or voices
sforzando (sfort SAHN doh) It, sudden empahsis on one note or
chord
shake (shak) ornament of rapid alteration of a note with the note
above
shanty (SHAN tee) sailor song
sharp (sharp) Sign raising a note chromatically by a semitone
si (see) It & Fr, The note B
siciliano (see chee LAH noh) It, pastoral Sicilian dance
signature (SIG na tchur) indication on the staff showing key and
meter
sinfonietta (sin foh NET tah) small symphony
sixth (sixth) internal between a note and a fifth note
slide (sly d) part of trombone that moves to alter pitch
slur (sler) indication like a curved line over a group of notes
to be played smoothly or continuously
sol (sol) It & Fr, The note G
solo (SOH low) performance of one voice or instrumet, or vocal
with accompanist
sonata (soh NAH tah) extended composition for one or two
instruments, usually in four or less movements
sonatina (sah nah TEE nah) small sonata
soprano (soh PRAH noh) highest female voice
sostinuto (sohs tah NOO toh) sustained for the full value of the
note
sotto voce (sah toh voh chee) in a low voice
soubrette (soo BRET) a light soprano
spinet (spin et) a simple harpsichord
spiritual (spir eh chwal) religious song
staccato (stah KAH toh) detached. Opposite of legato
stave (staff) five parallel horizontal lines upon which music is
written
stretto (streh toh) overlapping subjects in a fugue
stringendo (strin JEN doh) with increasing speed and excitement
study (sta dee) etude
subdominant (sun DOM in ent) fourth note of an ascending
diatonic scale
subito (SOO bee toh) suddenly
subject (sub jekt) musical passage forming basic idea(s) in a
composition
submediant (sub ME dee ent) sixth note of an ascending scale
subtonic (sub TOHN ik) seventh tone of diatonic scale
suite (sweet) a set of pieces to be performed in succession
supertonic (soo per TOHN ik) second note of an ascending scale
suspension (sus PEN shun) harmonic device where a note of a
chord is held up by a strong predecessor not forming part of that
chord
swell (swel) an organ manual, pipes in a box with shutters opened
by pedal
symphonic poem (SIM FOHN ik POH em) a narrative orchestral
work in one movement, established by Liszt
symphony (SIM foh nee) sonata for orchestra usually in four
movements
syncopation (SIN koh pay shun) temporary displacement of
accent from a string to a normally weak beat
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